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Three organizations join forces in Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program

by Penn State Berks

Feb 13, 2023

The Berks LaunchBox, Berks Arts Council, and the Kutztown Small Business Development Center (SBDC) are partnering to host the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program (CEAP), a statewide grant program for entrepreneurs, funded by the PA Council on the Arts.

The program supports entrepreneurs who have a small business or are developing a business related to the arts. Funding ranges from $500 to $2000, which must be used to support business formation or development. Eligible entrepreneurs must have at least one consultation with Berks LaunchBox staff to review their business plan.

Since partnering in mid-2022,  the Berks LaunchBox has helped eight small businesses with their business plans and CEAP applications.

To qualify for the program, applicants must be at least 18 years old, a Pennsylvania resident for at least one year, have a gross revenue of less than $200,000, and intend to or operate a business within one or more creative industry areas including marketing, architecture, visual arts, design, film and media, digital games, music and entertainment, and publishing.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and creative entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for the program once every three years. Entrepreneurs located in or whose work benefits low-income communities or identifies as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC), as defined by the Small Business Administration, will receive priority.

Berks LaunchBox, Berks Arts Council, and the Kutztown Small Business Development Center are regional partners for Berks, Schuylkill and Lancaster Counties.

For more information about the CEAP program, contact Amanda Ehst at [email protected] or visit the CEAP website.

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