Artists, makers, designers, and craftspeople pour skill, vision, and heart into their work—yet many haven’t had the chance to build the business tools that help that work thrive.

ACRE creates space for creative entrepreneurs to grow their confidence, strengthen their business foundations, and build more sustainable futures for their practice.

Across ACRE Cohorts, participants move through a yearlong, three-phase journey shaped by skill-building, coaching, and peer support. While each cohort is unique, all follow this shared structure, helping participants develop practical business plans and clearer pathways toward creative fulfillment, financial stability, and meaningful community impact.

2025 ACRE PARTICIPANTS

Oil City Area

Century Arts Design and Fine Art Studio
Diaoptics LLC
Evergreen Pottery Ltd
Glass Carousel Press
HL Wirtner
Hollow Oak Press
Jae Austen Art
John Manders Illustration
Scott McCray Studio
Querida Designs
Ryan W. Beichner
Space Art by Christopher Doll
The Craft Cottage by Kate
The Fallen Shoppe
The Melting EmPOURium
The Rhoads Gone Rogue

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Uniontown Area

ABC Adornments Baubles and Crafts
Axe & Anchor Ironworks
Black Marker Brands
Black Tortoise LLC
Chopyakwood
eLVee Doone Studios
Harvest is Life
Robert Hensley Nature Reconnect
Sager Mosaics
Stephanie’s Pottery Shop
Travis Winters Ceramics

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State College Area

Ann Tarantino Studio LLC
Annie Vidunas Ceramics
ARTery Art Space
BJ Watson Ceramics
Chobi Art
Ciera Made
Elm Rose Designs
Emily Dolbin LLC
Hamilton Outwrite
Kaleidoscope PA
Ms. Margot’s Music
Pro Crafty Nate
Seams Legit LLC
Sunny Get Up LLC
The inkSpott
The Weather Vein
Yoga Lab, LLC

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Explore the ACRE Journey

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Business planning works best when it’s grounded in true understanding, shaped by clear goals, and supported with real resources. The ACRE Journey brings these elements together in a structured, supportive way.

 

LEARN

Understand the elements of a business plan, including branding, marketing, financials, operations, and other fundamentals.

PLAN

Develop guiding documentation to shape their decision-making as they pursue opportunities and overcome barriers.

THRIVE

Graduate an ACRE Cohort with the entrepreneurial confidence and capital readiness needed to thrive.

ACRE ESSENTIALS

Eligibility

  • Identifies as an artist, maker, designer, craftsperson, and small-batch manufacturer
  • Has operated a creative business for a minimum of one year and has sold products or services
  • Has access to a computer and the internet to join virtual meetings and complete homework
  • Identifies an ACRE Place (e.g. Oil City, PA, Uniontown, PA) as a natural hub for their creative community
  • Aspires to become a full-time creative business owner
  • Able to attend in-person meetings and workshops
  • Agrees to complete pre- and post-program surveys
  • Agrees to usage of likeness in photographs, videos, or other media taken during program activities for promotional, educational, or other business purposes

Priority

  • Entrepreneurs that have experienced barriers to economic growth
  • Entrepreneurs with evidence of and aspirations for small business growth and social impact, including:
    • Achieving financial resilience
    • Revitalizing Main Street corridors
    • Elevating underserved populations
    • Creating quality jobs
  • Entrepreneurs seeking funding from Bridgeway Capital or other sources

Timeline

  • Applications typically open several months before a new ACRE Cohort begins and include a two-part submission process
  • Applicants complete a Business Growth Ladder (BGL) assessment to help determine their business needs and readiness
  • Selected Participants are notified shortly after the application period closes
  • The ACRE Cohort runs for approximately one year and is organized into a three-phase structure
  • Virtual learning sessions are held regularly throughout the program, often biweekly
  • In-person peer gatherings occur periodically and are scheduled with participant input

Benefits

  • Virtual sessions lead by content experts from across the region
  • In-person peer gatherings to process knowledge and explore collaborations
  • Professional creative assets to enhance marketing effectiveness
  • One-on-one guidance from business coaches
  • Targeted consultations with business topic specialists
  • Improved readiness for grants and loans from Bridgeway and other regional funders

“ACRE is absolutely transformational for independent makers. The program recognizes the value in cultivating a creative-based economy in small towns. The talent was already here, but the resources make it possible.”

Katie Kinka | Owner of Fireweed & Free
2024 ACRE Johnstown, PA Cohort

TARGETED GOALS

Goals for Creatives

  • Learn from experts on a variety of topics such as legal considerations, financial management, and marketing strategies.
  • Benefit from one-on-one mentoring from business advisors with expertise in leadership, production, markets, strategy, and more.
  • Develop actionable business planning to access capital, build teams, and make the leap into a commercial, production, and retail space.
  • Strengthen connections and networks, including developing valuable relationships with peer entrepreneurs, support resources, small business mentors, supply chain partners, etc.

Goals for Communities

  • Increase the visibility of a specific region, city, and town’s creative economy via ACRE’s regional branding activities and local community engagements.
  • Support entrepreneurial peer networks through intentional cohorts of creative businesses that learn, grow, and connect over the course of a year (and beyond).
  • Deliver targeted, resonant, and high-touch business education programs for creative entrepreneurs aiming to achieve measurable and lasting progress.

SAMPLE SESSION TIMELINE & TOPICS

Goals, Expectations & Readiness

Tuesday, January 14 at 6pm (Virtual) with Bridgeway Capital

Mindset, Mission & Values

Tuesday, January 28 at 6pm (Virtual) with Creative Coaching by Azriel

Price & Process Considerations

February 4 at 6pm (Virtual) with Marzolf Advisors

Tax & Financial Foundations 1

February 18 at 6pm (Virtual) with Sunlight Tax

Tax & Financial Foundations 2

March 4 at 6pm (Virtual) with with Sunlight Tax

Legal Considerations 1

March 18 at 6pm (Virtual) with Trellis Legal

Legal Considerations 2

April 8 at 6pm (Virtual) with Trellis Legal

Insurance Considerations

May 6 at 6pm (Virtual) with Simpson | McCrady

Marketing Considerations 1

June 4 at 6pm (Virtual) with Third Fox Design

Marketing Considerations 2

June 18 at 6pm (Virtual) with Third Fox Design

Funding Considerations

July 8 at 6pm (Virtual) with Bridgeway Capital

THE ROLE OF ACRE PARTNERS

ACRE Partners play an essential role in shaping each ACRE Cohort by bringing deep local knowledge, community relationships, and place-based expertise to the program. Through space for in-person gatherings, connections to local markets, and insight into regional challenges and opportunities, partners help ensure the curriculum is grounded in the realities of each ACRE community.

Past partners have included organizations such as Touchstone Center for Crafts, Wheeling Heritage, The Corner LaunchBox, and the Oil Region Alliance, each contributing unique strengths that support creative entrepreneurs and strengthen local creative economies.

 

ACRE is a creative economy program from Bridgeway Capital, a social impact lender that provides impact-driven lending and programs to grow businesses and revitalize places.

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