Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program

Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program is sponsored by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. This program is designed to pair access to 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.

The program prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, reserving 55% of funds for Black, Indigenous, or persons of color (BIPOC), or individuals residing in communities identified by the Small Business Administration's low-income communities map.

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. Businesses must have gross revenue less than $200,000.

Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Funding for Creative Small Businesses and Creative Entrepreneurs Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (CEA) is designed for creative entrepreneurs who aspire to start their own for-profit business or who operate an existing for-profit micro business.

<span class=\"text-headline--large\">Program Update on Changes to Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator</span></h2>\r\n<p><b>Beginning with Fiscal Year 2026-2027, Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (CEA) program will no longer be administered by the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA).

</b></p>\r\n<p><b>Note: Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts organizations are still the regional point of contact for the CEA program for the current fiscal year (July 1, 2025 – December 31, 2026). As grant award agreement materials outline, CEA program participants must submit all required final report materials and receipts to their <a href=\"/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/coa/documents/pca_partnerships_map_and_contacts.

pdf\">regional PPA organization's point of contact (PDF)</a> by December 31, 2026. </b></p>\r\n<h2>Background</h2>\r\n<p>The CEA program has seen great demand and impact since its launch in 2021. With implementation of Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ updated <a href=\"https://www.

pa. gov/agencies/coa/about/strategic-framework\">strategic framework</a>, the agency is working to revise the CEA program design to ensure enhanced, strategic business development support for program participants. </p>\r\n<h3><b>Questions?

</b></h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>For questions regarding a current CEA grant, contact your <a href=\"/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/coa/documents/pca_partnerships_map_and_contacts. pdf\">regional PPA Partner organization (PDF)</a>. </li>\r\n<li>For general questions regarding the evolution and availability of the CEA program, contact <a href=\"mailto:alovell@pa.

gov\">Amanda Lovell</a>, PA Creative Industries’ Director of Access to the Creative Sector. </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n"}}"> Program Update on Changes to Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Beginning with Fiscal Year 2026-2027, Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (CEA) program will no longer be administered by the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA).

Note: Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts organizations are still the regional point of contact for the CEA program for the current fiscal year (July 1, 2025 – December 31, 2026). As grant award agreement materials outline, CEA program participants must submit all required final report materials and receipts to their regional PPA organization's point of contact (PDF) by December 31, 2026.

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. For questions regarding a current CEA grant, contact your regional PPA Partner organization (PDF) .

For general questions regarding the evolution and availability of the CEA program, contact Amanda Lovell , PA Creative Industries’ Director of Access to the Creative Sector. <span class=\"text-headline--large\">CEA Program Overview</span></h2>\r\n<p>Creative entrepreneurs are invaluable assets to communities. They lead innovation, deliver creative products and services, generate economic opportunity, and build community identity.

</p>\r\n<p>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. </p>\r\n"}}"> 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. <span class=\"text-headline--medium\">Take the Next Step in Building Your Business</span></h3>\r\n<p>PA Partners in the Arts, our network of regional re-granting partners, administer the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator at the local level.

</p>\r\n"}}"> Take the Next Step in Building Your Business PA Partners in the Arts, our network of regional re-granting partners, administer the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator at the local level.

About the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator - one page flyer (PDF) Find your CEA program administrator 2025-2026 Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Application Guidelines (PDF) <span class=\"text-headline--small\"><span class=\"text-headline--medium\">Who are creative entrepreneurs?

</span></span><br>\r\n</h3>\r\n<p>Under this program's definition, creative entrepreneurs are individuals who intend to form a business or who operate a for-profit micro business in Pennsylvania within one or more of the following creative industry areas:</p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Marketing – Advertising and marketing agencies & professionals. </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Architecture – Architecture firms & architects.

</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Visual Arts & Crafts – Galleries, artists, artisans & makers. </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Design – Product, interior, graphic, and fashion design firms and designers. </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Film & Media – Film, video, animation, TV & Radio businesses.

</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Digital Games – Companies, programmers & individuals producing games. </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Music & Entertainment –Producers, venues, musicians & performers. </li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>Publishing – Print or electronic businesses & content creators, editors & writers.

</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n"}}"> Who are creative entrepreneurs? Under this program's definition, creative entrepreneurs are individuals who intend to form a business or who operate a for-profit micro 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.