Erie’s WQLN receives $751,647 grant as it determines long-term future

WQLN, Erie’s public media organization, has received a $751,647 grant to replace some of its funding taken away by the federal government.

The “stabilization” grant was awarded Dec. 9 by the Colorado-based Public Media Bridge Fund. The grant is one of 74 nationwide designed to help public media organizations continue to provide local news, civic information, cultural programming and emergency alerts.

“The grant will directly support the costs for our television and radio content, enabling us to continue providing high-quality public media to our community,” said Alyson Amendola, WQLN’s vice president of advancement. “However, the funds serve as a temporary bridge to preserve local service and provide us with the time needed to identify long-term solutions.”

WQLN — which operates a television station, radio station and website — lost 42% of its annual budget, or about $1.2 million a year, when Congress voted in July to stop all federal funding for public media.

Now WQLN officials have to find ways to operate long term on a reduced budget. They have already decided to sell WQLN’s 30,000-square-foot building, located off Peach Street in Summit Township.

WQLN officials haven’t chosen a new home

A new, smaller location won’t be selected until the current building sells. There are no plans to share space with another Erie broadcaster, Amendola said.

“We are taking 2026 to look at our internal operations and every variable expense,” Amendola said. “We have a lot of fixed costs that can’t be dismissed. We will conduct a scope of services study that we hope to complete in the spring.”

One possibility is to split into two offices, one near the station’s antenna in Summit Township and another more closely located to community activities.

WQLN employs 19 full-time workers. The station has eliminated a corporate support position since federal funding ended.