Minnesota Business and Commerce Grants

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs in the Midwest who are developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to eligible schools, businesses, and nonprofits in Ramsey and Washington counties, Minnesota, for projects that significantly reduce solid waste through innovative practices and improvements.

This program provides financial assistance to certified small businesses in Minnesota, particularly those owned by underrepresented individuals, to help them improve their skills and competitiveness for MnDOT contracts.

This program provides funding to newly formed farmer-owned cooperatives in Minnesota to help them develop and expand their operations in processing and marketing local agricultural products.

This program provides financial and technical assistance to businesses in Ramsey and Washington counties to reduce harmful pollutants and improve environmental health, with a focus on supporting minority-owned businesses and those in pollution-vulnerable areas.

This program provides financial assistance to commercial property owners, tenants with owner consent, and nonprofit organizations in specific corridors of Columbia Heights to improve storefronts and enhance public safety through façade renovations and surveillance installations.

This funding opportunity assists Minnesota dairy farmers in modernizing their operations and developing strategic business plans by covering half the costs of hiring qualified consultants.

This program provides funding to local and Tribal governments in northeastern Minnesota for the demolition and environmental cleanup of commercial and industrial properties, preparing them for new development and economic growth.

This program provides financial and technical support to small businesses in Minnesota looking to start or expand their export activities in foreign markets.

This program provides funding for feasibility studies that promote economic development and improve community resources in rural areas of Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

This funding opportunity provides up to $10,000 to schools, businesses, and nonprofits in Ramsey and Washington counties, Minnesota, to enhance recycling and organic waste collection efforts over an 18-month period.

The Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF) is inviting applications from organizations committed to building inclusive and welcoming entrepreneurial environments that expand equitable opportunities for all. This grant aims to empower communities in southern Minnesota to support diverse and traditionally underserved populations in pursuing entrepreneurship. By strengthening local ecosystems that remove barriers to participation, SMIF seeks to drive lasting economic vitality and ensure that prosperity is shared across racial and cultural lines. The foundation is particularly focused on initiatives that cultivate equitable access to entrepreneurial resources and that foster collaboration among community members to create long-term change. Eligible applicants include IRS-designated 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities, and public institutions that provide direct services or resources to help entrepreneurs start and grow businesses. Grassroots and informal organizations may also apply, provided they have an eligible fiscal sponsor. Proposed initiatives might include entrepreneurial education programs designed for BIPOC or underserved populations, community dialogues promoting inclusivity in business, or systems that expand access to funding, mentorship, and professional development. Successful proposals will articulate how their projects create tangible economic opportunities and address the systemic inequities faced by entrepreneurs of color in the region. The foundation will award grants of up to $10,000 per project, with a grant duration of up to 18 months for implementation. Each recipient is required to provide a 10% cash match and to submit both interim and final reports detailing progress and outcomes. Projects must demonstrate clear alignment with SMIF’s mission, show measurable community impact within its 20-county region, and present a plan for sustaining efforts beyond the grant period. Proposals that show strong collaboration and innovation in addressing racial and economic disparities will be viewed favorably. Certain activities and applicants are not eligible for funding. Exclusions include individuals, for-profit businesses, and general operating expenses unrelated to the project. The grant will not support capital purchases, real estate investments, feasibility studies without implementation, or re-granting activities. Likewise, projects already underway or completed before application are not eligible, nor are those focused on research or school-based internships. Organizations with an open Inclusive & Equitable Communities Grant from SMIF are also ineligible until the previous project concludes. Through this program, SMIF continues its mission to advance equitable economic growth across southern Minnesota. By investing in community-led efforts to uplift diverse entrepreneurs and dismantle barriers to opportunity, the foundation is helping to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous regional economy.

This funding opportunity supports small, rural nonprofit hospitals in Minnesota to develop strategic plans or implement projects that improve access to essential health services in their communities.

The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation is offering a grant of up to $15,000 to support Black real estate developers in North Minneapolis, covering pre-development costs for commercial and "missing middle" residential projects, with priority given to first-time applicants, North Minneapolis residents, and projects incorporating universal design or sustainability attributes.

This program provides financial assistance to businesses in Wabasha for improving the exterior of their commercial or industrial buildings, promoting revitalization and private investment in the community.

The Impact 100 Ozark grant program seeks to provide transformational grants to organizations serving eastern Christian County, Missouri. The foundation's mission is deeply aligned with this program, aiming to empower women to significantly improve community lives through generosity and by funding impactful grants. This strategic approach ensures that the grants have a lasting positive effect within the specified geographic area, reflecting Impact 100 Ozark's commitment to community betterment through focused financial support. The target beneficiaries for these grants are 501(c)3 organizations or other IRS-approved entities, including government entities, school districts, and churches, that specifically serve the eastern Christian County area. The primary impact goal is to fund significant initiatives that dramatically improve lives. While not explicitly stated as a "theory of change," the foundation's approach suggests that by empowering local organizations with substantial funding, they can address critical community needs and foster sustainable improvements. The program prioritizes proposals that avoid funding day-to-day operations, scholarships, or the start-up of new nonprofit agencies, indicating a focus on established organizations and projects with a clear, transformative scope. This ensures that the grants are directed towards initiatives that can create a significant, rather than incremental, impact. The available funding includes two grants totaling $49,000, with one grant of $35,000 and another of $14,000, underscoring the "significant grants" aspect of their mission. Expected outcomes and measurable results are inherent in the program's design, aiming for "lasting impact." While specific metrics are not detailed in the provided information, the emphasis on "transformational grants" implies a desire for substantial and demonstrable change within the community. The foundation's strategic priority is clearly to harness generosity to fund these impactful projects, thereby improving the lives of individuals and families in eastern Christian County.

This funding opportunity supports urban youth agricultural education and community development initiatives in Minnesota's urban and peri-urban areas, benefiting a range of organizations including nonprofits, schools, and local governments.

The Ramsey County's Critical Corridors Development & Infrastructure program is a redevelopment grant, offering $100,000 to $500,000 for projects that intensify land use, facilitate multifamily housing, improve pedestrian or bicycle infrastructure, and promote development in disinvested areas within transit, economic, and cultural corridors in Ramsey County, Minnesota.

The Laura Jane Musser Fund offers grants up to $25,000 for collaborative rural community projects in selected states and counties, prioritizing initiatives that involve diverse community participation, demonstrate local support, and aim for positive change within 18 months.

This program provides financial support to Minnesota-based businesses and organizations for replacing or retrofitting refrigeration systems with environmentally friendly options that reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.