Investing in the success of small arts, cultural, and creative businesses in San José
The Creative Economy Fund (fka Creative Industries Incentive Fund) awards project grants to arts, cultural, and creative-based commercial businesses that are located in the City of San José and involved in the production or distribution of the arts, including manufacturers, service providers, presenters, and designers, among others. Funding supports projects and activities aimed at building successful arts, cultural, and creative-based small businesses in San José. For the 2025 grantmaking round, a total of $40,000 is available.
Grants of up to $8,000 will be awarded through a competitive grant application process. Competitive applicants will contribute to the city’s cultural vibrancy, demonstrate readiness for project implementation, grow and achieve greater financial resilience, and demonstrate economic impact(e.g., attracting visitors, generating sales tax, creating jobs) in the City of San José. Competitive applicants will also reflect the City’s diverse cultural communities and creative-based commercial landscape.
The Creative Economy Fund is an initiative of the City of San José Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs (OEDCA). The Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), a nonprofit intermediary focused on the economic security of individuals in the arts, is partnering with OEDCA to administer the Creative Economy Fund.
Application Opens |
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Information Session | May 7 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. PT. Register Here If you’re unable to attend, a recording and a copy of the presentation deck will be posted on CCI’s website by May 9 at 5 p.m. PT. |
Office Hours |
May 28 from 10:00-11:00 a.m. PT. Register Here June 9 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. PT. Register Here Please note: These are not formal presentations, nor will they be recorded. The Office Hours are an opportunity to have your questions addressed by CCI staff in real time. So that everyone's time can be used efficiently, we ask that you review the grant guidelines, application preview, and Frequently Asked Questions in advance! |
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Panel Review |
Week of July 28 |
San José Arts Commission meeting (per approval of recommended grantees) |
August 18 at 5:30 p.m. PT |
Notifications |
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Period of Support |
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To be eligible for Creative Economy Fund consideration, businesses must meet the following criteria:
*Applicants will be required to upload a copy of their active San José business tax certificate. To register your business or renew your business tax certificate, visit the City of San José’s website here.
In addition, businesses can apply only once. In other words, businesses cannot submit multiple applications for different projects. Similarly, individuals who own or operate multiple businesses may apply only once for only one business. We will not accept multiple applications from the same proprietor. This is so we can support as many unique applicants as possible in a competitive application process.
Past CIIF grantees, along with past and current Creative Economy Fund grantees, are eligible to apply if a final report has been submitted to and approved by CCI prior to the deadline of June 20, 2025. Please note that first-time applicants may be prioritized.
The following are ineligible for funding consideration:
Application Preview
Application Preview
Sample Project Budget (Project budgets are required; however, using the "Sample Project Budget" template is optional)
The 2025 application cycle opens April 28 at 9 a.m. PT.
CCI staff are here to help and listen. Please email us at grants@cciarts.org (include Creative Economy Fund in the subject line) or call 415.288.0530 for assistance. You may also schedule a time to speak here. For Deaf applicants and those with hearing loss, contact CCI using the California Relay Service—our staff are trained in making and receiving these calls.
If you need technical assistance (e.g., password or upload issues), request support at: https://www.submittable.com/help/submitter/. Submittable’s business hours are 9 am – 5 pm MT. They aim to respond within 24 business hours.
The Creative Economy Fund is an initiative of the City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the Center for Cultural Innovation.