Diverse Erie, formerly known as the Erie County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission, on Friday distributed $300,000 in federal grant money.
The organization restricted the money to individuals that are part of the “BIPOC community,” which includes black, indigenous and all people of color, indicating only whites were precluded from applying for the funds.
Diverse Erie Chief Administrative Officer Gary Lee confirmed in a video posted to Facebook, “This was the 2024 Small Business Mini Investment to the small business community as it pertains to BIPOC community.”
He explained that Diverse Erie “invested in 25 companies, awarded a total of $291,000, the investment ranged from $5,000 up to $20,000,” and claimed the DEI entity’s payments will “impact and make a positive difference in the small businesses in our community.”
Video from the Diverse Erie event where the money was dispersed, recorded by JET 24 and posted to the social media platform X, appears to reveal the checks contained the words “diversity, equity and inclusion.”
NEW: Erie County, Pennsylvania just gave $300,000 of public grants to non-White businesses. These grants are funded by taxpayer-money (Biden's 2021 ARP).
White-owned businesses are excluded.
The checks had "DEI" written on them: pic.twitter.com/FLlZcQnZ5b
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 18, 2024
At the event, Lee reportedly claimed, “This diverse set of small businesses will work to promote our county and support future generations. Continued investments, specifically in BIPOC communities, help develop Erie County’s economic growth.”
The largest recipient of funds were to Almadina Supermarket and Johnson Real Estate Properties LLC, which each received $20,000 from Diverse Erie. Three companies received $5,000 grants from Diverse Erie, the lowest amount awarded, including companies named 1 of 1 Services, LLC, CookMediaLLC and Joe’s Rentals.
Diverse Erie was created in 2021 by Erie County after county officials previously “declared racism a public health crisis” the previous year.
The ordinance that established Diverse Erie reveals it was initially funded with money provided by President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, with the county receiving $3.5 million from the Biden administration to create its DEI commission.
It further reveals Diverse Erie was created to help “populations who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” and to “economically empower minority populations and businesses.”
According to Diverse Erie, “The pandemic laid bare the impact persistent racism has on public health at all levels for BIPOC.” The organization listed the infant mortality rate, food insecurity, diabetes, job opportunities as factors that “all compound the public health crisis caused by racism.”
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Diverse Erie” by Diverse Erie.
