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Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator
The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator is not currently accepting applications. We will share updates on the spring 2026 grant cycle as soon as they become available.
IMPORTANT UPDATE AS OF 11/7/25
PA Creative Industries is working to revise the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (CEA) program design to ensure enhanced, strategic business development support for program participants. They plan to centralize administration of the CEA program statewide and anticipate sharing details in the fall of 2026. The following pertains to specific grant rounds:
- 2024 Creative Entrepreneurs: Grants have concluded and many of you have completed all final requirements. If you have not submitted your financial report and receipts, or completed the survey from Bridgeway Capital, please get in touch with us via grants@philaculture.org.
- 2025 Creative Entrepreneurs: We will remain the point of contact for you. The grant term is through August 15, 2026 and your grant agreements remain unaffected. You are still required to submit financial reporting and receipts to the Cultural Alliance, and to complete the final report/survey through Bridgeway Capital. We will share the process to submit materials in the coming weeks.
- Pending the passage of the Commonwealth budget, we will administer one additional round of CEA funds in spring 2026 (FY2025-2026). We will share updates as soon as they become available.
For future grant opportunities in FY2026-2027, the Cultural Alliance will not be administering the CEA program. PA Creative Industries is working to revise the CEA program design to ensure enhanced, strategic business development support for program participants. They anticipate sharing details about and future application timelines for the CEA program in the fall of 2026.
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.
2026 Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program Description
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.
Please review the 2025-2026 CEA Guidelines. We will share more information on the specific process and timeline in late January or early February 2026.
Past Rounds
If you have questions about the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator grant, please email grants@philaculture.org
