CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
Re: Updates to Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator
On behalf of Pennsylvania Creative Industries, powered by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, please see the following update regarding changes to the availability of the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (CEA) program.
Beginning with Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027), Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (CEA) program will no longer be administered by the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA).
The CEA program has seen great demand and impact since its launch in 2021. With implementation of Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ updated strategic framework, the agency is working to revise the CEA program design to ensure enhanced, strategic business development support for program participants.
Pennsylvania Creative Industries anticipates sharing details about and future application timelines for the CEA program in the fall of 2026.
Note:
Elk County Council on the Arts remains the point of contact for the current year (July 1, 2025 – December 31, 2026) CEA program participants in this region Cameron, Elk, Forest, McKean and Potter counties . As grant award agreement materials outline, CEA program participants must submit all required final report materials and receipts to Kylee Mader by December 31, 2026.
Questions
For questions regarding the current CEA grant, contact Kylee Mader at kylee@eccota.com
For general questions regarding the evolution and availability of the CEA program, contact PA Creative Industries’ Director of Access to the Creative Sector. — Amanda Lovell - alovell@pa.gov
Overview
Creative entrepreneurs are invaluable assets to communities. They lead innovation, deliver creative products and services, generate economic opportunity, and build community identity. This program is designed for creative entrepreneurs who aspire to start their own for-profit business or who operate an existing for-profit micro business. The program encourages the participation of interested creative entrepreneurs located in communities across the commonwealth, including those located in low-income communities, urban, suburban, and rural communities. Successful applicants receive small business consultation services and a grant of $2,000.
Partnership with Bridgeway Capital
Recently the PCA partnered with Bridgeway Capital to utilize Bridgeway Capitals Impact Management System (IMS). This is an additional resource for creative entrepreneurs to gauge both the growth and sustainability of their business.
Application Process
Download the Arts Business Plan slide deck. (Access to slide deck through Contact a Referral Coordinator link below)
Contact a referral coordinator. (LaKeshia Knarr with the PA Wilds Center- contact information through Contact a Referral Coordinator link below)
Meet with the referral coordinator to discuss eligibility.
Once deemed eligible the Creative Entrepreneur will be referred to the Elk County Council on the Arts for access to the application.
Creative Entrepreneur completes and submits client information and formal application form to Elk County Council on the Arts.
Upon receipt of an eligible completed application, Elk County Council on the Arts enters into a grant agreement with the Creative Entrepreneur.
Before grant funds are issued Bridgeway Capital will issue to the Creative Entrepreneur via email a unique link to their Business Growth Ladder (BGL) Hybrid Survey.
Once Bridgeway Capital receives the completed BGL survey, Elk County Council on the Arts will be notified and then issue the grant funds.
Eligibility Requirements
The applicant is at least 18 years of age and has been a resident of Pennsylvania for at least twelve months preceding the submission of this application.
Must be a resident of the following counties:
Cameron
Elk
Forest
McKean
Potter
If the Applicant operates an eligible creative business, the business had gross revenue of less than $200,000 for the period covered by the business’ most recently submitted annual filing to the Internal Revenue Service.
Be a creative entrepreneur intending to form a business or operate a business in Pennsylvania.
Eligible creative industries:
Marketing – Advertising and marketing agencies and professionals
Architecture – Architecture firms and architects
Visual Arts & Crafts – Galleries, artists, artisans, and makers
Design – Product, interior, graphic, and fashion design firms and designers
Film & Media – Film, video, animation, TV and radio businesses and creators
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
Funds can not be used for:
Activities outside the funding period.
Activities that have a religious purpose.
Payments to lobbyists.
Activities for which academic credit is given.
Offsets to regular business operating costs, including regular salary or wages.
Hospitality, food, or beverages.
Not a fit:
Assembly crafts - manufactured items that are assembled with no handmade components (e.g., earrings with only purchased beads and purchased earring wires, diamond paintings, etc.)
Work that utilizes stock imagery with no original design elements (e.g., digital clip-art, Cricut images, downloaded paintings, drawings, etc.)
Use of restricted, unlicensed, or copyrighted imagery, or any content deemed inappropriate for the general public.