Simplified, Online Application Process Means Detailed Information, Less Paper

ERIE COUNTY, NY— Today, Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz unveiled the County’s 2014 Cultural Funding Application, which must be completed by eligible organizations seeking any level of Erie County funding. The application, available in its entirety online for the first time, streamlines the process by which cultural organizations can apply for funding and also provides step-by-step guidance to applicants in organizing and submitting their information.

“This cultural funding application process is an efficient and thorough way for interested organizations to submit their information in a comprehensive and timely manner,” said Poloncarz. “It includes a helpful checklist for applicants to follow while completing their entry, with clearly delineated spaces for various types of information such as organization budget size, eligibility criteria, and many other necessary types of financial information. I encourage all applying organizations to carefully review the application’s instructions, complete the online application, and submit it in a timely and environmentally friendly fashion.”

“The new paperless 2014 Erie County Cultural Funding application provides increased efficiency for both applicants and those in the review process, while retaining the important determinants of organizational effectiveness in the areas of finance, governance, and management,” said Catherine Schweitzer, Chair of the Erie Arts & Cultural Advisory Board. “There has been a deliberate effort to use existing informational tools, like the Cultural Data Project (CDP), to standardize the Erie County application with those of other funders such as the New York State Council for the Arts, saving hours of staff time. Another benefit to local organizations is the support provided by Arts Services Initiatives (ASI) to assist organizations throughout the year with training and coaching to prepare their documentation. ASI has generously offered to help organizations transition to this new, greener, more technologically sophisticated application process.”

Poloncarz added, “I want to thank the members of the Erie Arts & Cultural Advisory Board for their hard work, and also the County’s considerable arts community for the contributions they make to our economy. They truly are a dynamic and vibrant component of life in Erie County.”

Organizations meeting the stated Eligibility Requirements must complete their online application at www.erie.gov/CulturalFunding  by 5:00PM on JUNE 10, 2013. All applications will be submitted via this website. Late or incomplete applications will negatively affect an organizations’ application score. Submitted applications will be reviewed by the Erie Arts & Cultural Advisory Board.

On Friday, May 10 at 3:00 PM, interested organizations are encouraged to attend an applicant briefing during which time the Erie County Department of Environment and Planning will provide an overview of the online application and answer questions about it. The voluntary briefing will take place in Room 1401 of the Edward A. Rath county office building.