The Alliance for Creative Rural Economies (ACRE) brings creativity-driven economic development to communities across Western Pennsylvania, Northern West Virginia, and Ohio.

Whether you identify as an artist, maker, designer, or craftsperson, you may have sophisticated skills when it comes to making but the business side of things often remains underdeveloped. ACRE provides participants with the foundations to become business owners ready to professionalize their passion.
Through an application process, the Creative Business Accelerator (CBA) and regional ACRE Partners will select up to 10 creative entrepreneurs and guide them through an intensive, yet supportive yearlong program. The application process begins with completing the form below, which asks basic questions about your business and why you want to participate in ACRE. We will follow up with an email that includes a link to our Business Growth Ladder survey, which will ask you more detailed questions to give us an idea of your business's growth stage. 
 
To begin, please fill out the form below to apply for the 2023 - 2024 ACRE program for the New Kensington, Greensburg, and Johnstown areas.

If you have any questions, please contact Katie Johnson at kjohnson@bridgewaycapital.org.

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* 1. First name

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* 2. Last name

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* 3. Preferred email address

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* 4. For our grant reporting purposes, which of the following best represents your racial or ethnic heritage? Choose all that apply or add your own description in the box provided

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* 5. For our grant reporting purposes, which of the following best represents your gender? Please note that you may add your own description in the box provided

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* 6. Are you a veteran?

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* 7. Business Address Street 1 (this may be your home address)

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* 8. Business address 2 if applicable

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* 9. Business Address City

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* 10. Business Address Zip Code

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* 11. Business Address County

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* 12. For the purpose of ACRE programming, please use the dropdown to identify the city you most strongly identify your business with.

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* 13. Business name

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* 14. Business URL (if applicable. Please use http: format)

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* 15. Instagram URL (if applicable. Please use http: format)

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* 16. Facebook URL (if applicable. Please use http: format)

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* 17. Year founded/when operations began

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* 18. In 2 - 3 sentences, please describe your business.

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* 19. How would you designate your business using a NAICS Code? (Please enter your 6-digit code found using the linked resource)

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* 20. Where do you primarily produce your products?

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* 21. How do you sell your product or service?

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* 22. What level of financial independence have you realized through your creative business? (Select the option that best applies to you)

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* 23. What are your main business goals over the next year?

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* 24. What do you hope to achieve through ACRE?

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* 25. Please confirm your eligibility:

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* 26. Please list any incubators, accelerators, or business learning programs you’ve previously participated in.

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* 27. Is there anything else you would like for us to know about you or your business? 

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