Certification of Eligibility to Apply for the StART-Up Creative Business Grant

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

StART-Up Creative Business Development Grant


To advance our creative entrepreneurs and strengthen communities through the arts, the ECRDA in partnership with the former StARTup Incubator/StARTup Incubator Board has launched a program to support creative entrepreneurs, helping them to grow their businesses and revenue. Creative entrepreneurs are invaluable assets to our community. They lead innovation, deliver creative products and services, generate economic opportunity, and build community identity. The stARTup Creative Business Development Grant program is designed to support these important businesses and we encourage your participation.


PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Program Purpose

Support Erie’s creative entrepreneurs to grow their business, audience, and revenue.


Grant Amounts

Grant amounts range from $500 to $5,000.


Eligibility

Creative for-profit entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for the grant once every twelve months. Businesses less than two years old; or established businesses seeking to branch out in a new creative direction. Businesses that are sole proprietorships or incorporated businesses with FEINs.

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18 years of age and a current resident of Erie County for at least one year.
• Creative entrepreneur’s business must have gross revenue less than $200,000.
• Be a creative entrepreneur intending to form a business or operating a business in Erie County within one or more of the following creative industry areas:

o Marketing – Advertising and marketing agencies & professionals
o Architecture – Architecture firms & architects
o Visual Arts & Crafts – Galleries, artists, artisans & makers
o Design – Product, interior, graphic, and fashion design firms and designers
o Film & Media – Film, video, animation, TV & Radio businesses
o Digital Games – Companies, programmers & individuals producing games
o Music & Entertainment –Producers, venues, musicians & performers
o Publishing – Print or electronic businesses & content creators, editors & writers
o Other sales of products or services with a unique, creative twist.


Eligible Uses of Funds

Funds must support business formation or development. Eligible uses of grant funds include:

• 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


Grants funds cannot be used for the following:

• Activities that have occurred prior to the grant
• Activities that have a religious purpose
• Payments to lobbyists
• Activities for which academic credit is given
• Offsets to regular business operating costs, including regular salary or wages
• Hospitality, food, or beverages


Click HERE for a PDF file that provides a visual checklist of the information and file attachment required for this StART-Up Creative Business Grant application. Important: You WILL NOT use this PDF for your actual submission. Your submission will be done entirely on line by clicking the link (HERE) below. The PDF is provided to you as a reference point and to assist you in compiling necessary information and file attachment requirements.

Please click HERE if you have read and understand the requirements above and are ready to continue.


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