Bridgeway Capital empowers creative entrepreneurs to realize success and emerge as allies in rural revitalization.

 

STRENGTHENING RURAL ECONOMIES

The Alliance for Creative Rural Economies (ACRE) from Bridgeway Capital brings creativity-driven economic development to communities across Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia. ACRE partnering organizations support creative entrepreneurs—makers, designers, artists, craftspeople, and small-batch manufacturers—who are committed to sustaining and scaling their businesses in ways that strengthen their communities.

Working alongside local and regional stakeholders, ACRE expands equitable economic opportunity in disinvested areas across the multi-state region of Appalachia and helps elevate the creative identities of the ACRE Places it serves. As part of Bridgeway Capital’s broader mission, ACRE ensures that rural creative entrepreneurs have the capital, visibility, and support needed to thrive.

Learn More About Bridgeway

"ACRE Partners are committed to bringing creativity-driven economic development to communities across Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia. Through engaged partnerships and support, ACRE Partners are lifting up creatives and rural communities - together."

T.J. Bodgewic President and CEO, Bridgeway Capital

ACRE PARTNERS

Regional

Touchstone Center for Crafts

Pennsylvania Council on the Arts

Greensburg, PA

Seton Hill University’s Wukich Center

Westmoreland Cultural Trust

Johnstown, PA

Community Foundation for the Alleghenies

JARI

Morgantown, WV

Monongalia Arts Center

Main Street Morgantown

New Kensington, PA

The Corner LaunchBox

New Kensington Downtown Partnership

Oil City, PA

Oil Region Alliance

ARTS Oil City

State College, PA

The Rivet

3 Dots Downtown

Wheeling, WV

Wheeling Heritage

Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley

Uniontown, PA

Touchstone Center for Crafts

Fay-Penn Economic Development Council

UNIQUE COMMUNITIES, UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS

ACRE Partners work together to help creative entrepreneurs grow into impactful businesses that enliven cultural landscapes, strengthen local economies, create quality jobs, activate commercial spaces, and more. Each ACRE Place has distinct strengths and needs, and partners contribute essential local insight into the challenges and opportunities that shape how ACRE Participants start, grow, and sustain their businesses.

Partners support ACRE by:

  • Providing space for ACRE programming, workshops, and peer networking
  • Identifying and supporting market opportunities that help rural creatives increase sales and visibility
  • Offering thought leadership on engaging and supporting diverse rural creative entrepreneurs
  • Assisting with outreach during ACRE application cycles
  • Sharing insights on local economic challenges and opportunities facing small businesses
  • Highlighting region-specific resources that support ACRE Participant growth
  • Advocating for ACRE and its participants within the broader community
  • Exploring opportunities for Bridgeway’s social impact investing and business assistance programs

Program Leader

Chief Programs Officer at Bridgeway Capital, Adam Kenney brings strategy, vision, and deep creative-economy expertise to the CDFI’s economic development efforts. His leadership is informed by more than 25 years as a professional glassmaker in both production and academic settings, giving him firsthand insight into the needs and opportunities of creative entrepreneurs.

Before joining Bridgeway, Adam served as Executive Director of Touchstone Center for Crafts and as Manager of Operations at the Arts Education Collaborative within the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. At Bridgeway, he launched its creative-economy initiatives—including the Creative Business Accelerator, Monmade, PG&H, ORIGINS, and ACRE—which now support more than 2,500 creative businesses across the region and extend Bridgeway’s impact into the broader creative sector.

ACRE SUPPORT IS PROVIDED BY

 

 

 

 

QUESTIONS?

Bridgeway Capital helps creative businesses grow in ways that strengthen equitable economic development across the region. Contact us to start a conversation.

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