Melinda Meyer Email and Phone Number

The responsibilities for this brand new position include collaboration, management, planning, strategy development, programming, and grant-related fundraising to achieve organizational fundraising, programmatic, and compliance goals. I also oversee staff and volunteers and manage office systems relating to program creation and implementation, grant-writing, and reporting.A little about Impact Corry: Impact Corry is a community benefit organization working for a stronger Corry, PA. Since creating the #positively Corry Community Strategic Plan in 2021, the organization’s work has centered on five strategic focus areas: Revitalize Our Housing and Neighborhoods, Improve and Link Our Green Spaces, Ramp Up Our Connectivity, Activate Our City Center, and Strengthen Our City’s Balance Sheet. Its key projects and initiatives align with these focus areas and include, but are not limited to, a grant program for homeowners, an economic stewardship program to support downtown business owners, a commercial façade improvement grant program, city-wide fiber installation, development of the Corry Rails + Trails Park (a trailhead within the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail), expansion of Corry’s trail network, public art installations, and development of the Corry Area Technology Center & Hub (CATCH) and technology workforce pipeline.

I have taught the Introduction to Historic Preservation and Museum Studies II courses, which are required courses for History majors pursuing a concentration in Public History.

As an independent consultant, I have had the opportunity to engage with many local cultural heritage organizations. These are two of my favorite projects.Let’s Move Outside! Erie County Recreational Passport, Project Director (08/2011 – 08/2017)I created in partnership with staff from the Erie County Department of Health Erie County, PA’s pilot initiative under the national Let’s Move! umbrella, which combined recreational trails with local history and public art. My coordination of the LMO! program included fundraising, developing program goals and objectives, and implementation and evaluation plans, and coordination of the activities of 15 community teams throughout the County.Technical Assistance Grant Consultant, Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (01/2012 – 01/2013)I provided technical support and guidance for TAG grantee Edinboro Area Historical Society regarding the documentation of African American LeRoy Smith and his family, and subsequent development of a publication, exhibit, public presentation and driving tour. This project is one of several serving as the foundation of the A Shared Heritage Project (www.sharedheritage.org), with which I am a contributor.

My job was to apply for and administer grants on behalf of Erie County. To do this, I worked collaboratively with all the departments of the county to identify and solicit new grant funding sources. I also provided technical assistance and grant writing support for Erie County’s 38 municipalities and led or assisted with project planning and implementation as needed. Special projects I worked on include the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail, Lake Erie Quadrangle National Marine Sanctuary Nomination, and administration of the County’s $24M allocation of CARES Act funding and $52M allocation of Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (American Rescue Plan Act).

I began with the Arts Council of Erie as an independent contractor hired to write a $1.2M U.S. Department of Education Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination grant. When awarded, I was brought on as an employ to help administer the grant, which involved data collection and reporting, adherence to federal regulations, and budget management. I also scheduled and implemented professional development activities and trainings for artists and educators and coordinated project evaluation activities in partnership with the third party evaluator.My role was broadened over time to include administration of Erie Arts & Culture’s grantmaking and arts in education programs in a six-county region, oversight of Erie Arts & Culture’s data collection and reporting for the sector, and scheduling and implementing professional development activities and trainings for member artists and organizations.

I held nearly every position with the Erie County Historical Society. I began as a summer intern and then moved into roles as Research and Reference Assistant and Assistant Curator before becoming the Director of Education and Outreach, and, ultimately, Assistant Director.As the Director of Education, I developed special events programming, created a strategic plan for marketing, oversaw volunteer recruitment and training, coordinated internships, developed community partnerships, including with local universities, developed core educational programs that met Pennsylvania’s Academic Standards and qualified for Pennsylvania’s Act 48 Continuing Education Credits, developed, researched, and implemented a public walking tours program, and coordinated exhibit preparation, design and installation. Grant writing was also an important part of the position. When promoted to Assistant Director, I coordinated special events such as Erie’s Heritage Festival, identified sources and secured event and program funding, coordinated re-development of the organization's website, and assisted with development of the annual budget.I also spent a little over a year as the Acting Executive Director of the organization following the retirement of a longtime director. During this time, I lead the Board of Directors and staff through a strategic planning process, initiated a Board committee and sub-committee structure, provided general supervision of buildings and grounds projects, recruited, hired and reduced staff within the general framework of the budget, acted as ex-officio member of committees established by the Board, developed the budget, supervised business office functions, and coordinated the annual membership campaign and fundraising.