The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program is designed to pair access to existing small business consulting services with financial resources for creative entrepreneurs who aspire to start their own for-profit business or who operate an existing for-profit micro business. Centre Foundation administers Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program grants in Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, and Huntingdon counties on behalf of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) as a regional Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA) partner.

The program’s purpose is to help creative entrepreneurs grow their business, audience, and revenue. The program will advance the PCA’s overarching values of diversity, equity, and inclusion and prioritize investments to creative entrepreneurs who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) and those who are located in and whose work benefits low-income communities as defined by the Small Business Administration.

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by the 15th of each month.

Grant Awards: Grant amounts range from $500-$2,000. Funds must support business formation or development. Please review the Program Guidelines for a complete list of eligible and ineligible expenses.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age and a current resident of Pennsylvania for at least one year.

• Creative entrepreneur’s business must have gross revenue less than $200,000.

• 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 & professionals
  Architecture – Architecture firms & architects
  Visual Arts & Crafts – Galleries, artists, artisans & makers
  Design – Product, interior, graphic, and fashion design firms and designers
  Film & Media – Film, video, animation, TV & Radio businesses
  Digital Games – Companies, programmers & individuals producing games
  Music & Entertainment – Producers, venues, musicians & performers
  Publishing – Print or electronic businesses & content creators, editors & writers

Creative entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for the Creative Entrepreneurs Accelerator Program once every three years.

How to Apply

Step One – Please review the program guidelines and eligibility criteria: Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program Guidelines.

Step Two – Meet with one of Centre Foundation’s referral coordinators (listed below) for at least one business planning workshop and/or one-on-one consultation. If they determine that your project is appropriate to move forward, the referral coordinator will submit a referral to Centre Foundation on your behalf. Please note that referral of a creative entrepreneur by a referral coordinator does not guarantee that a grant will be made.

• Clarion SBDC – Serving Clearfield County
• Penn State SBDC – Serving Centre and Clinton Counties
• St. Francis SBDC – Serving Huntingdon County
• Startup Alleghenies – Serving Huntingdon County
• PA Wilds Center – Serving Clearfield, Clinton and northern Centre Counties

Step Three – After Centre Foundation receives your referral, you will be invited to submit two forms through our online portal: 1. Client Information Form and 2. Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program Application Form. Both forms must be completed in order for your funding request to be considered.

Step Four– Funding decisions will be made based on program eligibility and availability of funds.

If you have questions about the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program, contact Rachael Hartman at (814) 237-6229 or rachael@centre-foundation.org.