Grants for Small Businesses

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (MassCEC) is offering a grant ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 through its InnovateMass Program, aimed at supporting teams deploying new clean energy technologies or innovative combinations of existing technologies with strong commercialization potential, to address energy challenges, grow the state's clean energy economy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in New York City that are working to improve procurement access and capacity for small businesses owned by historically excluded groups.

This grant provides financial assistance to independently-owned restaurants, gastropubs, and bakeries in the U.S. that have suffered revenue losses due to recent natural disasters or severe weather events.

This fellowship program supports entrepreneurs in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area who are developing innovative solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience.

This funding provides financial support for small businesses and property owners in Chicago to make permanent improvements and repairs to their commercial and industrial properties.

Applications are now being accepted for the Science & Technology Business Startup Grants from the New Mexico Economic Development Department. Donor Name: New Mexico Economic Development Department State: New Mexico County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/24/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The New Mexico Science & Technology Business Startup Grant is a competitive state-funded grant that supports small businesses engaged in research and development with the potential for commercializing their technology. This grant assists early-stage companies that are developing a unique product and exhibit strong growth potential. Funds from this grant are intended for business development expenses, providing recipients additional resources to commercialize their technology in their company’s early stage. Criteria New Mexico-based for-profit science or technology companies are eligible to apply. Applicants must be in one of the following industry sectors: aerospace, biosciences, advanced computing, intelligent manufacturing, and sustainable and green energy. For more information, visit EDD.

This program provides a pitch competition and investor introductions for women and founders of color in the U.S. with scalable startups that have a minimum viable product and some customer traction, specifically targeting those outside major startup hubs.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is offering the Resilient Food System Infrastructure grant, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, to support Vermont-based businesses and organizations in strengthening local and regional food systems by increasing market access, production, and product diversity, with a focus on creating new revenue streams and economic opportunities, improving job quality, and enhancing compliance with food safety requirements.

The Orange County Business Investment Grant Program in North Carolina is seeking applications to provide financial support ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to stimulate non-farm business development and expansion within the county, with eligibility criteria including the business's physical location, operational duration, tax status, and connection with business counseling services.

The 24 Squared Grant Program, funded by Square Financial Services and the Community Foundation of Utah, offers grants between $1,000 to $10,000 to Utah-based non-profit organizations engaged in community development activities such as affordable housing, small business development, reentry support, and financial wellness, with special awards for the highest scored organization, those with great potential, and those supporting local small businesses.

Gener8tor is inviting applications for its gBETA Social Impact Accelerator Program, a free, seven-week virtual initiative offering coaching, mentorship, and resources to early-stage companies focused on equity in education or criminal justice reform, with the aim to prepare them for investment accelerators or seed funding rounds.

The Gener8tor is accepting applications for its 2024 gBETA Urban League Accelerator Program. Donor Name: Gener8tor State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Program Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/25/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: gBETA Urban League is open to Madison businesses owned by Black entrepreneurs and other entrepreneurs of color from high tech startups to Main Street small businesses.  gBETA runs multiple times every year in cities across the United States. Up to five companies from a range of verticals are selected from a competitive applicant pool to participate in the free seven-week program. Participating companies receive: Individualized coaching and mentorship from the team of nationally ranked accelerator gener8tor on company growth and investor readiness Weekly “Lunch & Learns” and “Mentor Swarms” Investor and accelerator pitches $1M+ in deals and perks from vendors like IBM Cloud, Rackspace, Amazon, Paypal, Zendesk, Hubspot and Microsoft Ongoing post-program support and gener8tor community involvement and offerings gBETA’s goal is that graduates will go on to participate in an investment accelerator or raise a seed round. Eligibility Criteria for gBETA Urban League Madison You’re based in Madison Open to Madison businesses owned by Black entrepreneurs and other entrepreneurs of color from high tech startups to Main Street small businesses with a particular focus on entrepreneurs who are interested in becoming a part of the Urban League of Greater Madison’s Black Business Hub. You’re Committed While they don’t expect you to be full-time on your business yet, programming is about a five-hour commitment each week, and they expect that you will be spending additional time working on your business each week outside of the program. You’re Ready to Grow gBETA companies range from “I have an idea” to “I have significant revenue.” Although most gBETA companies are post-product, pre-scale, as long as you are ready to make use of coaching on customer growth and investor readiness, mentor meetings, and investor and accelerator pitches, they’re ready for you! For more information, visit gener8tor.

The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office and Sustainability Commission are pleased to announce the Neighborhood Sustainability Grants Program. Donor Name: City of Flagstaff State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/30/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Neighborhood Sustainability Grant (NSG) Program provides funding for creative projects that enhance community sustainability and promote healthy lifestyles through community partnerships. Grant Goals  NSG projects must further at least one of the following goals: Meaningfully involve underserved communities, diverse groups, or vulnerable populations. Build community partnerships. Facilitate volunteer engagement or management. Grant Categories  NSG projects must fall into one of the following categories: Building Energy Climate Action Food Public Health Resilience Transportation Waste. Funding Information The NSG Program for the year 2024 will award a total of $75,000 with a maximum of $7,500 for each individual grant. Eligibility Criteria Individuals, groups of individuals, community groups, educational groups, nonprofit organizations, churches, and locally owned businesses are eligible to apply for projects that are within the Flagstaff city limits. Applicants are eligible for a maximum of one award. Applicants are eligible for other City awards in the same year. Successful applicants are eligible for one NSG grant award every other fiscal year. Applicants must disclose any conflicts of interest. Ineligibility  Grants will NOT be awarded to: Political or partisan groups or exclusive clubs. Applicants who have failed to successfully carry out a previous grant project unless appropriate justification is made. Applicants that discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, age, citizenship, non-disqualifying disability, national origin, or sexual orientation. For more information, visit City of Flagstaff.

The Town of Trophy Club's Thrive Business Grant Program offers matching grants to local businesses for improvement projects such as façade enhancements, interior renovations, and equipment purchases, aiming to boost economic growth and community prosperity, with the application deadline set for September 30, 2024.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is accepting applications for its Manufacturing Retention Grant Program to retain a company’s operating presence in Illinois by encouraging investments in its employees, facilities, equipment, technologies, and infrastructure. Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity State: Illinois County: McDonough County (IL) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/25/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: This is a new program with limited awards, supported though the Enterprise Fund administered by DCEO. Enterprise Fund grants may encompass a wide range of economic development projects including infrastructure, capital equipment purchases and any employee related expenditures that will result in job retention in Illinois.  The primary goal of this grant is to retain the company’s manufacturing campus in Bushnell at operating production levels that support the minimum employment level of 100 employees at this site.  Funding Information Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is $5,000,000. Grant Period The period of performance is expected to be from September 1, 2024 through August 31, 2026.  Eligible Expenses Eligible expenses for these funds include: Employee payroll for existing employees, including unpaid backpay incurred from 5/14/2024 through the time of grant period. Invoices for services incurred from 5/14/2024 through the time of grant period. Training expenses for existing employees.  Machinery, Equipment, Tooling Refurbishment /Replacement (e.g., forging hammers & dies, Swiss lathes, forklift maintenance, EDM mills & dies). Facility Repairs (e.g., roof repair, air compressor installation, safety & electrical upgrades, site demolition & clean-up). Productivity/Innovation (e.g., robotics reprogramming & expansion, induction heat furnaces, material storage redesign). Replenishment of Inventory (e.g., maintain stocking levels at standard amounts to support daily production). Eligibility Criteria Must be a private for-profit business entity.  Must be the legal owner of and have the authority to implement investments in a major manufacturing complex located in Bushnell, IL. Must have extensive direct applicable experience in operating a successful tool manufacturing firm. Business entity must have less than 1,000 employees.  Must have acquired a tool manufacturing firm in McDonough County that has a minimum 100 full-time equivalent employees.  For more information, visit DCEO.

The Alexander County Economic Development Corporation is offering grants of $1,000 to $5,000, funded by the Duke Energy Foundation, to businesses in Alexander County, North Carolina, for projects aimed at enhancing physical spaces, e-commerce, service delivery, equipment purchase, ADA accessibility, and public health compliance, with a special focus on fostering entrepreneurship and expanding childcare centers.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses and certain nonprofits in Minnesota that have experienced significant revenue declines due to economic hardships.

The Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice (SRRJ) Expansion/Growth Grant supports Black-owned restaurants and food businesses across the United States by providing financial assistance aimed at start-up costs, business improvements, and sustainability efforts. Originating in 2020 as a coalition focused on aiding Black-owned restaurants during the Covid-19 pandemic, SRRJ has since partnered with The LEE Initiative and has raised over $4 million in corporate funding. The grants are part of an ongoing effort to preserve and promote Black culinary traditions and leadership. For 2024, each grant will be awarded in the amount of $20,000. The deadline for applications is September 15, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST.

This grant provides funding for projects in California that utilize tire-derived aggregate for various applications, such as retaining walls, stormwater management, and landfill enhancements, aimed at promoting sustainable waste tire recycling.

The Women’s Business Development Council offers grants of up to $10,000 to qualified women-owned small businesses in Connecticut. Donor Name: Women’s Business Development Council State: Connecticut County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/24/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Ignite is designed to help women-owned businesses grow! Grants between $2,500 and $10,000 will be awarded for clearly defined projects that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth and profitability. Eligibility Criteria  To be eligible, the business must: Be 51% or more woman-owned Be headquartered in CT, registered in the state of CT, and owned by a CT resident Have been in business for at least two years before the application round deadline, with a record of sales Have a record of annual sales/revenue in the last twelve months greater than $25,000 and less than $2,000,000 Be in good standing with the CT Department of Revenue Services (DRS) Have an established business checking account Currently utilize a formal, digital bookkeeping/financial system (e.g. QuickBooks, Sage, FreshBooks, Wave Accounting) Be a for profit business Be owned by a woman at least 18 years old Have invested at least $2,500 into your business in the last 12 months, unless the business is located in a distressed municipality The following businesses are not eligible: Childcare businesses are not eligible for the Ignite Grant. If your business is in the childcare industry, WBDC has other programs for you.  Any individual or business that has already received an Ignite Grant, Equity Match Grant or WBDC Municipal Grant is not eligible. Non-profit organizations are not eligible. Current vendors or contractors of WBDC are not eligible. (Former vendors are eligible to apply a year after working with WBDC.) Medical marijuana; liquor stores and alcohol distributors; adult businesses such as strip clubs; vape retailers; tobacco shops and smoking lounges; businesses having to do with gambling; gun stores and ranges; cash advance, check cashing, or pawn shops; bail bonds; collection agencies or services; and auction or bankruptcy or fire or “lost-the-lease” or “going-out-of-business” or similar sale. For more information, visit WBDC.