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    Funding for Creative Small Businesses and Creative Entrepreneurs

    Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator

    Empowering established creative entrepreneurs who are growing and developing their for-profit business, by expanding access to capital and business support.

    Application opens: October 1, 2026
    Submission deadline: December 31, 2026

    Program Guidelines coming soon!

    Contact Us
    Creative small business owner sewing

    Program Overview

    Creative businesses are invaluable contributors to the commercial and cultural vitality of Pennsylvania communities. They drive innovation, deliver products and services, generate economic opportunities, and enhance community identity.

    Pennsylvania Creative Industries offers the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program to creative entrepreneurs who aspire to grow their for-profit creative businesses in ways that positively impact their communities. The program encourages participation from creative entrepreneurs across the Commonwealth, including those located in low-income, urban, suburban, and rural communities.

    Bridgeway Capital is the statewide administrator for the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program, overseeing the application process, programmatic activities, and re-granting of Pennsylvania Creative Industries funds to support creative entrepreneurs statewide.

    Please note: Although Bridgeway Capital is a lending institution, the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program is a grant program, and for purposes of this program, Bridgeway Capital will be re-distributing grant funds to eligible and successful applicants.

    Keystone Creatives Website

    The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator program has seen great demand and impact since its launch in 2021!

    We are collaborating with Bridgeway Capital to launch the next evolution of the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator program in Fall 2026. This expanded phase will offer higher funding amounts alongside enhanced business support services designed to help creative enterprises thrive for the long term.

    Keystone Creatives logo

    Through the Keystone Creatives platform, powered by Bridgeway Capital, you will soon be able to:

    • Apply directly for funding opportunities
    • Access expert resources and business services for sustainable entrepreneurship
    • Connect with a network of fellow creative entrepreneurs throughout Pennsylvania
    • Discover trainings, educational workshops, and funding avenues tailored to your industry

    Who are creative entrepreneurs?

    Under this program's definition, creative entrepreneurs are individuals 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, tattoo artists
    • 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

      

    For questions and advice regarding this process:

    Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program Contact

    Amanda Lovell, Senior Director, Workforce and Business Development

    alovell@pa.gov

    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.