You don't need a bank's blessing or a perfect credit score to get your business funded. Here's where Erie-area owners can find money, and free help to get it.
Updated September 2026
One of the most common questions we hear at the Achievers Entrepreneurial Hub is some version of "Where do I even start looking for money?" The good news is that Erie has more options than most people realize. The challenge is that they're spread across the city, county nonprofits, state programs, and national organizations, and each one works a little differently.
This guide pulls the most useful ones together in one place, grouped by type so you can skip to what fits where your business is right now.
First stop: free help finding the right fit
Before you fill out a single application, talk to someone whose job is to help you for free. These advisors know which programs are open, which ones you're likely to qualify for, and how to put together an application that gets taken seriously.
Gannon University Small Business Development Center
The Gannon SBDC offers free, confidential one-on-one consulting for people starting a business and for owners who want to grow. Consultants can help with business plans, market research, financial projections, Pennsylvania filing requirements, and finding financing. They also run in-person and online seminars on topics like starting a business, marketing, and funding.
Where: 130 W. 8th Street, 1st Floor, Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 871-7232
Email: gannonsbdc@gannon.edu
Web: sbdcgannon.org
SCORE
SCORE matches you with a volunteer mentor, often a retired or experienced business owner, for free and confidential guidance, in person or by video. A SCORE mentor is a great sounding board before you take on any debt.
Web: score.org
Microloans: small amounts, flexible requirements
Microloans are built for businesses that are too new, too small, or too light on credit history for a traditional bank loan. The amounts are smaller, but approval standards are much more flexible, and many come with free coaching attached.
Kiva Erie: 0% interest loans
The City of Erie partners with Kiva, a nonprofit that offers loans from $1,000 to $15,000 at 0% interest. Kiva doesn't decide based on your credit score, net worth, or years in business. Instead, it looks at your character, the impact your business will have, and whether people in your community are willing to back you. You can be in the idea stage, just starting out, or already established, and the money can go toward almost any business purpose: equipment, inventory, marketing, or working capital.
Here's how it works: you apply, then invite friends, family, and customers to lend to you first. After that, your loan goes public so lenders around the world can chip in. Repayment runs from 6 months to 3 years, paid monthly. Because fundraising takes several weeks, Kiva works best when you're planning ahead. A nice bonus is that the people who lend to you often become your biggest fans and customers.
Erie Kiva Hub contact: erie@local.kiva.org
Web: City of Erie Kiva Microloan Program
Bridgeway Capital
Bridgeway is a nonprofit, community-focused lender with an office right here in Erie. It makes small business and commercial real estate loans with an emphasis on communities that traditional banks have often overlooked, and it pairs its lending with business education to help owners become "capital ready." Bridgeway has also worked with the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority to make loans available to startup and early-stage businesses in Erie County.
Where: 1001 State Street, Suite 1400, Erie, PA 16501
Phone: (814) 451-1172
Web: bridgewaycapital.org
Grants: free money, with a catch
Grants don't have to be paid back, which is exactly why they're so competitive. Most are aimed at specific industries, communities, or purposes, and many work on a reimbursement basis, meaning you spend the money first and get paid back after. There usually isn't a general "starting a business" grant waiting out there, but these are worth pursuing when you fit the criteria.
City of Erie Flagship Fund
The Flagship Fund is the City of Erie's microgrant program for small businesses. Both startups and established businesses from any industry can apply for up to $5,000. There's a catch to plan for: you must match the grant dollar for dollar, and it's paid as a reimbursement. So for a $5,000 grant, you'd spend $10,000 on your project and then submit your invoices. Application windows open and close, so check the city's grants page for current status.
Questions: flagshipfund@erie.pa.us
Web: City of Erie Flagship Fund
Diverse Erie Mini-Grants
Diverse Erie runs a Mini-Grant Initiative for BIPOC-owned businesses in Erie County. In 2026, it awarded 31 businesses grants between $5,000 and $25,000. If you're eligible, watch for the next round and talk with an SBDC consultant early so your application is ready when it opens.
Pennsylvania Small Business Advantage Grant
If your business needs new lighting, heating and cooling, or other equipment that saves energy or reduces waste, this state grant can reimburse 50% to 80% of the cost, with awards up to $7,500 to $12,000. Pennsylvania businesses with 100 or fewer full-time employees are eligible. The current round opened September 11, 2026, and runs until March 19, 2027, or until the money runs out. Applications are first-come, first-served, so earlier is better.
Web: PA DEP Small Business Advantage Grant
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grants
Verizon and LISC are awarding $10,000 grants to 10 small businesses each month through December 2026. To be eligible, register for the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program and complete any two of its free courses or events, then submit the application. You only need to apply once, and you stay in the running for every remaining month of 2026. Even if you aren't selected, the courses themselves are worth your time.
Keep an eye on state micro grants
In August 2026, Pennsylvania announced $1 million for the Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation to support small businesses in Erie and surrounding counties through a micro grant program. Details on how and when business owners can apply may still be coming, so ask the Gannon SBDC or check with GEEDC for updates.
A word of caution about grant scams. Real grants never ask you to pay a fee to apply or to "release" your funds. Be wary of anyone who guarantees approval, contacts you out of the blue about a grant you never applied for, or asks for your bank login. When in doubt, run it by an SBDC consultant or someone at the Achievers Entrepreneurial Hub before you share any information.
How to get ready before you apply
Almost every lender and grant program will ask for some version of the same things. Having these ready puts you ahead of most applicants:
A separate business bank account, which many programs require.
A simple business plan that explains what you do, who your customers are, and how the money will be used.
Basic financial records, even if they're just a few months of income and expenses.
Your business registration with the Pennsylvania Department of State, if you've formed an LLC or corporation.
For matching or reimbursement grants, a realistic plan for covering costs up front.
A clear, specific answer to "How much do you need, and what exactly will it pay for?"
You don't have to figure this out alone
The Achievers Entrepreneurial Hub at the Community Cornerstone Project exists so Erie's small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs have people in their corner. If you're weighing a loan, working on an application, or just trying to figure out which of these options makes sense for you, reach out. We'd love to help you take the next step.