We’re always happy to post opportunities for local authors and other Pittsburghers working in creative fields, so we’re excited to share Jessica Whipple’s experience with PA’s Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Grant. You can read that below, and you can also check out a Q&A with Jessica about her new book right here on Littsburgh!
Author Q&A About the Author: Jessica Whipple is a writer for adults and children. Her debut picture book ENOUGH IS… came out in April (Tilbury House, Illust. Nicole Wong). Another picture book called I THINK I THINK A LOT, which comes out in August (Free Spirit Publishing, Illust. Josée Bisaillon), is inspired by her experience having OCD. Her poetry is widely published in print and online literary magazines. Jessica lives in Lancaster with her family. To read more of her work, visit AuthorJessicaWhipple.com or follow her on Twitter.Author Site
Early this year I planned to hire a web developer to help me with a new website. I didn’t need anything fancy, I just needed something template-driven that would be easy for me to update. I got a few estimates between $1300-$1800.
As a new picture book author, of course I didn’t have that kind of money to spend! So I decided to research grants.
I considered all demographics with which I’d identify—grants for women, grants for small business, grants for the arts. That’s when I discovered the PA Arts Council’s Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program. It’s open to PA residents in the arts, so as writers, we qualify.
And let me tell you–I applied and I received it! But there isn’t just one award; while the government website doesn’t specify how many recipients there are, their approach seems to be to impact many creators. If you’d like to be considered, here’s what you need to know:
Open to people in the arts. So of course that’s writers/authors. I didn’t ask, but I’d bet an agent or editor could make a case, as well.
Max grant is $2000. These are small grants that are meant to “accelerate” your business. In the application, you outline briefly how you would use the money if you received it.
No deadline. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, so you can apply anytime. It was about a week from application to decision for me.
Process. The PA Arts Council uses local feeder organizations called PA Partners in the Arts (PPA) to help applicants prepare their grants. This serves as a vetting process, too, and orgs are divided by region. First, applicants meet in-person or online with their PPA—mine was the Berks Launch Box. After I had an interview and created a Business Model Template (a one-page, brief business model the PPA will assist with), the Berks Launch Box recommended me for the grant, which I then submitted.
There’s more! Even if I had not received the grant, in the process of meeting with the Berks Launch Box, I was given very helpful business advice and connected with an accountant who I then worked with on other matters. So that was a win in itself.
I am so pleased with the results, and so wowed by the free resources that are out there, I wanted to share it with everyone I know.
Here are the full details on the PA Arts Council’s Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program (pa.gov).
To get started on the process of applying, find your PA Partner in the Arts: PCA_Partnerships_Map_and_Contacts.pdf
Feel free to reach out to me via email if you have any questions before you get started! authorjessicawhipple@gmail.com
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