United Way of Clarion County has announced the availability of three grants through two programs supported by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and one made possible through funding from the PA Department of Community & Economic Development.

The three grants are available to entrepreneurs and arts organizations in Armstrong, Butler, Clarion, Indiana and Jefferson counties.

The first grant is called the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program, which is designed to empower entrepreneurs by providing them with essential resources to launch or grow their for-profit businesses.

Eligible individuals who aspire to start a new venture or who currently operate a for-profit micro business can apply for grants of up to $2,000.

Applications for the Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program are accepted on a rolling basis and available, along with the guidelines at UWClarionCo.org under the PPA Partner in the Arts tab.

Then there is the Creative Sector Flex Fund grant, which is designed to address the evolving needs of nonprofit arts organizations, or nonart organizations with an art component in Pennsylvania with an average annual revenue between $10,000 and $200,000.

The application deadline is Oct. 30 and the $5,000 grants should be used in ways that will have the most significant impact on their organizations and the communities they serve.

Lastly there is the PA Arts and Culture Recovery Program grant which provides $3,000 grants to artists and other creative entrepreneurs who derived the majority of their pre-pandemic income from their artistic practice, and experienced a significant pandemic-related disruption to their income.

Applications will open on Oct. 1 for the PA Arts and Culture Recovery Program grant and are due Nov. 30.

There will be 5 information sessions held where attendees will learn about the grants available, eligibility, guidelines and the application process.

The only session happening in Butler County will take place at 6 p.m. on Sept. 24 at the Butler Art Center & Gallery, 344 S. Main Street in Butler.

Sessions are free and anyone interested in attending is encouraged to RSVP by emailing info@uwclarionco.org or calling 814-226-8760.