Tennessee Business and Commerce Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Tennessee local governments for improving and certifying industrial sites to boost economic development and job creation in their communities.

This funding is available to nonprofit organizations in Knoxville that are working to reduce opioid-related harm through prevention, treatment, and recovery support initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Knoxville that promote arts, culture, and social services, enhancing community engagement and well-being.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and local government entities in Tennessee to use arts and culture for community revitalization and economic growth.

This grant provides funding to non-profit and community organizations in East Knoxville to promote equity and address disparities in areas such as education, homeownership, and small business development.

This grant provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for projects that enhance the quality of life, promote social welfare, and address community needs.

The Agricultural Enterprise Fund (AEF) by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture offers grants to Tennessee-based agricultural, food, and forestry businesses or projects, focusing on value-added and processing projects that increase farm income, access to markets, business capacity, or agricultural innovation, with priority given to businesses in at-risk or distressed counties.

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry (TDF) has announced the Tennessee Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Assistance Program. Donor Name: Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) State: Tennessee County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/27/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: This opportunity is provided by the Forest Service and Tennessee Department of Agriculture. This program seeks to promote the creation, enhancement, and protection of urban and community forest ecosystems and to support full-circle management of these valuable resources throughout Tennessee. Objectives Integrate Urban and Community Forestry principles into all scales of planning Promote the role of Urban and Community Forestry in human health and wellness Cultivate diversity, equity, and leadership within the Urban Forestry community Strengthen Urban and Community Forest health and biodiversity for long-term resilience Improve Urban and Community Forest management, maintenance and stewardship Diversify, leverage, and increase funding for Urban and Community Forestry Increase public awareness and environmental education to promote stewardship Prioritize projects focusing work on extreme heat mitigation, urban wood utilization urban food forests and workforce development Goals Facilitate the development of strong partnerships between and among other state government departments and programs; nonprofit organizations; city and county governments; civic organizations; affiliated businesses; and educational institutions. Increase awareness and practice of full circle management in urban and community forests. Increase engagement with prioritized communities under the Justice40 initiative through outreach, education, technical, and financial assistance. Increase awareness of the numerous benefits of trees including those related to extreme heat mitigation, stormwater, and public health outcomes. Increase community preparedness for natural disasters by providing education and outreach, and assistance related to the Readiness, Response and Recovery program. Increase the number of communities participating in Arbor Day Foundation recognition programs. Funding Information Applicants can apply for amounts between $5,000 – $40,000. Projects are expected to be completed within one (1) year. Eligible Projects Urban And Community Forestry Management Tree Planting Program Development Or Capacity Building Urban And Community Wood Utilization Workforce Development Eligibility Criteria Funds may be awarded to units of local governments (city, town, county), non-profit 501(c)3 organizations, or public educational institutions. Other organizations, such as community tree volunteer groups, neighborhood associations or civic groups which are not 501(c)3 organizations, are eligible but must apply in partnership with a non-profit organization or their local government. Non-profit organizations will need to upload a copy of their IRS 501(c)3 Letter of Determination. For more information, visit TDA. Related Posts:Community Tree Planting Program - Tennessee2024 Sustainable Materials Management Grants (Region 4)David, Helen and Marian Woodward Fund - Atlanta 2024Nominations open for 2025 Reed Environmental Writing AwardJudiciary Education on Substance Use and Substance…Leadership Development for Deputy Wardens and Second…2024 Homeland Security Preparedness Technical…BJA: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant ProgramGrants to address Elevated Risk of Intimate Partner…Rigorously Evaluating Primary Prevention Strategies…Rigorous Evaluation of Primary and Secondary…Research Grants to Rigorously Evaluate Innovative…Effectiveness Research to Prevent…Conducting Research Related to Preventing…ACE: Expanding the Best Available EvidenceSubmit Applications for Accessibility GrantsIndividual Artist Career Grant Program 2025BJA: Global Justice Information Sharing InitiativeDOJ/BJA: Medicaid and Corrections Training and…NIC: Enhancing CJCC Through Specialized Technical…2025–2026 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health…

The City of Elizabethton in Tennessee is offering a Façade Improvement Grant Program, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, to local businesses for downtown building improvements, aiming to boost commercial sales, enhance marketability, and attract new businesses and shoppers to the area.

Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) is accepting applications for its 2024 Families First Community Grants. Donor Name: Tennessee Department of Human Services State: Tennessee County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/10/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Department is looking to engage eligible non-profit organizations in Tennessee with evidence-based and evidence- informed program models that can administer community-based services to meet the needs of low-income families, placing the whole family on a path to permanent economic security. The Department requires these services to be delivered in a manner that improves economic security and well-being for low-income families and fosters a more strategic use of TANF funds, specifically as it pertains to the four purposes of TANF:  Providing assistance to needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes;  Reducing the dependency of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage;  Preventing and reducing the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and  Encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.  The Department is seeking to partner with eligible non-profit organizations in Tennessee that demonstrate an understanding of the challenges low-income families experience in their community, including those related to:  Education;  Health and well-being;  Economic stability; and  Safe, stable, and nurturing relationships. The Department seeks to partner with organizations that have:  Implemented or developed community-based programs that have been proven to be effective even when subjected to third-party evaluation.  Demonstrated strong leadership and coordination of cross-sector partnerships.  Demonstrated a proven track record for providing services intended to help low-income families achieve economic mobility.  Identified a diverse set of resources, secured cross-sector partnerships, and developed a plan to deliver services from a family-led approach that is aligned with one or more of the four purposes of TANF.  Articulated long-term impact of the community’s approach, including applicable return on investment and cost- benefit analysis, to support and sustain delivery of services.  Articulated a desire to work in partnership with the Department, community-based organizations, other stakeholders, and current and former customers to co-create solutions that address significant social problems.  Innovative initiatives leveraging other public resources to build the economic, social, and developmental capital of those served to reduce dependency. Eligibility Criteria Eligible nonprofit organizations who wish to apply, including subcontractor partners, must maintain tax-exempt status under 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(19), with such status acknowledged by IRS determination letter. All eligible entities who wish to apply must not be currently debarred, suspended, or otherwise ineligible to conduct business in the State of Tennessee. Grant Contracts with the Department may be entered for services on a short-term basis and based upon the type of service needed, available resources and funding, and applicable legal and regulatory requirements. For more information, visit TDHS.

The Spark Cleantech Accelerator program supports early stage cleantech businesses and drive commercialization of their technologies in Tennessee. Donor Name: UT Research Park State: Tennessee County: All Counties Type of Grant: Program Deadline: 05/15/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: The Spark CTA was created in partnership with Evergreen Climate Innovations (previously Clean Energy Trust) and other partners to support early stage cleantech businesses and drive commercialization of their technologies in Tennessee and throughout the Midwest and the Southeast. The Spark Cleantech Accelerator is a 12-week program and the UT Research Park in Knoxville, Tennessee. The program provides mentorship, connections, stipends, prototyping services, and business acceleration services to early stage cleantech entrepreneurs to help commercialize new innovations. In 12-week, in-person program, the offer: $15,000 Stipends to help defray travel/living costs and to support business and technical milestones Prototyping services through the University of Tennessee’s Center for Materials Processing, Mentoring and one-on-one support from our experts in business, market analysis and positioning, and IP/ patent strategy, product design, engineering, prototyping, testing, material selection, tooling design, and manufacturing, Connections with customers, investors, strategic partners, suppliers, and universities and national laboratories, Training Workshops and one-on-one support. Partnership opportunities with organizations such as the Tennessee Valley Authority, Oak Ridge National Lab, the University of Tennessee, the City of Knoxville, and members of the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council. Eligibility Criteria Application from Tennessee, the Midwest, and beyond. Companies that demonstrate a positive impact to energy efficiency, generate renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, carbon capture, increase recycling/upcycling and a circular economy. Companies that show strong market potential and defensible intellectual property, with issued patents or pending patents filed. Those who demonstrate their technology can support the challenges and needs of Spark partners, such as utilities, local governments, universities, manufacturing companies, commercial building operators, etc. Those that create software of hardware technologies including intelligent connected devices, advanced materials process, or with technology companies at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 2-6. Applicants who are open to Tennessee as a permanent business location. For more information, visit UT Research Park.

For community and economic development projects. Awarded to approximately 25 recipients at up to $500,000 each. The Appalachian Regional Commission (www.arc.gov) is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. The commission is a unique alliance composed of the governors of the 13 Appalachian states and a presidential appointee representing the federal government. Governor Lee serves on the board; the Governor’s Alternate for Tennessee is Brooxie Carlton, and the Program Manager is Brooxie Carlton. Through ARC, Tennessee is able to award grants each year for economic and community development projects in the 52 counties in middle and east Tennessee served by the ARC.

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 program provides financial assistance to companies in Tennessee to help cover the costs of training new employees, supporting job creation and economic growth in the state.

This funding is available to local governments to improve public infrastructure that supports new and expanding businesses, helping to create jobs and attract investment.

Focused on projects that improve workforce development, improve health outcomes, and create jobs. Awarded to approximately recipients at up to $300,000 each. The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) is a federal-state partnership that represents 252 counties in eight states along the lower Mississippi River Delta. The DRA is focused on creating jobs, building communities, and improving lives of the more than 10 million people of the Delta Region. DRA envisions the region as a place where people and businesses have access to economic opportunities in vibrant, sustainable, and resilient communities. DRA’s mission is to realize that vision through the practical application of innovative ideas and strategies that will foster inclusive communities, strengthen regional collaboration and productive capacity, achieve sustained, long-term economic development, and produce meaningful opportunities for all people in the DRA region.

This grant provides financial support to local communities for infrastructure improvements that benefit companies creating new jobs and making capital investments.

The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, P. L. 110-180 ("NIAA"), was initially signed into law by the President on January 8, 2008 (reauthorized by Title VI of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, P.L. 115-141). The NIAA amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 ("the Brady Act") (Pub. L. 103-159), under which the Attorney General established the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The Brady Act requires Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to contact the NICS before transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person for information on whether the proposed transferee is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm under state or federal law. The NIAA authorizes grants to be made in a manner consistent with the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP). Under this award, the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Criminal Justice Programs will transfer funds to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to aid in the state's efforts to improve criminal history records. Tennessee’s AFIS is the state version of the formerly Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), now known as the Next Generation of Identification (NGI), which is the national fingerprint identification system that is managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). For the TN AFIS to integrate effectively with the national system, the TBI must continually ensure improvements to the system are on-going and in alignment with the requirements of the FBI. Without the availability of funds for upgrades, the TBI has been working to maintain current service delivery by operating on a significantly older version of the TN AFIS system (2016); a version that now needs an even greater upgrade as each day goes by. TBI is requesting funds to implement a new AFIS with increased security and storage capacity, an upgraded disaster recovery plan, and rap back capability. Enhancing these functionalities will improve the quality and completeness of Tennessee’s computerized criminal history records, increase the number of available dispositions from courts and prosecutors, and improve mental health submissions reported to NICS.

Funding from the HUD to promote economic and community development in small cities (e.g. sewer, water, drainage, building community centers). A central tenet of the CDBG program, as with all HUD-funded programs, is to affirmatively further fair housing in the communities we serve. Along with requiring subrecipients to conduct local fair housing activities as a condition of each CDBG activity, an Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice is conducted every five years to assess and review impediments or barriers that affect the right of fair housing choice. Public and private policies, practices, and procedures affecting housing choice are covered in this analysis. Impediments to fair housing choice are defined as any actions, omissions, or decisions that restrict, or have the effect of restricting, the availability of housing choices, based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, or creed.

Online Resources for Starting Businesses. Economic inclusion describes the efforts made to bring DBEs into the economic mainstream. For the purposes of BERO, DBE refers to businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities; as well as those in areas of chronic high unemployment and low income. BERO was legislatively established within the Department of Economic and Community Development in 1977 by Title 4, Chapter 26 as the office of business enterprise. Serves as a voice for and advocate of economic inclusion; Analyzes, disseminates, and promotes best practices and access to capital to service providers; and Reports on the status of DBEs statewide (disadvantaged businesses).