State Business and Commerce Grants

This funding opportunity supports organizations that partner with startups to advance and scale innovative clean energy technologies in Massachusetts, helping them navigate challenges to achieve commercial success.

ThreeStar promotes economic and community prosperity through collaboration to positively impact every Tennessean. ThreeStar includes a certification process and grant program. Grants are available to support completion of identified ThreeStar SMART goals submitted through the certification process. ThreeStar is a strategic community development program developed to assist communities in preparing for a better future. The ThreeStar program now incorporates asset-based planning initiatives and a two-year timeline to accomplish goals. The asset-based planning component helps communities develop goals to maximize their local assets to drive economic development. Starting in 2019, biennial grants will be available to counties to align with one of the community’s identified goals.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in New Jersey to enhance digital literacy and access to training for low-income adults receiving public assistance benefits.

Nebraska Academic Research and Development Grants provide matching competitive grants for research and development activities in collaboration with a Nebraska college or university. The program focuses on commercializing new projects, improving existing products for better marketability, and enhancing processes to generate new revenue for Nebraska businesses. Phase I R&D awards are capped at $100,000, while Phase II awards are capped at $400,000. Businesses must match the grant amount with eligible funds. The project scope includes academic research and development activities conducted with a Nebraska college, university, or faculty member to develop new products and processes or modify existing ones. For more details, visit the Nebraska Department of Economic Development website.

The Ohio Meat Processing Grant Program, initially established by House Bill 110 of the 134th Ohio General Assembly and further funded by House Bill 33 of the 135th General Assembly, is designed to support Ohio livestock and poultry producers. This program offers grants up to $500,000 to assist in the improvement and expansion of meat harvesting/processing services. These grants aim to enhance processing efficiency and support the expansion or construction of facilities on existing sites. Administered by the Ohio Department of Development, eligible businesses must be for-profit entities operating a Federal or State registered meat harvesting/processing facility in Ohio as of July 1, 2023. Funding can cover a range of costs associated with plant construction/expansion and the purchase of new/upgraded machinery or technology, excluding personnel costs, land purchases, and non-eligible expenses. A total of $14 million in funds is available for Fiscal Year 2024, with grants covering no more than 65% of project costs, requiring matching funds for the remainder. Grant renewed every year.

This program provides $2 million in funding to support the development of geothermal energy systems for various entities in Colorado, prioritizing projects that benefit low-income and underserved communities.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering the Manufacturing Retention Grant Program. This program is designed to help manufacturing companies maintain their operational presence within Illinois. Its core mission is to encourage businesses to invest in their workforce, facilities, equipment, technologies, and infrastructure, thereby securing existing jobs and fostering economic stability in the state. The program is supported through the Enterprise Fund, administered by DCEO, which typically funds a broad range of economic development projects. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are private for-profit business entities that operate a major manufacturing complex in Bushnell, Illinois, specifically within McDonough County. These companies must have less than 1,000 employees and extensive experience in tool manufacturing. A key eligibility criterion is the requirement to have acquired a tool manufacturing firm in McDonough County with a minimum of 100 full-time equivalent employees. The grant's impact goal is to retain these companies' manufacturing campuses at operating production levels that support at least 100 employees at the Bushnell site. The program prioritizes job retention in Illinois through various investments. Eligible expenses encompass employee payroll for existing employees (including backpay incurred from May 14, 2024), invoices for services, training expenses for existing employees, and significant capital improvements. These improvements include refurbishment or replacement of machinery, equipment, and tooling (e.g., forging hammers, Swiss lathes), facility repairs (e.g., roof repair, electrical upgrades), productivity and innovation initiatives (e.g., robotics reprogramming, induction heat furnaces), and the replenishment of inventory to maintain standard stocking levels for daily production. The expected outcome of the Manufacturing Retention Grant Program is the successful retention of manufacturing operations and a minimum employment level of 100 employees at the Bushnell site. Measurable results will be directly tied to the utilization of the $5,000,000 total funding, with a performance period spanning from September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2026. The DCEO's strategic priority, as evidenced by this program, is to safeguard manufacturing jobs and foster a robust economic environment within Illinois, aligning with a theory of change that posits direct investment in established manufacturing entities will lead to sustained employment and economic growth.

This program provides financial support to food retailers in underserved communities to improve access to healthy food options for low- and moderate-income populations.

This program provides financial support to individuals, businesses, and organizations in Montana to develop new agricultural products and processes through grants and loans for various project activities.

This program provides financial assistance to Iowa cities for the redevelopment or rehabilitation of underutilized buildings to promote economic growth and community revitalization.

This funding opportunity supports tourism marketing initiatives in rural Nevada communities, helping local governments and non-profits promote their unique cultural and recreational offerings to boost economic growth.

This program provides financial assistance to private property owners in non-entitlement communities in Kansas for rehabilitating blighted commercial buildings to boost economic revitalization and improve downtown areas.

This grant provides matching funds to rural communities in Montana for strategic planning projects that foster economic growth and resilience.

This program provides funding to organizations that assist socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs and very small businesses in New York in becoming ready for venture capital investment.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments and non-governmental entities in Kansas for transportation construction projects that improve safety, access, and economic development.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to unincorporated arts groups and programs within larger organizations in New York State that serve underrepresented communities and need a fiscal sponsor to apply.

This funding initiative provides financial support to organizations in New Mexico that promote creative entrepreneurship and industry development, particularly benefiting rural and underserved communities.

This funding supports regional planning and development councils in Maryland to enhance economic growth and infrastructure in rural areas, with each council eligible for up to $600,000 to address local challenges.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to New Mexico-based small businesses that have received federal SBIR or STTR awards, helping them commercialize innovative technologies and grow their operations in key industry sectors.

This program provides low-interest loans to small businesses in Arizona to promote economic development and job creation.