The Burton school on Buffalo road has witnessed many tragedies since closing over 10 years ago.

"We had a drive by shooting around the corner from here, from a 7 year old who lost his life," said Gary Horton, CEO of Urban Erie Community Development Corporation. "We had a 3 year old in a hit and run killed half a block from here."

Now, the school has a chance to transform into a multi use facility.

"We're in the middle of a feasibility study that will lead to a business plan that lets local interested businesses know this is a good investment: Erie Community College, Wabtec, the school district, AHN Health Network."

That feasibility study-which cost $15,000- was funded by Infinite Erie; an organization created in summer of 2022 after the 'Erie's Investment Playbook' was published. The playbook was written by New Localism Associates, national experts on urban development.

Infinite Erie has spent the year strategizing how to get projects funded and finished.

"When the investment playbook was created, it was informed by approximately a dozen strategic plans that have been created throughout our community over the past 5-8 years," said Kim Thomas, executive director of Infinite Erie. "All of that really hard, important work has happened. But now we want to make sure that those plans don't just sit on a shelf and collect dust."

The first key to getting projects finished is getting them funded. There are 35 projects in the playbook, requiring a total of $1.1 billion in investments. Thomas says the dollar amount is ambitious, but intentionally timed. There is still an abundance of funds flowing into grants at federal and state levels.

The key to accessing public grants is presenting a cultivated, detailed project plan that can compete with other entries. The same applies for private and philanthropic entreaties as well.

Infinite Erie works as a mediator between people with ideas and people with money.

Thomas says collaboration is how Infinite Erie takes action. The organization has laid out specific steps that the 35 projects need to take to be competitive for funding. Some of those steps- like the feasibility study for the Burton School Revitalization project- require funds. Infinite Erie communicates what a project needs next to local funders, who in turn can invest in the early stages to keep the project moving.

"We all need to have an understanding of what the vision is and how it's going to be executed. And we have to take it from dream to blueprint."

Local investors can interact with the playbook, and focus money into specific projects instead of funds being invested haphazardly across the area.

Infinite Erie's website emphasizes commitment to transformation. One year in, there has been action, both with the Burton School Revitalization and Erie Grows. Time will show how much more change they can bring.

"If this neighborhood can be revitalized and changed," said Horton, "then any neighborhood in Erie can be changed."