Utah Food Security Processing Grant Program 2024

The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program (CEAP) is a collaborative initiative between Erie Arts and Culture and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. This program aims to support creative entrepreneurs by providing access to existing small business consulting services and financial resources. It targets individuals who are aspiring to start a for-profit business or who currently operate an existing for-profit micro business within the creative industry sectors. The program aligns with the foundational mission of recognizing creative entrepreneurs as invaluable assets to communities, driving innovation, delivering creative products and services, generating economic opportunity, and building community identity. A primary goal of the CEAP is to assist creative entrepreneurs as a pathway to economic recovery and increased opportunity within a rapidly changing economic environment. The program specifically prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a focus on investing in creative entrepreneurs who identify as Black, Indigenous, or persons of color (BIPOC) or those located in and whose work benefits low-income communities. Low-income communities are defined as those where the poverty rate is 20% or greater, or the median family income is 80% or less of the area median income. The program's focus areas encompass various creative industry categories, including Marketing, Architecture, Visual Arts & Crafts, Design, Film & Media, Digital Games, Music & Entertainment, and Publishing. Eligible uses of funds, ranging from $500 to $2,000, must support business formation or development. These uses include professional fees for workshops, consultants, and coaching; participation in events for audience access and revenue; business development courses; research and development; marketing and promotion; technology development/upgrades; studio/rehearsal/retail space rent; reasonable fees for supporting/collaborating artists; and the purchase of supplies and equipment. Expected outcomes and measurable results include the successful formation and development of creative businesses, increased economic opportunity for creative entrepreneurs, and a reduction in disparities by supporting BIPOC and low-income community-based entrepreneurs. The program aims to foster innovation and strengthen community identity through the growth of creative ventures across Pennsylvania. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, a Pennsylvania resident for at least twelve months, and operate or intend to form an eligible creative business. They can apply once every three years, and non-profit organizations are not eligible.