Grants for Small businesses - Community Development

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.

This initiative provides funding and resources to early-stage, technology-focused startups from the U.S. and abroad that are willing to relocate to Kansas City, Missouri, to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.

This program provides funding to individuals and organizations in Massachusetts to support cultural and artistic projects that benefit the public and enhance community engagement.

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 program provides funding for businesses, nonprofits, community groups, churches, and educational institutions to implement projects that enhance neighborhood beauty, foster community engagement, and celebrate local culture in Jackson.

This program provides financial support to municipalities, businesses, schools, healthcare institutions, and non-profits in Centre County, PA, to improve recycling education and material collection efforts.

The City of St. Petersburg's Neighborhood Tree Matching Mini-Grant Program is offering up to $10,000 in funding to neighborhood and business associations for planting shade trees within the community. This initiative aims to increase the tree canopy, diversify tree species, and optimize tree locations in approved rights-of-way and street-facing front yards. The program aligns with Mayor Kenneth T. Welch's Environment, Infrastructure, and Resilience Pillar For Progress. Applications for this third funding cycle are open until September 9, 2024, with tree planting scheduled for October and November 2024. Eligible applicants must be registered associations in St. Petersburg with no outstanding grants from the City, except from round two of this program. Projects must be completed within 12 months and adhere to specific planting requirements.

Funding and Duration: Grant amounts for the conventional program range from $100,000 to $500,000. The maximum grant duration is two (2) years, eight (8) months, and grant funds cannot be expended before November 1, 2025, or after June 30, 2028.   Projects submitted through the Additional Assistance for Historically Underrepresented Organizations (Additional Assistance) Program will range from $100,000 to $250,000. Program requirements and submission deadlines differ for Additional Assistance Program applicants. Please reference the 2025 Request for Concept Proposals - Additional Assistance Program or email [email protected] for more information.   CDFA reserves the right to offer an award amount different than the amount requested.    

The Women's Entrepreneur Grant Opportunity aims to support women-owned businesses in Fairfax City by providing consultation and capacity-building services to facilitate their growth, expansion, and development. Eligible businesses can receive services valued at up to $5,000, which cover areas such as marketing, operations, accounting, and finance. The grant funds will be awarded upfront, and recipients will be notified by September 20, 2024, with recognition at the Women’s Entrepreneur Empowerment Luncheon on September 25, 2024. To be eligible, businesses must be at least 51% owned and controlled by women, licensed within Fairfax City, and can be home-based or have one or more locations within the city. Start-ups and expanding businesses are also eligible, while non-profits are not. The application process involves verifying eligibility, completing and submitting the application form, identifying required services, obtaining quotes, and undergoing a review based on merit.

The Economic Assistance Grant Program assists Utah businesses in promoting and supporting economic opportunities in the state and provides services related to industry, education, community development, or infrastructure. Donor Name: Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity State: Utah County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: Based on the categories stated above, grant prioritization includes: Projects focused on developing Utah’s five targeted industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace & Defense, Financial Services, Life Sciences & Healthcare, and Software & IT. Funding Tiers Funding tiers are set to encourage applications from businesses of all sizes, with project budgets and grant requests both small and large. EAG tiers include: Tier 1 – For grant requests up to and including $50,000. Tier 2 – For grant requests greater than $50,000, up to and including $100,000. Tier 3 – For grant requests greater than $100,000, up to a maximum award of $200,000. Project Period Project can be completed within 18 months from the award date. Criteria For this grant, a business is defined as a for-profit or nonprofit entity. Government entities are not eligible to apply. To qualify for this grant, an applicant’s principal place of business must be in Utah, and the applicant must be registered and in good standing with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. For more information, visit Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity.

IDHS is seeking to fund entities with experience in training, technical assistance, and support to build the RPSA grantee’s program capacities. Successful applicants will work with grantees across multiple RPSA grant programs in Chicago and/or Greater Illinois, based on grantee selection. To address the spike in firearm violence, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA) (430 ILCS 69) in 2021. The RPSA creates a comprehensive approach to ending Illinois' firearm violence through targeted, integrated behavioral health services and economic opportunities that promote self-sufficiency for victims of firearm violence.

IDHS is seeking to fund entities with experience in training, technical assistance, and support to build the RPSA grantee’s program capacities. Successful applicants will work with grantees across multiple RPSA grant programs in Chicago and/or Greater Illinois, based on grantee selection. The Illinois Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) is seeking applications from those public and private nonprofit community-based organizations subject to 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) of the tax code (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4)) For-profit, small businesses and individuals are also eligible to apply. IDHS is working to counteract systemic racism and inequity, and to prioritize and maximize equity and diversity throughout its service provision process.

The Latino Restaurant Association is accepting applications for its Helping Latino Restaurant Owners Thrive Grant Program. Donor Name: Latino Restaurant Association State: California, California County: Selected Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/23/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Latino Restaurant Association provides resources, advocacy, and networking opportunities to help Latino-owned restaurants succeed and grow. The Foundation looking to assist 35 restaurants in South Fresno, Kings, and Tulare counties, focusing on owners of Latino heritage and those who made significant contributions to the Latino community. Eligibility Criteria You are a restaurant owner of Latino heritage and/or have made significant contributions to the Latino Community You own 3 or fewer restaurants making less than $1M a year each You have been in business for more than 3 years You are a business customer of SoCalGas And your restaurant is in South Fresno, Kings and Tulare Counties, CA If you meet all of these criteria requirements, you can apply for the $2,500 restaurant grant! Please do not apply if you do not meet all the eligibility requirements. Document Guideline W9 Form Official photo ID of restaurant owner Annual report or taxes for last 3 years SoCal Gas Commercial Bill (current) Summary of use of funds: How would you use these funds (ie: kitchen equipment, technology upgrades, employee training and bonuses)? How would the funding impact your business in a manner that reflects on your restaurant/community? How do you plan on sustaining funds received in your restaurant? For more information, visit Latino Restaurant Association.

The National Press Foundation is providing Covering Equitable Community Development Journalism Fellowship. Donor Name: National Press Foundation State: All States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Fellowship Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/02/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Who decides where these resources are going in your newsroom’s region, and what gets supported – whether affordable housing, green spaces, small businesses, or something else? To help journalists connect the dots between policy, public and private financing and calls for equitable housing, parks and other assets, the National Press Foundation will hold the Covering Equitable Community Development journalism fellowship in Missoula, Montana. The purpose of the four-day expenses-paid program is to equip journalists to better investigate pervasive racial gaps and the policies and investments in their own backyards related to health, wealth and overall community wellbeing. Home to active Indigenous organizations and health initiatives focused on small and mid-sized cities, Missoula will allow for an immersive exploration into community development issues, especially for journalists who cover race and metro beats. NPF will gather experts from the health equity, nonprofit and policy sectors, financing and community organizing spaces to help journalists add context and breadth to their coverage of community development issues. Topics to be explored may include: How financing and investing institutions such as community development financial institutions (CDFIs), philanthropic impact investors, private banks, and other investors prioritize investments in community-driven projects or investment funds; How policymakers and public officials can actively include residents in decision-making about how communities are financed and developed and hold the community development sector accountable for anti-racist practices; What conditions lead to healthier, more equitable communities with access to affordable housing, education, nutritious food, health care, etc? Environmental justice as a community development issue. Who may apply This competitive fellowship is open to all U.S.-based journalists working in print, TV, radio or online media. They greatly value diversity in all the programs and applicants from across the nation are encouraged to apply. Fellows must also verify their COVID vaccination status. For more information, visit National Press Foundation.

DPR's Research Grants Program supports projects that seek to advance integrated pest management (IPM) knowledge in agricultural, urban, or wildland settings. Projects should focus on reducing impacts to public health or the environment from pesticides of high regulatory interest. Summaries of previously funded Research Grants Program projects can be found on the Research Grants webpage.  The 2025 Research Grants Program is particularly seeking applications that address one or more of the following topic areas: · IPM for underserved or disadvantaged communities; · Decreasing the use of pesticides of high regulatory interest (such as fumigants like 1,3-dichloropropene or sulfuryl fluoride); · Advancement of urban IPM and safer, more sustainable pest management tools and strategies in urban settings; · Advancement of IPM and safer, more sustainable pest management tools and strategies in agricultural settings adjacent to or near a school(s); · Meeting the IPM needs of small growers; and/or TWO or more of the three sustainability pillars noted below and referenced in the Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap: o Human Health and Social Equity o Environmental Protections o Economic Vitality For further definitions of these priority topic areas, please review the 2025 Research Grants Solicitation. Following the submission deadline, applications are concurrently reviewed by DPR staff and the Pest Management Advisory Committee (PMAC). Both groups evaluate the proposal application according to scoring criteria that can be found in the 2025 Research Grants Solicitation. This year, DPR invites projects with budgets ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 to apply. Eligible grantees include nonprofit agencies, tribal governments, individuals, businesses, and public agencies. There is no limit on the number of applications that can be submitted, including multiple applications from the same person or entity. PMAC members may apply, but they must follow the rules regarding conflict of interest in the PMAC Charter. All applicants and associated project personnel must meet DPR’s eligibility requirements that can be found in the 2025 Research Grants Solicitation. Keywords: Agriculture, Agricultural Commodity, Agricultural Crops, Agronomy, Air Quality, Automation, Bacteria, Bactericide, Climate Change, Community Health, Cover Crops, Cropping System, Crops, Ecology, Ecosystem, Emissions, Fauna, Fertility, Field Sanitation, Flora, Fruits, Fumigant, Fungi, Fungicide, Herbicide, Horticulture, Housing, Insect Pests, Insecticide, Integrated Pest Management, Irrigation, Lakes, Land Management, Laws and Regulations, Machinery, Mating Disruption, Miticide, Natural Enemies, Nuts, Oceans, Pathogens, Personal Protective Equipment, Pest, Pest Management, Pesticide, Plant Disease, Plant Protection, Pollinator, Pollution, Reduced-Risk, Rivers, Rodenticide, Soil Health, Streams, Sustainable, Training, Urban Pest Management, Vegetables, Vertebrate Pests, Virus, Volatile Organic Compounds, Water, Water Quality, Watershed, Weeds, Wildlands, Worker Health and Safety

This funding opportunity supports projects that promote sustainable pest management practices to protect human health and the environment, particularly in underserved communities and agricultural areas near schools.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is seeking applications for its 2025 Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grants to strengthen Wisconsin’s agriculture and food industries by helping farms and businesses more efficiently process, market, and distribute locally grown food products. Donor Name: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection State: Wisconsin County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/09/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: Managed by DATC​P, the grants can help farms and business more efficiently process, market and distribute food in local markets including stores, schools and institutions. Keeping food dollars in Wisconsin communities supports local businesses, improves farm​ incomes, and creates jobs.​ Funding Information Grant requests must be between $5,000 and $50,000. Grant Period Projects can receive grant funds for up to three years. Eligibility Criteria Qualified applicants include individuals, groups, or businesses involved in Wisconsin production agriculture, food processing, food distribution, food warehousing, retail food establishments, or agricultural tourism operations. Funded projects must report on increased local food sales, created and retained jobs, and new investments. For more information, visit DATCP.

The Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) mission is to ensure that American Indian, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians (referred to collectively as Native American) seeking to create, develop and expand small businesses have full access to the business development and expansion tools available through the Agency’s entrepreneurial development, lending and procurement programs. ONAA’s overarching goal is to promote and support American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs. In recent years, ONAA has successfully sponsored and managed nation- wide contractor-led workshops and roundtables, co-sponsored agreements, interagency agreements, and tribal consultations; developed and distributed promotional materials; and attended and participated in national and regional economic development conferences as subject matter experts for these groups. The focus of this pilot program initiative is to award a grant to a Native American serving business to carry out projects that support developing exports by eligible Native small businesses. The objective of NATEP is to increase (1) the number of Native small businesses that export, (2) the dollar value of exports, and (3) the number of Native small businesses exploring significant new trade opportunities. Such empowerment will serve to maximize economic impact and improve quality of life for the targeted underserved communities. Section 7(j) of the Small Business Act authorizes the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide management and technical assistance to eligible individuals and businesses. To be eligible for 7(j) services, a client must be: a socially and economically disadvantaged individual whose firm is a participant in the 8(a) Business Development Program; a business that is eligible to receive 8(a) contracts; or a business which qualifies as small under 13 CFR subpart 121 – Small Business size Regulations, and which is located in an urban or rural area with a high proportion of unemployed or low-income individuals, or which is owned by low-income individuals. The term “high proportion of unemployed” means the urban or rural county’s unemployment rate is not less than 140 percent of average unemployment rate for the United States or for the State in which such county is located, whichever is less, based on the most recent data available in the annual Local Area Unemployment Statistics report from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. The term “low- income individual” means an individual whose family’s taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150 percent of the poverty level amount established by the Bureau of Census, U.S. Department of Commerce, for determining poverty status.

This grant provides financial support for innovative projects that integrate solar energy production with cattle grazing, aimed at U.S.-based teams of solar developers and cattle ranchers.

This grant provides funding and technical support to innovators and organizations developing sustainable solutions for reusing and repurposing end-of-life products, promoting a circular economy and reducing waste.