Creativity Means Business: Celebrating Our 2026 CEA Grantees
In June, Erie Arts & Culture proudly awarded $36,000 from the Pennsylvania Creative Industries’ Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (CEA) Program to support 18 small businesses in Northwest Pennsylvania.
The CEA program connects entrepreneurs with businesses in the creative industries with free small business consulting services. This year’s grantees represent all 6 counties in our service region and a variety of creative disciplines: Visual Arts & Crafts, Music & Entertainment, Publishing, and Design. Erie Arts and Culture is proud of the artists who pursue their dreams in NWPA, and is honored to serve as a connector, offering resources that creatives need to thrive.
Erie Arts and Culture is grateful for the consultants who served as referral partners over the last four years, assisting applicants with their business plans and strategic goals: Erie’s Black Wall Street, Radius CoWork, Gannon University SBDC, Shenango Valley Launchbox, Wilds Cooperative of PA, PennWest Clarion SBDC, University of Pittsburgh Pantherlabworks, Bridgeway Capital, and Svetz Consulting. We couldn’t do this without your support!
Future cycles of the CEA grant will be administered directly by Pennsylvania Creative Industries. Learn more here: https://www.pa.gov/services/coa/apply-for-a-creative-entrepreneur-accelerator-grant
Learn more about our grantees and their businesses. Congratulations to all!
Grantees
MAJOR COIN, LLC • Kennedy Horton • Erie • A streetwear brand, creative media, and event company
Tataboline Enos • Warren • Built on Enos’ award-winning rural economic development memoir “Proudly Made”, Tataboline Enos writes books in physical and audio format and offers keynote speaking services
The Scribbler's Den • Katie Passerotti • Mercer • An educational writing platform designed to help writers develop their craft through structured learning experiences and community-centered education
Pulp and Vinegar • Jordan Bubin • Erie • A brand that blends digital historic storytelling edu-tainment with live performance
TS Embroidery • Travis Stewart • Erie • High-end custom embroidery services for corporations, small businesses, and individuals
Kay’s Nails • Kayla Gaston • Erie • A professional, high quality, nail salon offering personalized customer experience, creative nail artistry, strong community engagement, and a convenient downtown Erie location
Conemaugh Leather • David Deter • Erie • Handcrafted 18th-century and colonial-era leather goods
TheWavMax Company • Oryah Brown • Erie • Hip-Hop and R&B digital promotion services
Lichen coLab Creative, Inc. • Eleanor Earnhart • Lawrence • A Benefit Corporation building integrated infrastructure for ceramic artists and creative entrepreneurs in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio
Abstract Penguin • Andrew Chernauskas • Erie • A creative digital studio providing UX/UI design, custom website development, digital brand strategy, and web application solutions for businesses, nonprofits, and organizations
Abigail Paulson • Erie • Freelance vocalist, songwriter, and recording artist known for her warm, expressive tone and dynamic range
Soprano • Emma Rose Lewis • Erie • Providing unique classical and contemporary musical performances with educational programming at community events, educational institutions, retirement facilities, and more
Lucky Cat Lessons • Brooke Surgener • Erie • Private music studio offering songwriting lessons, co-writing services, and voice, piano, and guitar lessons
Octopuss Design • Jay Yurick • Crawford • Brand offering stationery, accessories, clothing, and home goods at the intersection of metal, punk, and pride
Imagination Photography • Frederick Fiedler • Erie • Offering 50 years of experience in photographic art, matting, framing, and education
Ant’s Art House • Anthony Carson • Erie • Visual and performing artist offering on-the-spot doodles, art prints, coloring and therapy books, and genre-bending folk and pop music
The Fallen Shoppe • Kaleb Lewis • Venango • An immersive retail and folklore experience featuring 14 local artisans, apparel, and special makeup effects/ sculpture education
Sharon Smith Metal Arts • Sharon Smith • Erie • Offering metal pieces rich in symbolism, style, and functionality, and metalsmith education
Interested in learning more about Erie Arts and Culture’s grants? Head to https://www.erieartsandculture.org/capacity-building for more information about funding for organizations and individuals.
