Ignite Grant Program

The Ignite Grant Program is a funding initiative of the Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC), designed to support women-owned small businesses headquartered in Connecticut. As a leading advocate for women's economic advancement, WBDC provides programs and resources to help women start, sustain, and grow their businesses. The Ignite program specifically targets businesses that demonstrate potential for measurable growth and profitability, with the aim of making a transformative impact on their future trajectory. Eligible businesses may receive grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. These grants are intended for specific, growth-oriented projects rather than for covering general operating costs. Allowable uses of the funds include acquiring equipment, investing in technology to increase capacity, or funding training that enables the business to expand its services. Ineligible uses include marketing expenses, payroll, rent, inventory, debt repayment, and construction costs. To qualify, applicants must have invested a minimum of $2,500 into their business over the past 12 months unless they are located in a distressed municipality. The program mandates that applicants must meet a series of criteria. Businesses must be at least 51% women-owned, registered and headquartered in Connecticut, and operated by a Connecticut resident. They must have been in business for at least two years and report annual gross revenue between $25,000 and $2,000,000. Eligible businesses must also use a formal digital bookkeeping system, maintain a business bank account, and be in good standing with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. Sole proprietorships, non-profit organizations, childcare businesses, and prior recipients of WBDC funding—including the Ignite, Equity Match, or Municipal grants—are ineligible. Applications are submitted through WBDC’s online portal. A completed application must include four sections: a business description, a narrative on how funds will be used, a broader business narrative, and supporting documentation. Applicants must not email their submissions. Prior attendance at an information session (live or on-demand) is strongly recommended and unlocks access to one-on-one advising with WBDC business advisors. These advisors provide free support but do not participate in grant award decisions. The selection process is competitive. Applications are reviewed by an independent panel of community experts. The committee looks for proposals that clearly demonstrate how the grant will drive growth, create jobs, and deliver return on investment. Successful applications provide well-developed financial projections and articulate how the requested funding aligns with long-term business plans. Results of the selection process are typically announced approximately eleven weeks after the application deadline. For the current cycle, applications are accepted from February 3, 2026, through March 18, 2026, at 11:59 PM. The Ignite Grant Program is recurring, with multiple funding cycles held annually. While the program is highly competitive, unsuccessful applicants who remain eligible are encouraged to reapply in future rounds. Businesses may apply up to three times, after which they must wait a year before reapplying. To further support applicants, WBDC also offers regular workshops on how to create business projections, along with information sessions held in both English and Spanish. These sessions help ensure that all applicants, regardless of background, have equitable access to this critical funding opportunity.

Clear and detailed projections, strong ROI explanation, measurable growth impact, and job creation potential will increase competitiveness.