Pennsylvania Council on the Arts PPA Partner

 As part of their new community-centered strategic plan, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA)

has launched a new program to help creative entrepreneurs grow their businesses and revenue. 

United Way of Clarion County administers this grant for

Region 13 - Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Indiana & Jefferson Counties.

To get started, contact any of our referral partners:

PennWest Clarion Small Business Development Center     Phone: (814) 393-2060     Email: sbdc@pennwest.edu

University of Pittsburgh Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence    Phone: 412-648-1544     Email: eswift@innovation.pitt.edu

Duquesne University Small Business Development Center     Phone: (412) 396-1633     Email: duqsbdc@duq.edu

Bridgeway Capital     Phone: 412-202-2450

PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc.     Phone: 800-895-1376 x408     Email: lknarr@pawildscenter.org

For more information contact United Way at (814) 226-8760 or info@uwclarionco.org

Once you've met with a referral partner and developed a business plan, use this link to complete the CEA Program Application

How to Apply to the Creative Sector Flex Fund

CSFF applications for Region 13 opened June 25, 2025 and will close October 30, 2025.  

Scroll down review the guidelines and find the application link.  

For more information, contact United Way of Clarion County at (814) 226-8760 or arts@uwclarionco.org

If your organization is not eligible for the Creative Sector Flex Fund,

please visit our Apply for a Grant page, for additional information on

opportunities that may better suit the needs of your organization. 

About the Creative Sector Flex Fund 

The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) introduced a new grant program, the Creative Sector Flex Fund (CSFF),

in 2023-2024, and is offering the program again for the 2024-2025 grant cycle. The CSFF is designed to address the

changing needs of dynamic PA arts organizations with average annual revenue between $10,000 - $200,000.

This grant program incorporates the current needs of the field by offering grantees the flexibility to use $5,000

grants in ways that ensure the most significant impact for their organizations and communities.  Eligible uses of

funds are flexible, including the support of applicants’ administrative, programmatic, and project-related expenses.

Please note: The PCA has retired Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts’ (PPA) Entry to Program Stream, and Program Stream grant programs. The decision to retire these programs resulted from the PCA’s consideration of conversations, feedback, observations, insights, research, and data review with state and industry leaders, panelists, grantees, and community members. The goal of this retirement is to enable the PCA to provide a funding avenue that better aligns with industry trends and the goals of our strategic plan. 

The PA Department of Community & Economic Development has partnered with United Way of Clarion County to

provide $3,000 grants to artists and other creative entrepreneurs who were negatively impacted by Covid-19.

Eligibility Criteria

• You are an active artist or creative entrepreneur who was working in your artistic discipline or operating a creative business in 2019.
• In 2019, you made the majority of your income from your creative work.
• You experienced a pandemic-related disruption to your income.
• You are a full-time resident of Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, or Jefferson County.

To learn more about this grant opportunity for residents of Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, & Jefferson Counties

contact United Way of Clarion County at (814) 226-8760

Applications Deadline: November 30, 2025