Grants for Small businesses - Business and Commerce

This grant provides funding and resources to early-stage ag-tech businesses in Kentucky to develop and market innovative solutions that enhance the agricultural industry.

The anticipated funding opportunity announcement (FOA) aims to support research and development projects under the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO). The goals include the demonstration of smart charge management for electric vehicles, improvement of 12-volt lead-acid batteries for safety-critical electric vehicle applications, development of strategies to reduce the likelihood of cascading effects of electric vehicle fires, reduction in battery electrode, cell, and pack manufacturing costs, advancement of silicon-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries, and development of high-energy density conversion cathodes. The FOA emphasizes advancing equity, addressing the climate crisis, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Eligible applicants are encouraged to include underrepresented groups and underserved communities in their project teams. The FOA will fund activities related to electric vehicle (EV) technologies, focusing on areas such as smart charge management, safety improvements in EV batteries, cost reduction in battery manufacturing, and the development of advanced battery materials. The Department of Energy aims to drive innovation in clean energy technologies, ensuring environmental justice and inclusion. Specific areas of interest include wide-scale demonstrations of smart charge management, enhancement of safety-critical 12-volt lead-acid batteries, reduction of cascading effects of battery fires, cost reduction in battery manufacturing, and the development of high-energy-density battery components.

This grant provides financial support for small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Hennepin County, Minnesota, to improve their recycling and organics recycling efforts by acquiring containers and compostable bags.

Farm Credit East recognizes the significance of farmers’ markets for both producers and consumers. In support of this vital marketing channel, we are offering Farmers' Market Grants of up to $500 to eligible applicants. These grants can be utilized to support participating farmers, enhance markets, improve marketing efforts, and implement programs aimed at aiding disadvantaged communities or enhancing access to fresh, local food. Please note that these grants are intended for public markets where multiple farms sell products, not for individual farm markets. Eligibility: Farmers' markets must be located within Farm Credit East’s eight-state territory: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Preference will be given to first-time applicants and markets serving underserved communities with limited access to fresh, local food. Awards will be granted at the sole discretion of Farm Credit East. How to Apply/Application Requirements: The 2024 application cycle is currently open. Please submit the Farmers' Market Grant Application by 4:00 PM on May 31. Recipients will be notified by late June.

This program provides financial assistance to small business and commercial property owners in Jackson, Mississippi, to improve the appearance of their buildings and attract more customers and investors.

This initiative provides $10,000 grants to over 100 LGBTQ small businesses in the U.S. that are owned by and serve LGBTQ people of color, women, and the transgender community, particularly those facing financial challenges due to COVID-19.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that assist small businesses, particularly those with five or fewer employees, focusing on underserved communities across Washington.

This program provides $5,000 to eligible Worcester-based businesses seeking certifications as Minority-Owned, Women-Owned, or Veteran-Owned through the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office.

This grant provides funding to various organizations to expand career education and training in allied health occupations for adults from disadvantaged backgrounds and healthcare workers facing advancement barriers.

BBB Cleveland Spark Award for Young Entrepreneurs is a $2,000 cash prize available to entrepreneurs aged 35 and younger with new businesses in Northeast Ohio. The award recognizes businesses less than three years old that demonstrate high character, authentic culture, and social impact within their community. Eligible organizations must be located in selected counties within BBB Serving Greater Cleveland's service area and have earned a "B" rating or higher from BBB. The deadline for application is 01/31/2024. For more information and to apply, visit the Better Business Bureau website.

This program provides training and support at no cost to small businesses, particularly those that are socially and economically disadvantaged, to help them compete for federal contracts and grow their operations.

This program provides funding to various organizations, including telecommunications providers and local governments, to improve broadband access and infrastructure in underserved areas of Utah.

This funding initiative provides financial support to small food businesses in specific cultural corridors of Washington, DC, helping them grow and thrive while preserving the community's cultural identity.

The City of Riverside's Small & Micro Business Grant Program aims to bolster local small business resiliency by offering grant awards to qualified businesses. This initiative aligns with a mission to foster economic stability and growth within the city, particularly for businesses that have experienced financial impacts, such as those related to COVID. The program's design suggests a strategic priority on community economic health and the long-term sustainability of its local enterprises, which is fundamental to a thriving city. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are small and micro-businesses located within Riverside city limits. Specifically, eligible businesses must have fewer than 50 employees, an annual gross revenue between $10,000 and $2,500,000, and must have been in operation prior to January 1, 2023, with a valid business license. A key focus is on businesses that can demonstrate a COVID financial impact, indicating an effort to support recovery and adaptation. The program targets not only established small businesses but also home-based businesses, emphasizing broad support for the local entrepreneurial landscape. Beyond direct financial support, the program prioritizes the holistic development of businesses. All applicants are offered a free one-on-one Strategic Planning Consultation. This component is designed to identify areas for improvement and to help businesses build customized strategies. This focus on capacity building and strategic planning indicates a theory of change that extends beyond immediate financial relief, aiming for long-term sustainability and increased financial stability. The expected outcomes of the Riverside Small & Micro Business Grant Program include enhanced financial stability for participating businesses, increased capacity for success, and improved long-term sustainability. While specific measurable results beyond the grant awards of up to $25,000 are not detailed, the emphasis on strategic planning consultations suggests an expectation of improved business operations and resilience. The program implicitly seeks to retain and grow local businesses, thereby contributing to the overall economic well-being of the City of Riverside.

This grant provides funding to Goshen County businesses to enhance their workforce training initiatives. It aims to complement potential funding from Wyoming Workforce Development, addressing the increasingly competitive nature of workforce development funds. The grant supports the creation of training programs that improve skills and capabilities, thereby boosting job creation and economic prosperity within the county. Deadlines: Applications due first Friday of November, February, May, August

The Florida Online Global-Website Localization Grant aims to help exporters expand their overseas presence through website localization services. The program, in partnership with IBT Online and SelectFlorida, offers various options for website globalization, including predefined and customized websites, website redesign, and e-commerce development, all optimized for target markets. Grants cover partial costs of localization services, with SelectFlorida covering up to $8,000 and the grantee responsible for $4,000 or the balance for customized services. Eligible entities must meet specific qualifications including being Florida-based, meeting minimum sales and employment criteria, and operating in approved sectors.

This funding opportunity provides $2,500 to U.S. small business owners and entrepreneurs to help them grow their ventures through various initiatives, marketing, or operational improvements.

The City of Hyattsville Vandalism Prevention Grants Program aims to offer financial relief to small businesses and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations within Hyattsville that have been negatively affected by vandalism. This program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and has a total of $15,000 available, split between two grants. The Vandalism Prevention Grant is specifically a reimbursement grant. While a direct "foundation mission alignment" and "theory of change" from the City of Hyattsville are not explicitly stated, the program's existence clearly aligns with a municipal mission to support local economic stability and community safety by mitigating the financial burdens of vandalism on its small business and non-profit sectors. The primary target beneficiaries are small businesses and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations located in Hyattsville. A small business is defined as having fewer than 50 employees, annual revenues between $1,000 and $5 million, being independently owned and operated, and not dominant in its field. Franchise owners are eligible, but private residences, landlords, and multifamily residential properties are excluded. The impact goal is to help these entities cover costs associated with eligible repairs and security measures following vandalism incidents, thereby fostering their recovery and enhancing their resilience against future occurrences. The program prioritizes funding for specific eligible security measures. These include security cameras and recording equipment, shatterproof glass and protective films, lock enhancements, exterior lighting enhancements, alarm and monitoring systems, and anti-graffiti films, paints, or coatings. Funds are provided as a reimbursement for these measures acquired between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2024. The focus is clearly on proactive and reactive measures that directly address the physical and financial impacts of vandalism. The expected outcomes include reduced financial strain on affected small businesses and non-profits, improved security infrastructure across the city's commercial and non-profit sectors, and a disincentive for future vandalism through enhanced protective measures. Measurable results would be tracked by the number of grants awarded, the total amount of funds reimbursed, and the types of security measures implemented. While the document does not outline specific metrics like "reduction in vandalism incidents," the direct correlation between funding security enhancements and mitigating vandalism effects implies these as indirect, desired outcomes. The maximum award for the Vandalism Prevention Grant is $2,000 per business or non-profit organization.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Cardiovascular Health Unit is requesting proposals to bridge community and clinical sectors among Minnesota adults. The primary goal is to improve heart health and reduce the impact of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, especially within communities disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease. These communities include Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Hmong/Asian American populations. The grant duration is 3 years, with an estimated start date of October 1, 2024, and a projected end date of June 30, 2027. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to address health disparities and promote equitable health outcomes across Minnesota. The grant prioritizes organizations that serve the identified disproportionately impacted communities. Project proposals should demonstrate how organizations will create or enhance existing community-clinical linkages to increase referrals to social needs, culturally relevant supports, and/or lifestyle change programs. The target beneficiaries are adults with hypertension, high cholesterol, or other risks of cardiovascular disease in these focus populations. The impact goals are to improve heart health and reduce the impacts of related chronic conditions. Projects must focus on increasing referrals to one or more of three categories of support. Category 1 involves social services and supports addressing areas where individuals live, learn, work, and play. Category 2 focuses on culturally responsive education and/or support for chronic condition prevention, screening, follow-up, and self-management. Category 3 emphasizes evidence-based lifestyle change programs that target hypertension or high cholesterol. These priorities reflect a comprehensive approach to cardiovascular health, acknowledging both medical and social determinants of health. The expected outcomes include increased referrals to relevant support programs and improved heart health among the target population. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond "increase referrals," the emphasis on evidence-based programs and social determinants suggests a framework for tracking engagement and health indicators. The funding information indicates an estimated annual award range of $20,000-$60,000, with an estimated total of $60,000 annually awarded, suggesting a focus on impactful, community-level interventions. Eligible applicants are diverse and include clinics or healthcare organizations, community-based organizations, community health boards/local public health, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, tribal governments, and social service organizations. This broad eligibility criteria indicates the MDH's strategic priority to leverage a wide array of community assets to achieve its public health goals. The program's theory of change appears to be that by strengthening community-clinical linkages and providing targeted, culturally relevant support, health disparities in cardiovascular disease can be reduced.

The City of San Antonio's Small Business Construction Support Grant Program aims to provide financial assistance to eligible micro and small business owners whose enterprises are negatively affected by city-initiated construction projects. This initiative, funded by the City of San Antonio and managed by LiftFund, allocates $1,459,168 to support for-profit small businesses, with individual grants ranging from $5,000 to $35,000. The program's core objective is to mitigate the financial hardship experienced by businesses due to construction-related disruptions, thereby fostering economic stability and continuity within impacted commercial zones. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are micro and small retail or service businesses that rely on customer foot traffic for their operations and are situated within designated construction zones. To be eligible, businesses must have generated a minimum of $10,000 in gross sales in 2022, meet the SBA Size standard for small businesses based on their NAICS code, and demonstrate a net profit/loss in 2022 that is at least $5,000 greater than in 2023. This focus ensures that the support reaches businesses that are actively contributing to the local economy and have experienced a measurable decline in profitability due to construction. The program specifically excludes non-profits, gambling/gaming businesses, franchisors, sexually oriented businesses, payday & auto loan providers, liquor stores, and businesses with a City employee or officer having a financial interest, ensuring the funds are directed towards a specific segment of the business community. The program prioritizes businesses that are currently operational, have not filed for bankruptcy, and are committed to remaining in their eligible construction zone for at least one year from the grant award date. This ensures the grants support resilient businesses that are integral to the community and will continue to operate in the affected areas. A key focus is on demonstrating financial impact, requiring applicants to show a significant difference in net profit/loss between 2022 and 2023, directly linking the need for support to the construction-related challenges. Expected outcomes include the sustained operation of small businesses within construction-impacted areas, job retention, and the overall economic recovery of affected commercial corridors. Measurable results will likely include the number of businesses receiving grants, the total amount of grant funds distributed, and potentially, tracking the survival rate of these businesses post-grant. The program's success will be measured by its ability to alleviate financial stress on small businesses, allowing them to weather construction periods without significant long-term negative impacts, and contributing to the vibrancy of San Antonio's local economy.