Small Business Grant Program

The Iron County Small Business Grant Program (SBG) is a funding initiative administered by the Iron County Economic Opportunity (CEO) Board in collaboration with the Cedar City Business & Innovation Center. The program is designed to stimulate local economic development by supporting established and emerging businesses in Iron County, Utah. It provides financial incentives to small businesses that propose impactful projects aligned with business growth, capital investment, and job creation. A total of $65,000 in funding is available for the 2025–2026 cycle, with individual grant requests capped at $30,000. Projects must include a 1:1 matching component such as investment in capital, equipment, or real estate, and those offering a higher percentage of matching funds will receive priority. Additional weight is given to applications that result in the creation of new, full-time, higher-wage jobs expected to be retained for at least 12 months. The application process is divided into two stages: pre-application and full application. The pre-application period runs from September 1 to September 30, 2025. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications by October 15, followed by a pitch presentation around October 22. Final award decisions will be announced by October 23, and all awarded projects must be completed by May 29, 2026. Eligible applicants must be businesses located in Iron County with a current business license or business plan. Projects must relate directly to business development or job creation and be compliant with local, state, and federal regulations. Ineligible applicants include nonprofits, businesses behind on taxes or permits, or those applying for projects located outside Iron County. Applicants may only receive an award once every three years. The program requires completion of a Request for Information (RFI) form as the initial pre-application. Upon approval, applicants will be invited to complete a full application, which includes documentation such as a detailed project description, business plan, budget, equipment quotes, licenses, and other supporting materials. Businesses must not initiate any project-related expenses or hiring before the contract (Memorandum of Understanding) is fully executed. Post-award, recipients must submit a final report detailing spending, outcomes, and documentation of the project’s success. For application assistance or questions, applicants can contact the Business Resource Center at brc@suu.edu.