The Creative Economy Fund awards project grants to arts, cultural, and creative-based commercial businesses that are located in the City of San José and involved in the production or distribution of the arts, including manufacturers, service providers, presenters, and designers, among others.
Donor Name: Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI)
State: California
City: San José
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/12/2023
Size of the Grant: $1,000–$8,000
Grant Duration: 1 year
Details:
Funding will support projects and activities aimed at building successful arts, cultural, and creative-based small businesses in San José.
Grants of up to $8,000 will be awarded through a competitive grant application process. Competitive applicants will contribute to the city’s cultural vibrancy, demonstrate readiness for project implementation, grow and achieve greater financial resilience, and demonstrate economic impact(e.g., attracting visitors, generating sales tax, creating jobs) in the City of San José. Competitive applicants will also reflect the City’s diverse cultural communities and creative-based commercial landscape.
The Creative Economy Fund is an initiative of the City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA). The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), a nonprofit intermediary focused on the economic security of individuals in the arts, is partnering with OCA to administer the Fund.
The goals of the Creative Economy Fund are to:
- Enhance San José’s creative economy.
- Bolster the growth and financial resilience of small arts, cultural, and creative-based businesses in San José.
- Provide financial support to artists and creative entrepreneurs (across all disciplines in both the non-commercial and commercial arenas).
The Creative Economy Fund will support arts, cultural, and/or creative-based small businesses whose proposed projects:
- Contribute to San José’s cultural vibrancy;
- Show evidence or “signs of readiness” for project launch or implementation;
- Grow and achieve greater financial resilience; and
- Demonstrate an economic impact (e.g., attracting visitors, generating sales tax, creating jobs) in the City of San José.
Funding Information
- Funding Available: $40,000
- Awards Range: $1,000–$8,000
Project Period
September 2023 – September 2024
Examples of competitive projects and activities (Note: You define your creative business needs; projects are not limited to these examples):
- Storefront or other commercial space improvements that enhance a business’s curb appeal, safety, and/or economic vitality
- Seed money for a marketing launch for a particular arts-related service or product
- Hiring additional staff/team members to support the holiday season
- Purchase of a new HVAC to address safety protocols
- Hiring a mentor, coach, or consultant for capacity-building, strategic/business planning, or marketing support to grow an enterprise or build financial resilience
- Purchase of equipment or technology products to bring business to the next level Production of pop-ups, festivals, or other events that center local artists/arts-based micro businesses
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for Creative Economy Fund consideration, businesses must meet the following criteria:
- Be a commercial enterprise, including small businesses (defined by the City of San José as businesses with 35 employees or less) and sole proprietorships (Note: businesses do not have to be brick and mortar; they can be online storefronts or nomadic enterprises);
- Be based in San José;
- Provide a cultural, creative, or arts-related service or product;
- In good standing with the City of San José, evidenced through possession of an active San José business tax certificate (aka business license, business permit)* and fulfillment of OCA or any other City department’s funding requirements, if applicable; and
- Cannot have a conflict of interest (family or financial relationships) with the boards, staff, and directors of CCI or OCA.
The following are ineligible for funding consideration:
- Nonprofits;
- Individuals, organizations, or projects that will use a fiscal sponsor to receive grant funds if funding is approved;
- Businesses that are not arts, cultural, or creative-based;
- Projects that are already funded through another Office of Cultural Affairs grant program;
- Projects that have already taken place (funding can only be applied to expenses accrued during the grant period); and
- Incomplete Creative Economy Fund applications.
For more information, visit CCI.
