Small business grants in Kentucky
What a Kentucky small business can apply for: Kentucky programs first, then national ones.
- 2 open
- 3 rolling
- 0 upcoming
- Next deadline November 6, 2026
Kentucky and regional programs
- Closes06 NOV
Southern SARE Producer Grant
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education · Small businesses, Individuals
Grants for farmers in the Southern region to run on-farm projects: $20,000 for one farmer, $25,000 for a farmer group.
- 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.
National programs you can apply for
- 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.
- 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.
Federal grants to Kentucky small businesses in 2025
| Program | Awarded |
|---|---|
| Integrative Activities 47.083 | $7.7 million |
| Cardiovascular Diseases Research 93.837 | $2.6 million |
| Aging Research 93.866 | $2.3 million |
| Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.394 | $1.5 million |
| Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.393 | $934,326 |
| Mental Health Research Grants 93.242 | $877,752 |
| Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships 47.084 | $803,772 |
| Cancer Treatment Research 93.395 | $682,122 |
Questions
What small business grants are open in Kentucky now?
The next deadline is November 6, 2026 for Southern SARE Producer Grant. 3 programs take applications at any time.
Can I get a grant to start a business in Kentucky?
Startup grants are scarce. Most listed programs fund existing businesses, exports, training or research, and several state options are loans. A few national programs, such as the Amber Grant for women-owned businesses, take newer businesses; check each program's rules on age and revenue.
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.