Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Grant Program (Due Feb. 12)
Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Grant Program
Deadline: February 12th, 2025
The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator grant program provides creative entrepreneurs with small business consulting and $2,000 in critical financial resources to grow businesses and revenue.
Fifty-one percent of the funds available for distribution in this program have been reserved for Black, Indigenous, or persons of color (BIPOC), or individuals residing in communities identified by the Small Business Administration’s low-income communities map.
Eligibility and Guidelines
This grant program offers $2,000 in support of creative entrepreneurs starting a business or currently operating a micro-business with gross revenue less than $200,000 in Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, and Washington counties. Eligible applicants must participate in creative fields such as marketing, architecture, visual arts, crafts, design, film and media, digital games, music, entertainment, publishing, or a similar creative field.
Non-profit organizations are not eligible for funds through this program.
Applicants must:
Have not received Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Funding in the past three years (Creative Entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program once every three years). Please note that applying and receiving funds after the 3 year mark is contingent upon availability of funds after applicants that have never received funding have had an opportunity to be funded. Other requirements for reapplying after 3 years include a follow-up visit with a referral partner to review business plan and progress of business.
Be at least 18 years of age and live in Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, or Washington counties
Demonstrate gross revenue of less than $200,000 from the creative entrepreneur business
Be a creative entrepreneur intending to form a business or operating a business in Pennsylvania within one or more of the following creative industry areas:
Marketing – Advertising and marketing agencies and professionals
Architecture – Architecture firms and architects
Visual Arts & Crafts – Galleries, artists, artisans & makers, tattoo artists
Design – Product, interior, graphic, and fashion design firms and designers
Film & Media – Film, video, animation, television, and radio businesses
Digital Games – Companies, programmers, and individuals producing games
Music & Entertainment – Producers, venues, musicians, and performers
Publishing – Print or electronic businesses and content creators, editors, and writers
Possess all current and valid licenses, permits, leases, certifications, and registrations required to engage in the creative endeavor (e.g. tattoo, street performance) in the geographical location served by the entrepreneurship.
The CEA Grant is funded through a program that activates State Taxpayer Funding. For purpose of tax reporting, the funds are not considered a “gift” and should be reported in tax filing. For further questions regarding filing please visit the IRS website at irs.gov or consult with a tax professional.
A final report and evidence of eligible use of the CEA grant funding is required at the end of the contract term. Consult with your PPA Partner for more information on the process for final reporting. See also “Application Process” in these guidelines for more information.
To read a full list of eligible and ineligible expenses for grant funds, please download the full grant guidelines.