Harrisburg Program Helps Small Businesses Survive as Others Close

The city's Small Business Accelerator Program provides free training and grants to struggling local entrepreneurs.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:34pm

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Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is facing a wave of small business closures, with five downtown establishments shutting down in the past year alone. To help local entrepreneurs weather the economic challenges, the city has partnered with M&T Bank to offer the free, eight-week Small Business Accelerator Program for the fifth year running. The program teaches crucial skills like establishing credit, branding, and marketing, and also provides grants of up to $5,000 to qualifying businesses that have been open between two to five years and have revenues between $50,000 and $500,000.

Why it matters

Small businesses are the backbone of Harrisburg's economy, and their struggles reflect the broader economic challenges facing the city. By supporting these entrepreneurs through training and funding, the city hopes to help them not just survive, but thrive, which in turn will drive growth and revitalization in the downtown area.

The details

The Small Business Accelerator Program covers a range of topics to help entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses, including establishing credit, branding, and marketing. Participants can also win grants of up to $5,000 to help fuel their growth. To qualify, businesses must have been open between two to five years and have revenues between $50,000 and $500,000.

  • The Small Business Accelerator Program is in its fifth year.
  • Applications for the program are open through April 10, 2026.

The players

Zach Madar

Co-owner of Anna Rose Bakery, a local business that has struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wanda Williams

The Democratic mayor of Harrisburg, who says that when small businesses grow, the city grows as well.

Lisa Lickers

An entrepreneur who went from being a teen mom to the CEO of her own financial services company, Kingdom Wealth Strategies, after participating in the Small Business Accelerator Program.

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What they’re saying

“It's been a struggle ever since COVID.”

— Zach Madar, Co-owner, Anna Rose Bakery

“When our small businesses grow, Harrisburg grows. It's that simple.”

— Wanda Williams, Mayor of Harrisburg

“A lot of people have really, really great ideas. But in order for it to be a sustainable business, you need systems in place. And so programs like this allow you to be able to begin to learn and implement those systems.”

— Lisa Lickers, CEO, Kingdom Wealth Strategies

What’s next

Applications for the Small Business Accelerator Program are open through April 10, 2026. Businesses that are selected for the program will receive eight weeks of free training and have the opportunity to win grants of up to $5,000 to help fuel their growth.

The takeaway

Harrisburg's Small Business Accelerator Program is a crucial lifeline for local entrepreneurs struggling to keep their doors open in the face of economic challenges. By providing training, resources, and funding, the city is investing in the long-term success of its small business community, which is essential for driving growth and revitalization in the downtown area.