Grants for small businesses
Most grants a small business can win come from companies, contests and state programs, not the federal government. Federal grants for businesses are mainly research money through SBIR and STTR.
- 19 open
- 32 rolling
- 8 upcoming
- Next deadline November 2, 2026
From companies, foundations and states
- Closes02 NOV
AZ FAST grant
State of Arizona · Small businesses
Arizona Commerce Authority grants of up to $3,000 for for-profit startups, six per round.
- Closes15 NOV
Oahu Kona Low Business Recovery Grant
State of Hawaii · Small businesses
$5,000 or $10,000 grants for Oahu for-profit businesses hurt by the March 2026 Kona Low storms, run by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii with DBEDT.
- Closes25 NOV
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loanloan
State of Florida · Small businesses
Zero-interest short-term loans of up to $100,000 for small businesses hurt by Hurricane Isaias. These are loans and must be repaid.
- Closes07 DEC
Small Business Digital Ready grants
Verizon · Small businesses
$10,000 grants for U.S. for-profit small businesses that take free courses or events on Verizon's Digital Ready platform. Ten businesses are picked each month.
- Closes09 DEC
Illinois Grocery Initiative: New Stores in Food Deserts
State of Illinois · Small businesses, Nonprofits, Local governments
Reimburses capital and startup costs for opening grocery stores in Illinois food deserts.
- Closes10 DEC
Working Lands Business Enhancement Grant
State of Vermont · Small businesses, Nonprofits
Vermont grants for farm, forest and food businesses and the nonprofits that support farming and forestry.
- Closes15 DEC
Kauai Hurricane Lowell business grants
State of Hawaii · Small businesses, Nonprofits
DBEDT grants for non-agricultural small businesses and nonprofits on Kauai hurt by Hurricane Lowell in September 2026.
- Closes31 DEC
Maui Kona Low storm business grants
State of Hawaii · Small businesses
DBEDT grants for non-agricultural small businesses on Maui hurt by the March 2026 Kona Low storms.
- Closes19 MAR
Small Business Advantage Grant
State of Pennsylvania · Small businesses
Pennsylvania reimburses 50% to 80% of energy-efficiency or pollution-reducing upgrades for businesses with 100 or fewer full-time workers, up to $7,500 to $12,000.
- Closes30 JUN
Nebraska SBIR/STTR matching grants
State of Nebraska · Small businesses
Nebraska grants for for-profit businesses chasing federal SBIR or STTR awards, including Phase 0 grants of up to $5,000 to prepare a Phase 1 proposal.
- Closes29 SEP
Global NY STEP
State of New York · Small businesses
$2,000 to $5,000 per export activity (trade shows, missions, translation) for small New York companies, with the SBA.
- Closes29 SEP
MO STEP
State of Missouri · Small businesses
Grants toward international trade shows, missions and export marketing for Missouri small businesses with 500 or fewer employees.
- Closes30 SEP
Oregon export promotion grants
State of Oregon · Small businesses
Business Oregon grants of up to $7,500 (up to two per company) for export projects by Oregon-headquartered small businesses operating at least a year.
- ApplyANYTIME
Alaska Small Business Economic Development loansloan
State of Alaska · Small businesses
Loans, generally up to $750,000, for businesses in Alaska communities of fewer than 30,000 people. Loans, not grants.
- ApplyANYTIME
Amber Grant
WomensNet · Small businesses
Monthly grants for women-owned businesses in the U.S. and Canada, with a larger year-end grant, from WomensNet. One short application covers every grant.
- ApplyANYTIME
Arizona STEP grant
State of Arizona · Small businesses
SBA State Trade Expansion Program help for Arizona small businesses exporting for the first time or entering new markets.
- ApplyANYTIME
Arkansas SBIR matching grants
State of Arkansas · Small businesses
Matches up to half of a federal SBIR award for Arkansas technology businesses: up to $50,000 for Phase I and $100,000 for Phase II.
- ApplyANYTIME
Battle Born Growthloan
State of Nevada · Small businesses
Nevada's SSBCI capital program for small businesses and startups: microloans, loan participation, collateral support and venture funding. Financing, not grants.
- ApplyANYTIME
Colorado Export Grant
State of Colorado · Small businesses
Reimburses up to $15,000 and 50% of approved export costs for small and medium Colorado businesses.
- ApplyANYTIME
Connecticut Opportunity Fundloan
State of Connecticut · Small businesses
Loans for small businesses in historically underserved Connecticut communities, replacing the minority business revolving loan fund.
- ApplyANYTIME
Export Montana Trade Show Assistance
State of Montana · Small businesses
Up to $3,000 toward exhibiting at a trade show for Montana businesses.
- ApplyANYTIME
Fund Tennessee (SSBCI)loan
State of Tennessee · Small businesses
Tennessee's small business capital program: InvestTN equity, LendTN loans and AssistTN technical help. Financing, not grants.
- ApplyANYTIME
Georgia SSBCI loan programsloan
State of Georgia · Small businesses, Nonprofits
Georgia's State Small Business Credit Initiative works through lenders: loan participation, credit guarantees and CDFI lending for businesses, nonprofits and co-ops. It has no grant program.
- ApplyANYTIME
Global NY Fund
State of New York · Small businesses, Nonprofits
Export grants from Empire State Development: up to $25,000 for New York companies with 500 or fewer local employees, and up to $100,000 for nonprofits giving export help.
- ApplyANYTIME
Iowa America's Seed Fund
State of Iowa · Small businesses
Up to $75,000 for Iowa businesses preparing to win federal SBIR or STTR awards.
- ApplyANYTIME
Kentucky SBIR/STTR matching funds
State of Kentucky · Small businesses
Kentucky matches federal SBIR/STTR awards for for-profit companies in or moving to the state: up to $100,000 for Phase I and $150,000 for Phase II.
- ApplyANYTIME
Kentucky Small Business Tax Creditassistance
State of Kentucky · Small businesses
A tax credit of $3,500 to $25,000 a year for small businesses that add a full-time job and invest at least $5,000 in equipment or technology.
- ApplyANYTIME
Louisiana Small Business Loan Guaranty Programloan
State of Louisiana · Small businesses
Louisiana Economic Development guarantees part of a bank loan to help small businesses qualify. A loan guarantee, not a grant.
- ApplyANYTIME
Maine Technology Institute Business Innovation Funding
State of Maine · Small businesses
Grants and loans for Maine businesses developing new products and technology; first grants usually run $10,000 to $30,000, up to $100,000 per business over time.
- ApplyANYTIME
Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authorityloan
State of Maryland · Small businesses
Loans, equity and bonding for small, minority- and women-owned Maryland businesses that can't get regular financing.
- ApplyANYTIME
MicroLOAN SDloan
State of South Dakota · Small businesses
South Dakota loans from $1,000 to $100,000 for small businesses. Loans, not grants.
- ApplyANYTIME
Minority Business Micro Loanloan
State of Mississippi · Small businesses
Loans of up to $35,000 for minority- and women-owned Mississippi businesses.
- ApplyANYTIME
Nebraska Innovation Fund Prototype grants
State of Nebraska · Small businesses
Up to $150,000 per project for Nebraska businesses with fewer than 500 employees building a prototype; a cash match is required.
- ApplyANYTIME
NJEDA Small Business Fundloan
State of New Jersey · Small businesses, Nonprofits
Loans of up to $500,000 for New Jersey small businesses and nonprofits in operation at least three years.
- ApplyANYTIME
North Dakota Development Fundloan
State of North Dakota · Small businesses, Nonprofits, Local governments
Loans of $25,000 to $1 million for rural North Dakota businesses, chambers and economic development groups in towns under 10,000 people. Loans, not grants.
- ApplyANYTIME
Ohio minority and women business loansloan
State of Ohio · Small businesses
Ohio's Minority Direct Loan, Women Business Enterprise loan, Micro-Loan and bonding programs for minority- and women-owned businesses. These are loans, not grants.
- ApplyANYTIME
Oklahoma STEP export grants
State of Oklahoma · Small businesses
Reimbursement for small Oklahoma companies' export costs: foreign trade missions, trade show booths and training, funded by the SBA's State Trade Expansion Program.
- ApplyOPEN
One North Carolina Small Business Program
State of North Carolina · Small businesses
North Carolina grants for technology small businesses: incentive grants toward federal SBIR/STTR proposals and matching grants for federal award winners.
- ApplyANYTIME
Partnership for Workforce Quality
State of Maryland · Small businesses
Maryland matching grants for employee training at small and mid-sized manufacturers and tech firms.
- ApplyANYTIME
Skill Advance Colorado Job Training Grant
State of Colorado · Small businesses, Nonprofits
Colorado grants toward customized employee training for businesses and 501(c)(3) nonprofits, with a rolling application each fiscal year.
- ApplyANYTIME
Skills for Small Business
State of Texas · Small businesses
Texas Workforce Commission pays for training at a public community or technical college for employers with fewer than 100 workers: $2,000 per new employee and $1,000 per current employee.
- ApplyANYTIME
Small and Emerging Business Development Programassistance
State of Louisiana · Small businesses
Free training and technical help for small and emerging Louisiana businesses. Help, not cash.
- ApplyANYTIME
Small Business Boost Fundloan
State of Connecticut · Small businesses, Nonprofits
Connecticut loans of $5,000 to $500,000 for small businesses and nonprofits (formerly Small Business Express), repaid over 60 or 72 months. Loans, not grants.
- ApplyANYTIME
Small Business Loan Participation Programloan
State of Minnesota · Small businesses
DEED buys a share of small business loans made by approved nonprofit community lenders, lowering the cost of borrowing. A loan program, not a grant.
- ApplyANYTIME
VSBFA direct loansloan
State of Virginia · Small businesses, Nonprofits
Virginia Small Business Financing Authority loans of up to $150,000 for qualifying small businesses. Loans, not grants.
- Opens01 DEC
Creative Business Development and Expansion Grant
State of New Mexico · Small businesses
New Mexico grants for for-profit creative businesses operating at least three years.
- Opens01 JAN
Entrepreneurship and Innovation Investment Fund
State of West Virginia · Small businesses
West Virginia matching grants for for-profit small businesses that won a federal SBIR or STTR award.
- Opens11 AUG
Delaware EDGE grants
State of Delaware · Small businesses
Competitive grants for Delaware for-profit businesses with 15 or fewer full-time employees, with a 3:1 match; spring and fall rounds.
- OpensSOON
Advanced Industries Early-Stage Capital grants
State of Colorado · Small businesses
Colorado grants for early-stage companies in advanced industries such as aerospace, bioscience, energy and tech, to bring products to market.
- StatusVARIES
Alabama Healthy Food Financing Program
State of Alabama · Small businesses, Nonprofits
ADECA grants, usually up to $50,000, for grocery projects in underserved low- and moderate-income Alabama areas; businesses and nonprofits can apply.
- StatusVARIES
Biz-M-Power
State of Massachusetts · Small businesses
Massachusetts Growth Capital matching grants for small businesses that raise money by crowdfunding, toward equipment, facilities and other capital needs.
- StatusVARIES
Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Program
State of Delaware · Small businesses, Nonprofits, Churches
Grants to businesses and organizations improving food access in Delaware food deserts; 28 recipients shared more than $700,000 in 2026.
- StatusVARIES
Empower Digital Grant
State of Massachusetts · Small businesses
Massachusetts matching grants for small businesses improving their websites, online sales and other digital tools.
- StatusVARIES
Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance
State of Pennsylvania · Small businesses, Nonprofits
Pennsylvania money for micro-grant programs, run by local partners, that help historically disadvantaged small businesses start or expand.
- StatusVARIES
Indiana Manufacturing Readiness Grant
State of Indiana · Small businesses
Matching grants of up to $200,000 for Indiana manufacturers investing in automation and digital technology.
- StatusVARIES
Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant
State of Alabama · Small businesses
Matching money for Alabama small businesses that hold a federal SBIR or STTR award: 50% of the award, up to $100,000 for Phase I and $250,000 for Phase II.
- StatusVARIES
Innovate ND
State of North Dakota · Small businesses
Vouchers reimbursing up to $50,000 in startup expenses, with business coaching, for North Dakota startups.
- StatusVARIES
Main Street Solutions Fund
State of North Carolina · Small businesses, Local governments
Reimbursable grants for small business projects in North Carolina Main Street communities and small towns in Tier 2 and 3 counties, applied for with the local government.
- StatusVARIES
NYSTAR Innovation Matching Grants
State of New York · Small businesses
New York matches federal SBIR/STTR awards for small businesses: up to $100,000 for Phase I and $200,000 for Phase II.
- StatusVARIES
Promise Act grants
State of Minnesota · Small businesses, Nonprofits
Minnesota DEED grants for small businesses with revenue of $750,000 or less in communities with less access to capital, paid out through partner organizations in rounds since 2024.
- StatusVARIES
Small Business Energy Efficiency Program
State of Rhode Island · Small businesses
Reimburses Rhode Island small businesses up to $20,000 for energy efficiency work recommended by an energy assessment.
- StatusVARIES
Tribal Business Planning Grant
State of Montana · Tribes, Small businesses
Montana Commerce grants for business plans in Indian Country.
- StatusVARIES
Virginia small business technical assistance grants
State of Virginia · Small businesses
SSBCI-funded grants that pay for legal, accounting and financial advice for very small Virginia businesses.
- StatusVARIES
West Virginia STEP
State of West Virginia · Small businesses
Reimburses 75% of export promotion costs for West Virginia small businesses, up to $15,000.
- StatusVARIES
Wyoming Business Council business grants
State of Wyoming · Small businesses
Wyoming programs for homegrown companies, including Market Expansion Grants, Kickstart and the Workforce Development Training Fund.
- StatusCLOSED
Alaska SBIR/STTR Grant
State of Alaska · Small businesses
State matching grants of up to $25,000 for Alaska for-profit businesses with a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I award.
- StatusCLOSED
Arizona Innovation Challenge
State of Arizona · Small businesses
$100,000 in non-dilutive funding for promising startups that commit to growing in Arizona.
- StatusCLOSED
AT&T Small Business Contest
AT&T · Small businesses
A yearly contest for small businesses; nonprofits that run a for-profit business can also enter.
- StatusCLOSED
Backing Historic Small Restaurants
American Express · Small businesses
$40,000 grants for long-standing independent restaurants, run with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The last round found was in 2023.
- Closed23 APR
BMO Celebrating Women Grant
BMO · Small businesses
Fifteen $10,000 grants a year for U.S. women-owned small businesses, from BMO.
- StatusCLOSED
Driving Small Business Forward
Progressive · Small businesses
$50,000 grants toward a commercial vehicle for very small businesses, run with Hello Alice. The 2025 round funded 20 businesses.
- StatusCLOSED
Global Citizen x PayPal Small Business Impact Awards
PayPal · Small businesses
$20,000 prizes plus mentoring for small businesses with a social or environmental mission; 15 winners in 2026.
- Closed26 JUN
Main Street Iowa Open 4 Business
State of Iowa · Small businesses
Grants of $5,000 to $25,000 for for-profit businesses expanding in a designated Main Street Iowa district.
- Closed24 APR
Match on Main
State of Michigan · Small businesses, Nonprofits, Local governments
Reimbursement grants of up to $25,000 for new or expanding small businesses in Michigan downtowns, applied for by the local downtown or community development organization.
- StatusCLOSED
Native American Small Business Support Program
State of North Dakota · Small businesses
Awards of $10,000 to $600,000 for for-profit businesses at least 51% Native American owned with fewer than 500 employees.
- StatusCLOSED
Network Matching Grants
State of Rhode Island · Nonprofits, Small businesses, Colleges
Rhode Island Commerce grants of at least $50,000 to nonprofits, companies and colleges that support small businesses and startups.
- StatusCLOSED
NJEDA Small Business Improvement Grant
State of New Jersey · Small businesses, Nonprofits
Reimburses 50% of building improvements or new equipment for New Jersey small businesses and nonprofits, up to $50,000.
- StatusENDED
NJEDA Small Business Lease Grant
State of New Jersey · Small businesses, Nonprofits
Rent help for New Jersey small businesses and nonprofits leasing new space in designated areas.
- Closed29 MAY
Rhode Island Commercial Improvement grants
State of Rhode Island · Small businesses, Nonprofits, Local governments
Main Street and site readiness grants for developers, nonprofits and private owners improving streetscapes and commercial sites.
- Closed21 JUL
Rhode Island Innovation Vouchers
State of Rhode Island · Small businesses
Up to $75,000 for Rhode Island companies to buy R&D help from a university or research partner.
- StatusCLOSED
Small Business Grant Contest
FedEx · Small businesses
A contest that has given $1.9 million to U.S. small businesses. The 2024 contest gave a $50,000 grand prize and nine $20,000 grants.
- StatusCLOSED
Small Business Sustainability Fund
State of Oregon · Small businesses
A Business Oregon fund for small businesses, paused until more funding arrives.
- StatusCLOSED
Technology Validation and Start-up Fund
State of Ohio · Colleges, Small businesses
Ohio Third Frontier grants to bring university and lab technology to market: Phase 1 awards of $200,000 to $1 million to institutions, Phase 2 awards up to $200,000 to startups licensing the technology.
- Closed30 SEP
Utah Economic Assistance Grant
State of Utah · Small businesses, Nonprofits
Grants of up to $200,000 for Utah businesses and nonprofits running projects that expand economic opportunity.
- Closed18 MAR
WBDC Ignite Grant
Women's Business Development Council · Small businesses
Grants of up to $10,000 for women-owned businesses in Connecticut, from the Women's Business Development Council.
Federal grants
Open and forecast opportunities from Grants.gov that match this cause, soonest deadline first.
- Closes19 NOV
FY27 Small Business Development Center State of Kansas Network Rebid
SBA · Public colleges, Small businesses
Eligible organizations, as defined in Section 3.2, may apply to SBA for an award of financial assistance under this Funding Opportunity to fund an SBDC Program. SBDC Programs deliver professional, high quality, individualized business advising and technical assistance to existing small businesses and pre- venture entrepreneurs. SBDCs shall provide problem so
- Closes05 APR
NIH Small Business Technology Transfer Grant (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Optional)
NIH · Small businesses
The Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant program helps United States small business concerns (SBCs) that partner with a nonprofit research institution bring scientific innovations to the marketplace. The STTR program supports feasibility studies to later stage research and development (R&D) needed to develop a commercial product.
- Closes05 APR
NIH, CDC and FDA Small Business Innovation Research Grant (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Optional)
NIH · Small businesses
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program helps United States small business concerns (SBCs) bring scientific innovations to the marketplace. The SBIR program supports feasibility studies to later research and development (R&D) needed to develop a commercial product.
- Closes07 MAY
Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment or Prevention (SBIRT/P) for alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) use and misuse in adult populations that experience health disparities (R01, Clinical Trial Required)
NIH · Private colleges, Counties, Tribes, +12 more
The Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) and participating National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs) are issuing this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) seeking applications to test innovative approaches to implementing SBIRT/P for alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) use and misuse in adult populations that experience h
- Closes05 APR
NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award (Parent [R44] Clinical Trial Optional)
NIH · Small businesses
The NIH Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough award bridges the funding gap between the end of a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II award and commercialization. The Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough provides previously funded NIH SBIR or STTR projects additional support for later-stage research and deve
- Closes05 APR
SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program (Parent SB1 Clinical Trial Optional)
NIH · Private colleges, Others, Public colleges, +12 more
The Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) program helps small business concerns (SBCs) move NIH-funded SBIR or STTR projects from late-stage development to commercialization. The CRP supports later-stage research and development (R&D) and/or technical assistance that Phase II and Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough awards do not typically support. This includ
- Expected16 DEC
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, Phase I
HHS · Small businesses
The purpose of the Federal SBIR program is to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of small business in meeting Federal research or research and development (R/R&D) needs, and improve the return on investment from Federally-funded research for economic and social benefits to the nation. The specific purpose of ACL's S
- Expected05 JAN
Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (Parent R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional)
NIH · Small businesses
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), including the participating Institutes, Centers and Offices, intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to invite eligible United States small business concerns (SBCs) to submit Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I, and Fast-Track grant applications for the Small Business Transition Grant.
- Expected05 JAN
Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (Parent R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional)
NIH · Small businesses
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including the participating Institutes, Centers and Offices, intend to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to invite eligible United States small business concerns (SBCs) to submit Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I, and Fast-Track (NIH onl
- Expected01 FEB
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II
HHS · Small businesses
The purpose of the Federal SBIR program is to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of small business in meeting Federal research or research and development (R/R&D) needs, and improve the return on investment from Federally-funded research for economic and social benefits to the nation. The specific purpose of NIDILRR
Grants for small businesses by state
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Questions
When do small business grants close?
The next deadline is November 2, 2026 for AZ FAST grant. 32 programs take applications at any time.
Is there a federal grant to start a small business?
No. The SBA and other agencies don't give grants to start or run a business. Federal options are SBA-backed loans, free advising at Small Business Development Centers, and SBIR/STTR if you're doing research and development.
What do small business grants usually pay for?
Equipment, training, exports, energy upgrades, storefront improvements or a specific project. Few cover general operating costs or payroll.
Do I have to pay to apply for a grant?
No. Real grant programs never charge to apply or to receive an award. Anyone asking for a fee before you get grant money is running a scam.