Small Business Startup Solutions has been selected as a proud recipient of the Lehigh Valley Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program grant, CEAP, valued at $2,000, to be used to grow our business, audience, and revenue.
This grant is funded by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program and administered by the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation.
According to CEAP this grant was designed to:
Pair creative entrepreneurs who aspire to start their own for-profit business or who operate an existing for-profit micro business with existing small business consulting services.
Provide financial resources through $2,000 grants.
Advance the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts’ overarching value of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Prioritize investments to creative entrepreneurs who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC).
Prioritize investments to creative entrepreneurs located in and whose work benefits low-income communities as defined by the Small Business Administration
The CEAP states that the funds can be used for:
Professional fees for workshops, consultants, and career coaching
Participation in events, trade shows, festivals, etc. that offer access to audience and revenue generation potential
Business development fees for courses or seminars for business skills
Research and development
Marketing and promotion
Development or upgrades to technology related to business practices
Studio/rehearsal/retail space rent
Reasonable fees for supporting/collaborating artists
Purchase of supplies and equipment.
To earn this grant, Small Business Startup Solutions was required to write a comprehensive business plan and have it reviewed by the SBDC.
"We have successfully demonstrated the viability and creativity of our startup. We are excited to use the CEAP grant to expand our business and are so appreciative of the support from Lehigh Valley Foundations and SBDC. We will follow up on how we use the grant gets allocated, " Emily Brown, owner and founder of Small Business Startup Solutions.
We encourage other fellow creative entrepreneurs to apply for this grant, as there are rolling opportunities by engaging with the Lehigh Valley Foundations and SBDC.
Together, we can continue to build a thriving community of creative businesses in the region.
Contact us if we can help you assemble a business plan to apply for your grant.
