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.
Donor Name: Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
State: Pennsylvania
County: Allegheny County (PA), Beaver County (PA), Greene County (PA), Washington County (PA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/20/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Additionally, this program advances and prioritizes the overarching value of diversity, equity, and inclusion held by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and prioritizes investment in creative entrepreneurs who identify as Black, Indigenous, or persons of color (BIPOC) or those located in and whose work benefits low-income communities as defined under federal guidelines. For the purpose of the Program, low-income communities are those where the poverty rate is greater than or equal to 20% or the median family income is less than or equal to 80% of the area median income.
Eligible Use of Funds
Funds must support business formation or development. Nonprofit businesses are not eligible for support under this program. Eligible uses of grant funds include:
- Professional fees for workshops, consultants, and career coaching
- Participation in events, trade shows, and festivals that could support audience and revenue generation
- Business development fees for courses or seminars for business skills
- Research and development
- Marketing and promotion
- Development or upgrades to technology related to business practices
- Studio/rehearsal/retail space rent (outside of regular business operating costs, rent, and utilities)
- Reasonable fees for supporting or collaborating with artists
- Purchase of supplies and equipment.
Eligibility Criteria
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.
- 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.
For more information, visit GPAC.
