Erie County Government - Official website of the Erie County, NY Government
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William M. Murray, Deputy Commissioner
Edward A. Rath County Office Building
95 Franklin Street, 10th Floor
Buffalo, New York 14202
Phone: (716) 858-8390
Based on the priorities established by Erie County Executive Joel A. Giambra and with the support of the Erie County Legislature, Erie County government has placed a major emphasis on developing the business of cultural tourism in Erie County and the Buffalo-Niagara Region. The Erie County Office of Arts, Culture and Tourism (ACT) was established in 2001 and functions within the Erie County Planning Division. Its primary task is to guide and provide oversight regarding Erie County's approximate $9 million annual investment in many of its most significant cultural resources.
Erie County is a national leader in supporting and promoting its scores of regional, national and internationally-recognized cultural institutions. These organizations are diverse in both their budget size and cultural programming, and distinctively enhance the quality of life in the City of Buffalo and Erie County. County-funded organizations are the premier attractions for increasing number of visitors to our region. These County-funded cultural assets include, but are not limited to:
The Office of ACT administers grants to not-for-profit organizations through two separate application programs. One program provides funding for eligible cultural organizations. Since 1986, this annual funding process has been guided by the Erie County Cultural Resources Advisory Board (ECCRAB), which is composed of 25 commmunity volunteers with considerable business, philanthropic and cultural expertise. The primary responsibility of the Board is to review, evaluate and make recommendations to the County Executive concerning annual cultural funding requests and related issues impacting Erie County. This entire process is based on specific objectives, standards and criteria. The most recent application and related materials may be viewed under the "Related Links" section of this webpage.
The second grant program ACT adminsters is focused on Economic Development and Community Improvement activities. Also known as Public Benefit funding, this money is meant to help not-for-profit organizations that may not necessarily have a primary cultural purpose, but rather purposes that can document meaningful community services with significant social and economic impacts in Erie County. In FY 2008, funds were awarded to public benefit organizations such as the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise and its Film Commission, WNED Guitar Festival and the international Friendship Festival, as well as environmental agencies such the Soil & Water Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County.
Copyright 2008, Erie County Department of Environment & Planning. Last Updated 05/15/08.
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