U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) on June 16 joined his Pennsylvania congressional colleagues to announce new federal funding to help protect the shoreline, preserve public access, and attract visitors to Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pa.
To help ensure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is on track with projects for the current construction season, the $1.5 million in federal funds are expected to be released in the next few weeks to keep the award on schedule for July.
“Today, I’m proud to join my Senate colleagues to announce this year’s funding has been secured,” Rep. Kelly said on Tuesday. “Supporting Presque Isle has been, and will continue to be, a top priority for me and my team.”
Presque Isle State Park is one of the commonwealth’s most important natural, recreational, and economic assets, and it serves as a critical protective barrier for the Erie shoreline. The park is also a major driver of regional tourism and welcomes more than four million visitors annually and supports thousands of jobs across northwestern Pennsylvania.
The new funding was secured following a bipartisan and joint federal-state government push led by Rep. Kelly in February when he and his colleagues urged the Army Corps of Engineers to incorporate Presque Isle State Park in its fiscal year 2026 workplan for shore protection.
The lawmakers wrote that the funding would directly adhere to the Corps’ objectives of reducing flood and storm damage risk, supporting environmental stewardship, and promoting sustained economic growth in coastal and Great Lakes communities.
“In February, I led a bipartisan letter with Senators Fetterman and McCormick, and our state partners, to make it clear: funding for Presque Isle sand replenishment is imperative for the park and for Erie’s economy,” he said.
To date, Rep. Kelly’s staff says the congressman has helped to secure more than $19 million in federal funding for Presque Isle State Park.