Fueling Entrepreneurial Dreams in Centre County 

While Centre Foundation is best known for supporting nonprofits, it also plays a crucial role in empowering local creative entrepreneurs. Through the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program (CEAP), the Foundation is injecting $8,000 in starter capital into emerging businesses, cultivating a thriving ecosystem where innovation and creativity take center stage. 

Designed as a small business incubator, the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program connects entrepreneurs with essential resources and financial support. As one of fourteen Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) partners, Centre Foundation administers PCA grants to help entrepreneurs start or grow their new businesses while emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion. It prioritizes investments in BIPOC entrepreneurs and those benefiting or working in low-income communities. 

Through this program, the Foundation provides a vital boost for creative businesses in Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, and Huntingdon counties, helping them broaden their reach, improve their services, and expand their audience. 

To be eligible for this program, entrepreneurs must own or plan to start a micro-business with annual gross revenue under $200,000 in fields like marketing, visual arts, design, and more. This grant is available once a year in June, with each applicant allowed to submit one application per cycle.  

Meet the Entrepreneurs

This year’s grantees showcase diverse talents, each poised to elevate their creative ventures. From a visionary clothing artist hoping to redefine fashion to a passionate music teacher expanding her studio, a storyteller transforming data into compelling narratives, and a photographer capturing unique perspectives—these entrepreneurs are ready to take their businesses to the next level!  

Christina McNeill: Art You Can Wear – Christina McNeill plans to use the grant as seed money to create a graphic apparel line that blends original artwork with sustainable fabrics. “I want my designs to be cherished for their durability and unique style,” she says.  With the support of the CEAP grant, Christina will also research the best printing methods and fabric types to perfect her product line. She’s testing Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing, which works wonderfully for her colorful pencil drawings and screen printing to bring her bold black-and-white pen-and-ink artwork to life. The grant will also help fund essential software for refining her designs and support marketing efforts to expand her reach.  

Kelly Scott: A New Stage for Talent – The goal of Kelly Scott Studios is to create a space where musicians and artists can take voice and music lessons and engage in high-level performing arts training, workshops, and ongoing coursework. With the help of the grant, Kelly is expanding her studio to meet the growing demand from aspiring singers and seasoned professionals. The expansion will include new equipment and additional classes, offering opportunities for middle and high-school-aged singers and adult professionals eager to refine their skills. “It’s a significant step forward,” states Kelly Scott, “ensuring I can continue to nurture talent, foster creativity, and provide the tools necessary for my students to reach new heights in their craft. It’s very exciting!” 

Teresa L. Hamilton: Storytelling in the Digital Age – Teresa, the founder of Hamilton Outwrite, specializes in transforming complex STEM data into clear, compelling narratives.  She explains, “Identifying hidden stories in data helps researchers present their findings in a way that resonates with academic and public audiences, making their messages more impactful and meaningful.” The grant will support Teresa’s business by upgrading her tools, including publishing software and a high-performance computer. These upgrades will enable her to take on larger projects and deliver faster results. Additionally, the funds will help with marketing efforts and support targeted advertising campaigns to attract new clients. 

Vern Horst: Capturing Business Essence – Vern Makes, LLC is dedicated to helping small businesses showcase their unique identities through brand photography. Vern enthusiastically shares, “I’m offering my skills to help these businesses with all of their photographic needs—photos of the business, employees, products, and anything else to help promote their business.” With the grant, Vern is investing in a new camera and upgraded equipment, ensuring he can continue to deliver high-quality visuals that help businesses shine. His work enables businesses to capture their essence and stand out in a crowded market. 

In partnership with the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA), Centre Foundation is helping to fuel innovation, foster inclusion, and enrich the community by providing financial support to these unique creative entrepreneurs.  

To learn more about the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program (CEAP), which will open for applications in June 2025, visit https://centrefoundation.org/grants/creative-entrepreneur-accelerator-program.