The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (CEA) grant program provides creative entrepreneurs with small business consulting and $2,000 in critical financial resources to grow businesses and revenue.
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.
Before applying, applicants must first schedule a consultation and business plan review with a local small-business development organization, called a Referral Coordinator. Referral Coordinators help applicants create an approved business plan, which is required as part of the application.
Important CEA Dates
- Appointments with Referral Coordinators open: October 1, 2025
- Referral Coordinator deadline: January 7, 2026
- Grant Applications open: January 19, 2026 (first-come, first-served basis)
- Applications close: February 6, 2026
Click below for a PDF of the CEA grant guidelines, or download a text-only version of the full guidelines in English or a Spanish-language text-only version.
The Arts Council is administering this grant on behalf of Pennsylvania Creative Industries, powered by Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, for Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, and Washington counties.
Eligibility and Guidelines
This grant program offers $2,000 in support of creative entrepreneurs starting a business or currently operating a micro-business with gross revenue less than $200,000 in Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, and Washington counties. 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.
Non-profit organizations are not eligible for funds through this program.
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 writer
- 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. For further questions regarding filing please visit the IRS website at irs.gov or consult with a tax professional.
- 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. See also “Application Process” in these guidelines for more information.
To read a full list of eligible and ineligible expenses for grant funds, please download the full grant guidelines.
Application and Referral Process
Step 1: Referral Coordinator Business Plan Consultation
Before applying, all applicants must first have a consultation and business plan review with a local small business development organization, known as a Referral Coordinator. The Referral Coordinators will help with the logistics of starting a business including the development of a business plan and growth strategies.
Referral Coordinators for the Arts Council include Chatham University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Bridgeway Capital. Business consultation services will be provided at no cost to prospective applicants, and Referral Coordinator services are available on an ongoing basis. Please be sure to review the CEA Grant Guidelines to ensure applicant eligibility prior to reaching out to a Referral Coordinator.
We encourage applicants to connect with Referral Coordinators as soon as possible. Please allow up to a week to receive a response from Referral Coordinators. No appointments will be provided with a Referral Coordinator after January 7, 2026. This timing is to ensure the Referral Coordinator is able to effectively review your business plan and meet one-on-one with the applicant prior to the application round deadline.
Referral Coordinator Contact Information
University of Pittsburgh: Victoria Hassett
Director, PantherlabWorks
THE INSTITUTE FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL EXCELLENCE Innovation Institute - University of Pittsburgh
3520 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15261
Phone: 412.648.1546
Email: plw@innovation.pitt.edu
Chatham University: J. Michelle Price, MFA, PhD
Community & Membership Engagement Coordinator
CENTER FOR WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP - Women’s Business Center
Chatham Eastside 6585 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phones: (direct) 412.365.1384 | (main) 412.365.1253 | (cell) 412.510.4774
Email: m.price@chatham.edu
Bridgeway Capital: Katie Schaible
Director of Programs
310 Grant St., Suite 2800, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Phone: 412.912.9910
Email: kschaible@bridgewaycapital.org
Not sure which Referral Coordinator to reach out to?
If you already have a solid business plan, we encourage you to reach out to Katie Schaible at Bridgeway Capital. If you do not have a solid business plan and are looking for assistance in building a better business plan, please reach out to either Michelle Price at Chatham University or Victoria Hassett at the University of Pittsburgh.
Step 2: Application
Upon receiving an approved referral form from a designated Referral Coordinator, applicants may submit application materials through the Arts Council website.
Submissions must include the creative entrepreneur’s application form, approved referral form, and business plan, including a budget outlining expected project expenses for the funding year. Upon receipt of an eligible and complete application, the Arts Council will review your application. If approved, the Arts Council will enter into a grant award agreement with the creative entrepreneur and process the grant payment.
Important Note: Following the mandatory consultation with an approved Referral Coordinator, they will determine if your project is appropriate to move forward with a formal application to the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator program. Review the criteria for approval in the grant guidelines. Referral of a creative entrepreneur by a Referral Coordinator does not guarantee that a grant will be made.
Application Deadline
Grant applications open January 19, 2026, and are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. The application window closes on February 6, 2026.
Previous examples of CEA grantees can be seen here: Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Awards $88,000 in State Grants to Creative Business Owners.
