OpenGrants funding guide

Small Business Grants: What Actually Exists

The SBA says plainly that it does not provide grants to start or expand a business. What does exist, year after year, is narrower and more useful: state and city grants for storefronts, equipment and hiring, training and export reimbursements, corporate and CDFI-run grants, pitch prizes, and federal R&D money. Each card gives the money, the catch and the next window, so you can plan the next 12 months of applications instead of chasing lists.

Data refreshed: October 29, 2026 · Editorial verified: October 27, 2026 · 65 programs

51Grants

6Prizes

1R&D contracts

6Advising

1Other

63Equity-free

How to use this page

Start with the help that is already paid for, then look local. No federal grant pays for payroll, rent, debt or opening a location; the SBA says it does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business. Its grants pay for Small Business Development Centers, SCORE and other advisors, who are free to you and know which state and city programs are open near you. Cash grants for an ordinary business come from states, cities, companies and CDFIs, and each one is tied to a purpose: a storefront, equipment, training, exporting or research.
Most of this money reimburses, matches or competes. Training and export grants pay you back after you spend (how reimbursement works); storefront grants usually want a match and a lease; corporate grants and pitch prizes are small and oversubscribed. The catch on each card says which. If a loan or a tax credit would serve you better, read grants vs. loans vs. tax credits first. If the applicant is your city or county rather than your business, that money is in the economic development grants guide.
Recurring programs are plannable, and a fee to release a grant is a scam. Every card names its cycle, and when a window has closed it shows the next expected one, so you can put it on a calendar now. Federal grants never charge an application fee, and registering on SAM.gov and searching grants.gov are free; where a city program or contest charges a small entry fee, the card says so. Anyone who says you have won a grant you never applied for, or asks for a processing fee to release one, is running a scam; the FTC says no government agency will ever ask you to pay by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.

What's included: Programs a U.S. for-profit small business can apply to, directly or through a named partner, that have run in at least two of the last three years or keep a standing window, and that pay a grant, prize or cost reimbursement; free advising is listed separately. The state sections cover the ten most populous states other than California, and the city section the ten most populous cities outside California (Census Bureau 2024 estimates). What's left out: One-off relief rounds (the pandemic-era programs are closed), programs dormant since 2024, loans, tax credits and equity investments (a pitch prize that takes equity is labeled), programs only nonprofits or governments can apply to, programs reserved for women-, minority- or veteran-owned businesses or for pre-revenue startups and California programs (each has its own guide), and anything we could not confirm on the program's own page.

Read this first: what the SBA does and does not fund

The SBA's own grants page (checked October 25, 2026) says it directly: SBA does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business. Its grants go to nonprofits, resource partners and educational organizations to pay for counseling and training, which is why this page starts with free help rather than cash. What SBA offers businesses directly is loans, most of them made by lenders under an SBA guarantee. Its two grant routes that reach businesses are narrow: SBIR and STTR for research and development, and the State Trade Expansion Program, which SBA funds and your state runs, for exporting.

Three more things worth knowing before you apply. A grant to a business is generally taxable income (IRS), so budget for the tax. The government never contacts you about a grant you did not apply for, and no federal grant charges an application or processing fee; the FTC says the list of every federal grant is free at grants.gov. And the pandemic-era relief grants that aggregator sites still list are closed.

SearchSectionFunding typePays forWho qualifiesNext deadline Equity-free only

Showing 65 of 65 programs

1. Free help paid for by SBA and federal grants

This is what the SBA's grant money actually buys for a small business: advice, not a check. SBA, the Defense Department and the Commerce Department fund local advising centers, mostly through cooperative agreements, and Commerce also staffs its own export offices; you use that help year-round with no application window. Small Business Development Centers, SCORE mentors and Women's Business Centers (which serve men too) cover planning, financing and marketing for any business; APEX Accelerators help you sell to government; MEP Centers serve manufacturers; the U.S. Commercial Service serves exporters. Find every SBA partner near you by ZIP code on SBA's local assistance page. Most of the advising costs nothing; MEP projects and Commercial Service matchmaking charge fees, and each card says where. The common mistake is paying a consultant to find grants: an SBDC adviser or SCORE mentor will point you to state and city programs open near you and help you prepare the application, free. Veteran-owned businesses also have Veterans Business Outreach Centers, covered in OpenGrants' grants for veterans guide.

6 programs

Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

U.S. Small Business Administration — Office of Small Business Development Centers (centers hosted by universities, colleges and state agencies)

No-cost one-on-one business advising; training is low cost (some workshops charge a fee). No cash award.

AdvisingEquity-freeexpert help

The catch: An SBDC gives advice, not money. Advising is free, but some training sessions carry a fee. Each center is run by a local host that must match SBA's grant, so specialties and wait times differ from center to center.

Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (year-round; no application window)

Applicant tip: SBA lists help obtaining capital among SBDC services, so ask your adviser which state and city grant or loan programs are open in your area and to review your application before you file it. The advising costs you nothing however many sessions you book.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Existing small businesses and people planning one, in any industry. SBA funds 63 lead centers, one network in every state and territory, with more than 800 service locations.
How to apply: Direct application: find the center nearest you by ZIP code through SBA's local assistance tool and ask for an advising appointment; there is no application window.
Who qualifies fit: any small business
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

SCORE Business Mentoring

SCORE — nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration

Free one-on-one mentoring for the life of your business; most workshops and webinars are free. No cash award.

AdvisingEquity-freeexpert help

The catch: Mentors are volunteers, so who you get, and how deep their expertise runs, depends on your local chapter. SCORE gives advice and introductions, not money, and SCORE says most (not all) of its offerings are free; check before you register for a paid event.

Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (year-round; no application window)

Applicant tip: Mentoring stays free for as long as you own the business, so keep one mentor on an ongoing basis instead of booking a one-off session; SBA notes mentors advise on financing, human resources and business planning.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone starting, running or growing a small business in the United States and its territories, in any industry. More than 10,000 volunteer mentors.
How to apply: Direct application: enter your ZIP code on score.org to request a mentor; mentors meet by email, phone or video, on an ongoing basis.
Who qualifies fit: any small business
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Women's Business Centers (WBC)

U.S. Small Business Administration — Office of Women's Business Ownership (Women's Business Center program)

Free to low-cost counseling and training. No cash award.

AdvisingEquity-freeexpert help

The catch: Counseling and classes are free to low cost, not always free, and the centers give advice rather than money. Each center is run by a local host that must match SBA's grant, so programs and fees vary by center.

Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (year-round; no application window)

Applicant tip: A man-owned or co-owned business can use a Women's Business Center too; if the nearest SBDC has a long wait, ask the local WBC for an appointment. Ask whether a class series is free or fee-based before you enroll.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Open to all owners: SBA says the centers serve both women and men, although their mission centers on helping women start and grow businesses. SBA funds more than 100 centers in almost every state.
How to apply: Direct application: find the nearest Women's Business Center through SBA's local assistance tool and contact it for counseling or a class schedule.
Who qualifies fit: any small business
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

APEX Accelerators (formerly Procurement Technical Assistance Centers)

U.S. Department of Defense (Department of War) — Office of Industrial Base Growth (APEX Accelerators program)

Free help for most services (DoD says most of the assistance is free) with selling to federal, state and local governments. No cash award.

AdvisingEquity-freeexpert help

The catch: APEX helps you win and perform contracts, not grants for operating costs. Most help is free, not all of it, and each center is run by a state, local or nonprofit host under a cost-sharing DoD cooperative agreement, so services differ by location.

Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (year-round; no application window)

Applicant tip: DoD's definition of APEX help covers innovation and technology awards as well as contracts, so a firm chasing Defense SBIR or STTR money can ask its APEX center for help with the contracting side.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Any business pursuing or performing government contracts or subcontracts, with a focus on companies new to government contracting. DoD planned about 90 host agreements for fiscal 2026, plus six Native American APEX Accelerators for Native-owned businesses and sales to tribal governments.
How to apply: Direct application: enter your address or ZIP code on apexaccelerators.us to find the center that serves your area, then contact it.
Who qualifies fit: any small business
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers

U.S. Department of Commerce — NIST Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)

Subsidized, not free: most projects carry a client fee. Federal funds pay about half of each center's costs and states, private partners and client fees the rest. No cash award.

AdvisingEquity-freeexpert help

The catch: This is the one network on this list where you should expect to pay: NIST designed MEP as a cost-share program and says client fees give manufacturers a stake in the result. Center operators are re-competed; in September 2026 NIST made no new selection for Alaska or California and plans another competition for those states in early 2027.

Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (year-round; no application window)

Applicant tip: NIST's 2026 center awards emphasize adopting AI, robotics, automation and additive manufacturing, so a technology-adoption project is the work centers are now funded to do; ask for a written scope and fee before you commit.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. small and medium-sized manufacturers. Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, with nearly 1,400 advisers at more than 450 service locations.
How to apply: Direct application: contact the MEP Center for your state (listed on nist.gov/mep) to scope and price a project.
Who qualifies fit: manufacturers
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

U.S. Commercial Service and U.S. Export Assistance Centers

U.S. Department of Commerce — International Trade Administration (U.S. Commercial Service)

Export counseling at low or no cost; matchmaking is fee-based (Gold Key Service $3,250 for up to five meetings in a foreign market; International Partner Search $2,500). No cash award.

AdvisingEquity-freeexpert help

The catch: Counseling is low or no cost; the services that introduce you to buyers are not. The current Gold Key and partner-search prices apply to all U.S. companies whatever their size, and you also pay direct costs such as translation, travel and venue. ITA is updating its user fee schedule after a Federal Register notice, so confirm the price before you order.

Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (year-round; no application window)

Applicant tip: Use the free counseling to pick one or two markets first, then buy matchmaking only for those; a Gold Key covers up to five meetings, and more than five appointments or eight hours of attendance costs $800 extra.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. businesses that want to make a first export sale or reach new markets. Fee-based services require an export-ready company selling goods or services of U.S. origin or with at least 51% U.S. content.
How to apply: Direct application: find your local office (more than 100 in the U.S.) on trade.gov and send its short request form to reach a trade specialist.
Who qualifies fit: exporters
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

2. State small business grants

State grants that a small business applies to directly are rarer than online lists suggest: most state business money comes as loans, tax credits or incentives negotiated for large projects. This section covers the ten most populous states other than California in the Census Bureau's 2024 estimates; California has its own guide. Seven of the ten run a recurring grant you can apply to for equipment, expansion or property; New York, Georgia and Florida have none open to an ordinary small business right now. Most of what exists targets food and farm businesses: meat processors in Pennsylvania, value-added food makers in Michigan, farms in Texas and North Carolina, independent grocers in Illinois. Ohio (business-to-business firms in target industries) and New Jersey (buying your building) are the broader exceptions. Awards run from $10,000 to $500,000, nearly all paid as reimbursement, usually with a 10% to 30% match. The common mistake is spending too early: Michigan and Pennsylvania pay only for costs inside the grant period. If the applicant would be your city or county, see the economic development grants guide.

7 programs

Ohio

JobsOhio Small Business Grant

Ohio — JobsOhio (Small Business Grant)

Up to $50,000 per project (awards in 2026 reports were $25,000 or $50,000)

GrantEquity-freeequipment & expansionstorefront & property

The catch: Reimbursement: you spend first and submit proof of payment. Partners describe the grant as a commitment measured over time by investment and by jobs and payroll created or retained, and the Northwest Ohio partner lists a 10% increase in payroll or employment as a requirement. Eligible costs are land, buildings, leasehold improvements, machinery and equipment, rolling stock, industry-specific software and IT hardware, and training; administrative salaries, travel and debt service are not covered.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling; regional partners announce awards each quarter

Applicant tip: Call your regional partner before you sign a purchase order: the partner has to show the grant is instrumental to the investment, which is hard to argue for equipment already bought. The program used to be the JobsOhio Inclusion Grant for distressed areas and underrepresented owners; the partners' 2026 eligibility lists no longer include those limits.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Ohio businesses with at least one year of operating history and $100,000 to $25 million in annual revenue, in one of JobsOhio's target industries (such as advanced manufacturing, food and agribusiness, logistics, technology, healthcare and energy) with revenue mainly from business-to-business sales, planning an investment the grant is instrumental to. Retail operations and most professional services are not eligible.
How to apply: Through a partner: contact your region's JobsOhio network partner (Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River, Ohio Southeast, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership or Team NEO), which works the project and application with JobsOhio.
Who qualifies fit: manufacturers, tech & R&D firms
Equity taken: None
Who wins: JobsOhio's May 2026 executed-grants report lists Small Business Grants of $25,000 and $50,000; Team NEO reported 7 Northeast Ohio awards in the first quarter of 2026, and the Regional Growth Partnership 5 Northwest Ohio awards totaling $150,000 in the same quarter.

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Michigan

Underserved, Value-Added, Regional Food Systems, and Supply Chain Grant

Michigan — Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Value-Added Grant)

Up to $100,000 per project

GrantEquity-freeequipment & expansion

The catch: Cost reimbursement with a match of at least 30% of the grant (15% for self-certified underserved applicants), paid up to three times over an 18-month grant cycle with a final site visit. Nothing spent before the proposal release date counts. The grant cannot pay for land, buildings or structural repair, livestock, salaries, travel, general-purpose equipment or vehicles, and you are ineligible if an earlier MDARD investment or value-added grant from the last two years is still open. You may have to report outcomes for up to three years.

Next deadline: Expected: April 2027 · Annual (spring): the 2026 request for proposals ran February 26–April 15, 2026, with awards scheduled for July

Applicant tip: Score points where the rubric puts them: 25 of 100 points go to impact on Michigan agriculture, meaning Michigan-sourced ingredients and new capacity for local growers, so name the farms you will buy from. Get the two support letters and the vendor registration done before the window opens, since incomplete proposals are rejected.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Michigan food and agriculture businesses, farmers, food hubs and food access organizations with projects that add value to farm products or build regional food supply chains: value-added food processing and agritourism, farm and flower markets, hoop houses, urban agriculture, cold storage, aggregation and distribution. Applicants must be registered with LARA and as a State of Michigan vendor. Open to all; majority-underserved-owned applicants (including beginning, veteran and women-owned businesses) can self-certify for a lower match.
How to apply: Direct application: submit one proposal per applicant in MDARD's MiAgGrants system during the annual request for proposals, with two letters of support and equipment quotes.
Who qualifies fit: restaurants & food, farms & ag producers
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Pennsylvania

Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant

Pennsylvania — Department of Agriculture (Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant)

Up to $100,000 per applicant; equipment reimbursed at up to 85% of cost ($500,000 available for 2026-27)

GrantEquity-freeequipment & expansion

The catch: Reimbursement after the project is finished: you submit invoices, proof of payment, photos, proof you operate under a grant of inspection and a written report. Equipment is covered at up to 85% of its cost; building construction, repair and roofing, staff wages, in-kind contributions and costs paid by another grant are not covered. The Department can prorate awards to spread the money, and only the owner of the operation can receive it.

Next deadline: Nov 6, 2026 · Annual (fall application window, one round per state fiscal year)

Applicant tip: Write to the scoring: four criteria worth 25 points each cover your ability to finish on time, a detailed line-item budget, added slaughter or processing capacity for Pennsylvania farmers, and more Pennsylvania-produced meat for consumers. Consulting and staff training toward USDA inspection are eligible too, not only equipment.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Owners of meat or poultry processing operations in Pennsylvania that meet USDA's definition of a very small establishment and either operate under a USDA grant of inspection now or will obtain one when the project is done. Covers opening a new operation, expanding capacity or getting federally inspected.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online through the Commonwealth's Single Application for Assistance (DCED's electronic single application) during the yearly window; for 2026-27 it runs September 19 to November 6, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Who qualifies fit: restaurants & food, manufacturers
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Pennsylvania announced about $600,000 in grants to meat processors in September 2026 for the previous round.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

New Jersey

Main Street Acquisition Support Grant

New Jersey — New Jersey Economic Development Authority (Main Street Acquisition Support Grant)

Up to $50,000 toward closing costs, one grant per EIN and one location

GrantEquity-freestorefront & property

The catch: You cannot apply before closing, so the grant reimburses closing costs you have already paid. You must occupy the property and run your business there for five years; if you sell it, lease all of it or stop occupying your space sooner, you repay a share of the grant (it drops 20% for each full compliant year). You need a New Jersey tax clearance certificate and good standing with NJEDA, Labor and Environmental Protection before approval.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (pilot program, accepting applications)

Applicant tip: Plan the closing and the grant together: the closing costs on the HUD-1 (line 1400, less the purchase price and payoffs) set the grant amount, and the one-year clock starts at closing. You may lease part of the building to a tenant without losing eligibility.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: New Jersey small businesses (SBA size standard for their NAICS code; nonprofits also eligible) that bought a commercial property to operate from, with a loan from a conventional lender (a bank, credit union, SBA lender, CDFI, MDI or government loan program with underwriting), closing after October 1, 2024. Refinances, residential-only property and vacant land do not qualify; a holding company that buys the property must have the same owners as the business.
How to apply: Direct application: apply to NJEDA online after the closing and within one year of it, with the HUD-1 settlement statement showing the closing costs you paid.
Who qualifies fit: any small business
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Texas

Agriculture Production Resource Opportunity (AgPro) Grant

Texas — Texas Department of Agriculture (Texas Agricultural Finance Authority, AgPro)

$5,000–$500,000 per recipient; match of 10% (awards to $100,000), 20% (to $250,000) or 30% (to $500,000)

GrantEquity-freeequipment & expansion

The catch: Competitive and reimbursement-based: you pay first and claim costs, put up a cost share that rises from 10% to 30% with the award size, and file compliance reports.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — check official page (the first AgPro window ran April 1–May 14, 2026) · One window a year so far (2026: April 1–May 14); AgPro replaced the Young Farmer Grant, which ran fall and spring rounds

Applicant tip: Read TDA's allowable expense guidance before you build the budget; it lists what equipment, infrastructure and efficiency costs qualify. Set up your TDA-GO account early, since TDA warns to start before the deadline, and sign up for its email notices to hear when the next window opens.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Texas agricultural producers, individuals or entities directly producing crops, livestock, forestry products, hydroponics, nursery stock or aquaculture for commercial purposes and earning at least 50% of gross income from them.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online in TDA-GO during the application window (a UEI is not required for this grant).
Who qualifies fit: farms & ag producers
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Illinois

Illinois Grocery Initiative Equipment Upgrades Grant (Round 3)

Illinois — Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (Illinois Grocery Initiative)

$25,000–$250,000 per store project ($750,000 for 3–6 awards in Round 3)

GrantEquity-freeequipment & expansionenergy & efficiency

The catch: Reimbursement for buying and installing new energy-efficient refrigeration, HVAC and lighting only; solar, point-of-sale systems and remodeling are ineligible. You must cover 25% of total project costs from non-state sources (local, federal or private money, including loans), documented with the application, and nothing spent before the state award notice counts toward that match. The grant runs from fall 2026 to spring 2028, and you need a SAM.gov registration and UEI before the agreement is signed.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (Round 3 posted September 10, 2026; earlier rounds closed March 2024 and December 2025)

Applicant tip: Size the request to the pool: Round 3 has $750,000 for three to six awards, so a request near the $250,000 maximum competes for one of very few slots. Have your match commitment letter or loan approval in hand, because applications without proof of the match are not reviewed.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Existing independently owned or cooperative grocers in Illinois (nonprofit grocers also eligible) with fewer than 500 employees and no more than four Illinois stores, operating as a supermarket or meat, produce or seafood retailer, earning no more than 30% of revenue from alcohol and tobacco, and accepting (or about to accept) SNAP benefits. Stores do not have to be in a food desert; buyers of a recently closed store may be considered.
How to apply: Direct application: register in Illinois' GATA grantee portal, then submit the DCEO application and budget for the Round 3 notice of funding opportunity; applications are taken on a rolling basis.
Who qualifies fit: storefront & retail, restaurants & food
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Round 1 (applications closed March 2024) funded seven grocers.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

North Carolina

NC AgVentures Farm Grant

North Carolina — NC State Extension (NC AgVentures, funded by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission)

Up to $10,000 per farm

GrantEquity-freeequipment & expansion

The catch: The portal closes early once 200 applications arrive. Your project budget must be at least 15% larger than the grant, so you fund part of it. Winners must carry insurance covering the project, document spending with receipts and photos, file two reports with income and expenses, credit the funders publicly and finish within 12 months.

Next deadline: Dec 15, 2026 · Annual: applications October 15–December 15, awards by the end of February

Applicant tip: Apply in the first weeks after October 15: the cap of 200 applications can close the portal before December 15. Reviewers score whether the project will raise income relative to its cost and become self-supporting, so show the numbers, and invite your Extension agent to the farm before writing.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: North Carolina family farms that have generated revenue for at least one year, located in one of the 46 counties served by NC AgVentures (farms in other counties apply to WNC AgOptions or UMO AgPrime). One application per farm per year. Priority, not eligibility, goes to tobacco-connected applicants, first-time grantees, farms earning half their income from farming and projects that take the farm in a new direction.
How to apply: Direct application: work up the proposal with your county Extension agent (contact them by December 1), then apply in the NC AgVentures Submittable portal between October 15 and December 15, 2026.
Who qualifies fit: farms & ag producers, rural businesses
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 68 grants were awarded in 2026.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

3. City small business grants in the largest U.S. cities

City grants are the nearest thing to cash for an ordinary storefront: the city pays part of a new façade, sign or build-out on a street it wants busier. This section covers the ten most populous U.S. cities outside California in the Census Bureau's 2024 estimates; California has its own guide. Six of the ten run a standing program a small business can apply to; Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio and Austin have none open to businesses in general right now, because their recent programs were pandemic-era rounds, construction-zone relief or tax rebates. Awards run from $7,500 in Jacksonville to $250,000 for an industrial building in Chicago and $400,000 in Dallas, and New York City's grant pays for staff training instead of buildings. Location is the first gate: most programs cover only certain corridors, districts or distressed areas, so check your address before you get bids. Nearly all of it is reimbursement, and the costliest mistake is starting work or pulling a permit before written approval; that work is not paid back.

6 programs

New York, NY

Customized Training Grant Program

New York, NY — NYC Department of Small Business Services (Customized Training)

$10,000 to $400,000 per grant; reimburses up to 60% of total training costs

GrantEquity-freehiring & training

The catch: Reimbursement only: you pay for the training up front and SBS pays back its share quarterly, covering at most 60% of the cost. Employees have one year to complete the training, and when it is done you must give the trained employees wage increases.

Next deadline: Oct 30, 2026 · Several deadlines a year (six pre-application dates: early January, late February, late April, early July, late August and late October)

Applicant tip: Budget the raises before you apply: the program requires wage increases for trained employees once training ends. After the October 30, 2026 date, the next pre-application deadlines are January 5 and February 26, 2027, with grant notifications on February 19 and April 23, 2027.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit businesses based in New York City, operating for more than one year, that will train at least five employees; businesses with fewer than five employees can apply together as a consortium. The training must solve one of four problems: using recently purchased equipment or software, offering new products or services, moving current staff into hard-to-fill positions, or updating outdated skills.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the online pre-application (eligibility checklist), take a screening call with SBS's Customized Training team, then file the final application the team sends you before one of the published deadlines.
Who qualifies fit: employers with staff
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Chicago, IL

Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF)

Chicago, IL — Department of Planning and Development (Small Business Improvement Fund)

30% to 90% of eligible improvement costs, up to $150,000 for commercial properties and $250,000 for industrial properties

GrantEquity-freestorefront & property

The catch: Reimbursement only: the grant pays back 30% to 90% of the cost of permanent building improvements and repairs after the work is done. Money exists only in designated TIF districts, and each district is open for one month at a time, so a building outside this month's districts waits for its own window. The 2026-11-30 date applies to the November districts only.

Next deadline: Nov 30, 2026 · Monthly: each month a different group of TIF districts opens on the 1st and closes at month-end

Applicant tip: Find your TIF district on the 2026 rollout schedule and sign up for the monthly SBIF update before you collect contractor bids. November 2026 opens Lawrence/Broadway, Little Village East, Midwest, Pulaski Corridor and Stockyards SEQ; December opens 111th/Kedzie, Austin Commercial, Bronzeville, Division/Homan and Touhy/Western.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Tenants and owners of commercial or industrial property in a TIF district where SBIF money is available and the application window is open. Commercial businesses must average $9 million or less in gross annual sales over the past three years; commercial property owners must have net worth up to $9 million and liquid assets up to $500,000; industrial businesses can have up to 200 full-time employees. Residential projects are not eligible.
How to apply: Direct application: apply on the City's Submittable portal during your TIF district's monthly window; SomerCor administers the grants on the City's behalf.
Who qualifies fit: any small business, manufacturers
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Nearly $154 million to more than 2,225 small businesses since the first grant in 2001 (as of November 2025). Grants are not competitive: applicants who meet the eligibility rules and follow program requirements are funded.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Philadelphia, PA

Storefront Improvement Program (SIP)

Philadelphia, PA — Department of Commerce (Storefront Improvement Program)

Reimburses up to 50% of eligible costs, up to $20,000 for a single commercial property or $30,000 for a corner or multiple-address property

GrantEquity-freestorefront & property

The catch: Reimbursement only: you pay the contractor, then submit paid-in-full invoices, proof of payment, permits, photos, a W-9 and a reimbursement form, and payment takes about four to six weeks. Work begun before written approval is not reimbursed, a design review committee can require changes, and the project must be finished within six months. Exterior work only: no interiors, roofs, new construction, vinyl awnings or mostly solid security grates. A property can receive the maximum once every five years.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (standing program; review takes about three to four weeks)

Applicant tip: If your storefront sits on a corner or spans more than one address, you qualify for the $30,000 cap, so price the work on both frontages. Ask [email protected] for an example application and the list of contractors other applicants used recently before you collect estimates.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Business and property owners on an approved commercial corridor (check the SIP eligible-blocks map). The business in the space must serve customers there, be licensed to operate in Philadelphia, and be current on City taxes, utilities and fees (or on a payment plan) and on any business-improvement-district fees. Nonprofits, religious institutions, schools and government offices are excluded; a vacant storefront qualifies if an eligible business will occupy it.
How to apply: Direct application: confirm the address is on an eligible block, get at least two contractor estimates and apply online; email [email protected] to be matched with a relationship manager if you want help.
Who qualifies fit: storefront & retail
Equity taken: None
Who wins: More than 1,000 businesses supported and $8.57 million in grants disbursed against $26.21 million in project costs (as of March 2026); restaurants and food businesses are 28% of recipients and retail 26%.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Dallas, TX

Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP)

Dallas, TX — Office of Economic Development (Small Business Assistance Program)

15% of eligible project costs, up to $300,000 in Target Areas or $100,000 elsewhere; 25% (up to $400,000 in Target Areas, $100,000 elsewhere) with living-wage job creation or retention

GrantEquity-freestorefront & property

The catch: You must show 75% of the project cost committed from non-City sources (cash on hand or a bank commitment), and the grant is a reimbursement under a five-year agreement. Work done before the agreement is signed does not count toward the minimum, and the money cannot pay working capital, salaries or operating costs. The job bonus is paid only after the jobs are verified, and they must be kept for the agreement term. The current incentive policy runs through December 31, 2026.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (standing program under the City's Economic Development Incentive Policy, in effect January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026)

Applicant tip: Check the Target Area map before sizing the project: inside a Target Area the minimum investment drops to $150,000 and the cap rises to $300,000, or $400,000 if you create 5 or retain 10 living-wage jobs. Sign the agreement before construction starts, since earlier work does not count.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Dallas businesses with 20 or fewer employees (at one or more sites) making real estate or capital improvements as they grow into or move into a Dallas storefront or office. The project must cost at least $150,000 in a Target Area or $250,000 elsewhere, not counting purchase or lease of the property, and no more than $2 million.
How to apply: Direct application: return the Office of Economic Development's application and attachments to [email protected]; agreements are approved by City Manager administrative action or, where required, by City Council.
Who qualifies fit: any small business
Equity taken: None
Who wins: First award (2025): up to $400,000 to Dallas Printing for a roughly $1.6 million renovation and relocation, $240,000 on completion and $160,000 on retaining 10 living-wage jobs.

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Jacksonville, FL

Façade Renovation Matching Grant Program

Jacksonville, FL — Office of Economic Development (Façade Renovation Matching Grant Program)

Up to $7,500 in Level 1 distressed areas and up to $15,000 in Level 2 areas; the City pays $2 for every $1 of eligible cost you pay

GrantEquity-freestorefront & property

The catch: Funds cover only the front and sides of buildings visible from public streets: paint, cleaning, masonry, cornices, doors, windows, awnings, signage, decorative fencing, code-required landscaping and fixed exterior lighting. They cannot pay for residential property, building permits, property purchase, equipment, working capital, inventory or refinancing. One grant per address per year, subject to available funding.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling while funding lasts (standing program; one grant per address per year)

Applicant tip: Hire a City-approved JSEB (Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business) contractor and you put up no matching money: the City pays for the work up to your area's cap once the JSEB finishes it.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Existing commercial or retail businesses (owners or tenants) in a designated economically distressed area (Level 1 or 2) on a commercial corridor with the required zoning. The property must be in good standing with the City, with no outstanding liens or violations, and the building must meet code and permit requirements before funds are paid.
How to apply: Direct application: check your property's distressed-area level on the City's property map (maps.coj.net/DuvalProperty), then submit the program application posted on the Office of Economic Development page; questions go to [email protected].
Who qualifies fit: storefront & retail
Equity taken: None
Who wins: $661,656 approved since the program began, including four projects approved January 25 to July 24, 2026 (Office of Economic Development bi-annual report to City Council, July 2026).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Fort Worth, TX

Urban Village Storefront/Façade Improvement Program (FIP)

Fort Worth, TX — Neighborhood Services Department (Urban Village Façade Improvement Program)

Varies — check official page (the City reimburses $1 for every $3 you spend on eligible façade improvements; no per-project cap is published on the program page)

GrantEquity-freestorefront & property

The catch: Reimbursement after the project is complete, and only for work on the side of the building facing the primary street. The application carries a $50 nonrefundable fee, incomplete applications are denied after 30 days, and the money is held only if permits are pulled or work begins within 180 days of approval. Designs must follow the urban village's façade design guidelines.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (standing program)

Applicant tip: Apply before you pull a building permit: the application must come in before permits are issued and before any improvement is made, or the project cannot be funded. Read the design guidelines for your urban village first, because standards differ by village.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Business tenants or property owners in one of 10 CDBG-eligible urban villages: Evans & Rosedale, Hemphill/Berry, Historic Handley, Historic Marine, Near East Side, Oakland Corners, Polytechnic/Wesleyan, Six Points, South Main and Lake Arlington/Berry/Stalcup. The project must include private investment, and a tenant needs the owner's written permission.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the City's online façade application (or mail or hand-deliver the form to Neighborhood Services) with the $50 nonrefundable fee, before any building permit is issued and before any work starts.
Who qualifies fit: storefront & retail
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

4. State training grants for employers

State training grants pay part of what you spend to teach your own employees new skills: a certification course, a software class, a supervisor program. This section covers the ten most populous states other than California in the Census Bureau's 2024 estimates; California has its own guide. Eight of the ten run a standing program a small employer can apply to; New York and Georgia have none open to small businesses right now. Awards run from $1,000 per employee in Texas and Ohio to $100,000 per company in Florida and $250,000 per round in New Jersey. Some states take applications year-round; others open one or two short windows a year. Nearly all of it is reimbursement: you pay the trainer, finish the course, file proof and wait weeks for the check. The costliest mistake is starting training before the award is signed; in Florida and Ohio, training that begins early is not paid back. Most programs cover only full-time staff, and Florida, New Jersey and North Carolina also require six months on your payroll.

8 programs

Texas

Skills for Small Business

Texas — Texas Workforce Commission (Skills for Small Business)

Up to $2,000 per new employee (on your payroll under 12 months) and up to $1,000 per incumbent employee (12 months or more); $2 million available statewide

GrantEquity-freehiring & training

The catch: The money pays for courses at a public community or technical college only; TWC works with the college to fund them, so a private vendor or your own staff cannot deliver the training. Trainees must be full-time W-2 employees paid at least the local prevailing wage, and the statewide pool is capped at $2 million.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling (standing program; TWC publishes no application deadline)

Applicant tip: Apply soon after a hiring wave: anyone on your payroll for less than 12 months counts as a new employee at the $2,000 rate, double the incumbent rate. Choose from the college's existing course list (TWC names customer service, QuickBooks, CPR and sales and marketing as common picks).

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Texas businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Most full-time W-2 employees paid at least the local prevailing wage can be trained; managers and owners may qualify depending on their job duties.
How to apply: Direct application: submit TWC's online application (or its employer interest form first); TWC processes it and arranges funding with the public community or technical college whose courses you choose.
Who qualifies fit: employers with staff
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Florida

Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Grant

Florida — CareerSource Florida (Incumbent Worker Training)

Up to $100,000 per company per grant; reimburses up to 50% of approved training costs, up to 75% for priority applicants such as firms with 25 or fewer employees ($3 million statewide for July 2026–June 2027)

GrantEquity-freehiring & training

The catch: Reimbursement only: you pay for the training, then claim after each course ends and every listed trainee has completed it, and payment can take up to five weeks after review. Training that starts before the contract is fully signed is not paid back, everything must finish within 12 months with no extensions, and trainee wages, travel, exam fees, equipment and conferences are not covered. Each FEIN can win once every other year, and you must commit to keeping the trained staff and file a six-month status report.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling within each state fiscal year (July 1–June 30); awards are made monthly

Applicant tip: Training toward a credential on Florida's Master Credentials List gets first funding priority, ahead of company size, so pick a credential-bearing course when one fits. Open the application with an email on your company's own domain; the guidelines require it.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit Florida businesses (plus nonprofit or public hospitals) operating at least one year, with at least one full-time Florida-resident W-2 employee. Trainees must work 37.5 or more hours a week, live and work in Florida, and have been on your payroll six months before you sign the application. Retail businesses are not eligible.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online in CareerSource Florida's grant portal at least 45 business days before training is to start; applications sent by email, mail or fax are refused.
Who qualifies fit: employers with staff
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Ohio

TechCred

Ohio — Ohio Department of Development (TechCred)

Up to $1,000 per employee per credential; up to $30,000 per application period

GrantEquity-freehiring & training

The catch: Reimbursement after the fact: you pay for the course, the employee earns the credential, then you file for up to $1,000 each and must show the earner is an Ohio-resident W-2 employee at that point. Training cannot start before the application period opens or before the grant agreement takes effect, must finish within 12 months, and must use a provider on the state's eligible list. Decisions can take up to 90 days after the period closes.

Next deadline: Oct 30, 2026 · Application periods posted by the state as they are scheduled (2026 period: October 1–30)

Applicant tip: Recheck your planned courses against the current provider list before the next window: the 2026 framework narrowed the credential definition and introduced a new list of eligible providers. You don't have to name employees when you apply, only when you request reimbursement.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Ohio employers of any size registered with the Secretary of State, with a physical non-residential Ohio location and Ohio-resident W-2 employees reported to Ohio unemployment insurance. Current and newly hired employees qualify; 1099 contractors and public entities do not. One application per FEIN per period.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online at development.ohio.gov/techcred while an application period is open, choosing credentials and providers from the state's approved lists.
Who qualifies fit: employers with staff
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Illinois

Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP), multi-company grant for manufacturers

Illinois — Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (ETIP, administered by the Illinois Manufacturers' Association)

Up to 50% of eligible training costs (no per-company cap stated; funds are first come, first served each grant year)

GrantEquity-freehiring & training

The catch: Reimbursement only, quarterly, after you send rosters, invoices and proof of payment; the IMA usually receives state funds in February or March, so payment for summer and fall training can take months. It covers training costs, not trainee wages, and excludes travel, conferences, consulting, equipment, skills assessments and unstructured on-the-job training. Funding is limited and first come, first served.

Next deadline: Nov 15, 2026 · quarterly: Nov 15, Jan 15, Apr 15, Jul 15 (reimbursement filings for the prior quarter's training; grant year July 1–June 30)

Applicant tip: Your own staff can be the trainers: internal instruction is reimbursed at the instructor's hourly rate including benefits, for actual teaching time only, so keep signed attendance for every session. Each Illinois location and each FEIN files separately.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Illinois manufacturers with a physical location in Illinois. Only training for Illinois-based full-time employees counts, delivered by a third party or by your own staff, between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027.
How to apply: Through a partner: email the Illinois Manufacturers' Association a Company Profile signed by a company officer plus a Multi-Schedule estimate of your year's training, then file rosters and expense reports each quarter.
Who qualifies fit: employers with staff, manufacturers
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Pennsylvania

WEDnetPA employee training funds (2026–27 program year)

Pennsylvania — Department of Community and Economic Development (WEDnetPA)

Up to $2,000 per eligible employee, up to $50,000 per company (FEIN) per program year

GrantEquity-freehiring & training

The catch: Reimbursement after training is complete and documented; partially finished training, orientation, on-the-job training and exam prep are not paid. A company can be funded at most two years in a row or three in any five, firms with turnover of 25% or more may be refused, and at least one training must start or be scheduled by January 31, 2027 or the award can be forfeited.

Next deadline: Rolling (2026–27 applications open since August 1, 2026; training must finish by June 30, 2027) · Annual program year July 1–June 30; 2026–27 applications accepted from August 1, 2026

Applicant tip: Check your NAICS code before anything else: it must match the code on your Pennsylvania unemployment compensation filing and fall in one of the five sectors, and businesses that qualified in past years may not under the 2026–27 rules. Any provider counts, including your own qualified staff.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Pennsylvania companies that are mainly industrial or business-to-business and in manufacturing, life sciences, agriculture, energy or robotics and technology, checked by NAICS code. Trainees must live and work in Pennsylvania and earn at least $17.31 an hour before benefits; companies with 50 or more full-time staff must also train permanent full-time employees with health benefits. Retail, construction, architecture and engineering firms, staffing agencies and most nonprofits are excluded.
How to apply: Direct application: apply and file a training plan in WEDnetPA's online ISAAC portal, with help from any of its 22 partner colleges and universities.
Who qualifies fit: employers with staff, manufacturers, farms & ag producers, tech & R&D firms
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Michigan

Going PRO Talent Fund

Michigan — Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (Going PRO Talent Fund)

Varies — check official page (2014–2026 awards averaged $41,316; average training cost $1,619 per person)

GrantEquity-freehiring & training

The catch: Competitive awards with a short annual window, so missing it means waiting a year. Only permanent full-time workers can be trained, the training must be short-term, and you need approved WBLOMS access, arranged through Michigan Works!, before you can file.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — LEO says the 2027 application period will open in early 2027 · annual (application period early in the year; 2027 dates not yet announced)

Applicant tip: Contact your Michigan Works! business services team before the 2027 dates are posted: they assess your skill gaps and training providers, check whether federal funds fit better, and set up your WBLOMS access.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Michigan employers training permanent, full-time new or current employees through short-term, employer-directed training: classroom or customized courses, on-the-job training, or USDOL Registered Apprenticeships.
How to apply: Through a partner: work with your local Michigan Works! agency, then apply in the state's Work-Based Learning Online Management System (WBLOMS) during the application period.
Who qualifies fit: employers with staff
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 9,064 awards from 2014 to 2026, averaging $41,316 (state data as of September 3, 2026).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

New Jersey

UPSKILL: NJ Incumbent Worker Training Grant (FY2027)

New Jersey — Department of Labor and Workforce Development (UPSKILL)

Up to $250,000 per round, depending on the number of trainees; reimburses up to 50% of training costs ($7 million in FY2027, $3.5 million per round)

GrantEquity-freehiring & training

The catch: Reimbursement of up to 50%, invoiced monthly; on-the-job and in-house training are paid at 50% of trainees' base wages, and online-access fees are excluded. You must keep trainees at least six months after training, invoice 30% of the award within six months or lose the unspent funds, file monthly activity reports, and use third-party trainers located in New Jersey. It does not cover annual required training or onboarding, and you need a state tax clearance certificate and no unpaid NJDOL liabilities.

Next deadline: Jan 8, 2027 · Two rounds a year: fall and winter (FY2027 letters of intent due September 23, 2026 and January 8, 2027)

Applicant tip: Round 2 needs the letter of intent by January 8, 2027, IGX registration by January 22 and the full application by February 24 (noon each day); request the Treasury tax clearance certificate now. A long-range human resource plan is worth 20 of 100 points, so show how the training leads to promotions and backfill hiring.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: New Jersey-based employers in any industry, training full-time employees who have worked for them at least six months, with at least five trainees per class. Seasonal, temporary, part-time, commission-only, 1099 and new-hire positions do not qualify. Industry groups, unions, schools and training providers can apply instead for a consortium of employers.
How to apply: Direct application: email NJDOL a letter of intent by the round's deadline, register or update your account in the IGX grants system, then submit the full application in IGX.
Who qualifies fit: employers with staff
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

North Carolina

NCWorks Incumbent Worker Training

North Carolina — NC Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions (NCWorks Incumbent Worker Training)

Varies — check official page (each local workforce board sets its own maximum grant and any lifetime limit)

GrantEquity-freehiring & training

The catch: You pay part of the cost in cash or in kind: at least 10% for employers with up to 50 employees, 25% for 51 to 100, and 50% above 100. The training must raise skills toward promotion or help avoid layoffs, and grant caps, lifetime limits and priorities differ from board to board.

Next deadline: Varies by local board — ask your Workforce Development Board · Set by each local Workforce Development Board (ongoing in some areas, scheduled rounds in others)

Applicant tip: Present the training as a promotion ladder: the state's guidance calls the ideal grant one that moves a trained worker into a higher-wage job so you can hire a job seeker into the vacated role.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Businesses operating in North Carolina for 12 months or more, current on all taxes, with at least the minimum number of employees your local board sets. Training is for employees who have worked for you consistently for six months or more, not new hires.
How to apply: Through a partner: contact the business services representative at your local Workforce Development Board, which sets the application process and award schedule.
Who qualifies fit: employers with staff
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

5. Export grants: STEP and state trade programs

The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) is SBA money awarded to states, not companies; each state trade office turns it into small grants that pay back part of what you spend to sell abroad: trade show booths, foreign sales trips, translation, website localization. This section covers the ten most populous states other than California in the Census Bureau's 2024 estimates; California has its own guide. All ten have an export grant a small business can apply to, nine through STEP and Florida through SelectFlorida's trade show grants. Caps run from $10,000 a year in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio to $15,000 in Michigan and $20,000 in Texas, covering 50% to 90% of costs. Most states take applications year-round until the money runs out; Texas opens one window a year. All of it is reimbursement, and the costliest mistake is booking first: costs incurred before approval are not paid back, so apply weeks ahead (30 days in New York, 30 business days in Georgia). Expect to need a year in business and products with at least 51% U.S. content.

10 programs

Texas

Texas State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Export Stipend

Texas — Texas Department of Agriculture (STEP)

Up to $20,000 for exporters entering a new market (market expansion) and up to $10,000 for new-to-export companies; reimburses up to 90% of paid eligible costs

GrantEquity-freeexporting

The catch: Cost reimbursement only: TDA advances nothing, so you pay every cost upfront, and you must put in at least a 10% cash match that cannot come from another federal source. The activity must be new (not already held) and named in the application. You need an active SAM.gov registration and UEI, which can take up to two weeks, and a TDA-GO profile set up 48–72 hours before you apply; late applications are refused by the system.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — check official page (the 2026 window closed September 10, 2026) · Annual window (2026: applications closed September 10, 2026; awards expected November 2026; projects run to June 30, 2027)

Applicant tip: Register in SAM.gov before the next window opens rather than during it: the 2026 request for applications warned that a new UEI can take up to two weeks. Companies that already export qualify for the larger $20,000 cap only when the activity takes them into a new country, region, segment or product line.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit Texas companies that meet SBA size standards, have been in business at least one year, are registered in SAM.gov, are in good standing with the Texas Comptroller and sell goods or services with at least 51% U.S. content that are made, processed or value-added in Texas. The activity must open a new market for you (new-to-export or market expansion). Retailers, consultants, law firms, distributors representing clients, hospitality and tourism operators and multi-level marketing companies are excluded.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online in TDA-GO, the Texas Department of Agriculture's grant system, during the annual window, naming one specific export activity; one application per company per program year.
Who qualifies fit: exporters
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Florida

SelectFlorida Target Sector Trade Show Grant

Florida — SelectFlorida (Target Sector Trade Show Grant)

Varies — check official page (award amounts are set per event and given first come, first served; veteran-owned and rural-county businesses may receive a supplemental award)

GrantEquity-freeexporting

The catch: Only shows where SelectFlorida organizes a Florida Pavilion or section, or has staff recruiting for and attending, qualify. The grant is paid after the show: you must already have paid at least a 25% booth deposit, and the export sales report, an invoice to SelectFlorida, proof of full payment and the final event invoice are due within 30 days of the show's last day, or the award can be cancelled. A company can receive at most three SelectFlorida trade grants per July–June year.

Next deadline: Rolling · Event by event, for shows on SelectFlorida's trade events calendar

Applicant tip: If you are new to exporting, start with SelectFlorida's Export Marketing Plan grant: the Florida SBDC prepares a $5,000 plan and you pay $500 (SelectFlorida pays $4,500); new or infrequent exporters who finish one can then apply for trade show grants. The Florida SBDC ended its administration of the federal STEP grant on October 1, 2026.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Florida manufacturers and select professional-service firms in SelectFlorida's target sectors that are registered with the Florida Division of Corporations, have operated in Florida at least two years from a licensed commercial site (home-based businesses and virtual offices do not qualify), have 3–500 full-time employees and had at least $250,000 in sales last calendar year (smaller firms are considered case by case).
How to apply: Direct application: email SelectFlorida's grant representative for the application, then return it with your Sunbiz registration, proof of event registration with the itemized booth package, proof of a deposit of at least 25% and a signed W-9.
Who qualifies fit: exporters, manufacturers
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

New York

Global NY State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)

New York — Empire State Development (STEP)

$2,000–$5,000 per activity, up to three activities and $10,000 per company per funding period; reimburses up to 50% of eligible costs

GrantEquity-freeexporting

The catch: Reimbursement after the activity is fully finished: pay from a business account (payments from personal accounts are refused), then send all invoices and proof of payment as one PDF with a Project Impact Report; payment typically takes about six weeks and may come with a 1099. Activities already under way are not covered. Only trade missions, Commerce Department services, trade shows and translation qualify; travel is economy on a U.S. carrier for one employee, and speaking at a conference is ineligible.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling within each federal funding period, first come, first served (STEP 14: September 30, 2026–September 29, 2027)

Applicant tip: Talk to an ESD regional international trade manager before you submit; ESD strongly encourages it and incomplete applications are not processed. For a bigger project, ESD's separate Global NY Fund grant reimburses companies up to 50% of export project costs, up to $25,000, with applications taken year-round (allow about 90 days before your first activity).

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit businesses headquartered and registered in New York with employees working in the state, operating at least one year, small under SBA size standards (parent and subsidiaries counted), with export-ready products or services of at least 51% U.S. content that you make, assemble or distribute (distributors need documented export rights). Retail, law firms, intermediaries, cannabis companies and firms recruiting foreign investment are excluded.
How to apply: Direct application: complete Empire State Development's online STEP application (about 45 minutes, in one sitting, with the federal reporting forms uploaded) at least 30 days before the activity; ESD gives an eligibility decision within 30 business days.
Who qualifies fit: exporters
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Pennsylvania

Global Access Program (GAP)

Pennsylvania — Department of Community and Economic Development (STEP)

Up to $10,000 per company per award year, reimbursing up to 75% of eligible expenses

GrantEquity-freeexporting

The catch: Reimbursement of up to 75% after you pay, and only for activities approved before they take place. The pool is shrinking: Pennsylvania's federal STEP share fell from $825,000 (STEP12, FY24) to $565,000 (STEP13, FY25) and $250,000 (STEP14, FY26).

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling until each year's funding is used up

Applicant tip: GAP is not only for trade shows: compliance testing (CE, UL Canada, ATEX, ISO), website translation and SEO, e-commerce platform and marketplace listing fees, export credit insurance and IP protection all qualify, so it can fund an online export push with no travel.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Export-ready small and mid-sized Pennsylvania companies in good standing under SBA standards; further restrictions are in the GAP guidelines.
How to apply: Through a partner: submit the GAP application to a Regional Export Network (REN) partner before the activity; the REN forwards it to the GAP administrator for review and approval.
Who qualifies fit: exporters
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Illinois

Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) Program

Illinois — Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (STEP)

By option: 25%–75% of travel costs up to $5,000 (group trade missions) or $10,000 (individual sales missions); 50% of costs up to $10,000 each for product compliance, website localization and export credit insurance

GrantEquity-freeexporting

The catch: Reimbursement: travel is repaid at 25%–75% for up to two company representatives (economy airfare on a U.S. carrier and a standard hotel room), and the other options repay 50% of costs. You cannot receive any other local, state or federal export-promotion grant for the same activity (ExporTech is the exception).

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling, first come, first served

Applicant tip: If your sector has no scheduled group trade mission, use the individual sales mission option: its travel cap is twice the group mission's ($10,000 vs. $5,000) and it can include Gold Key matchmaking. Under the compliance option, lab testing for certifications such as CE, CCC, ISO 9001, ITAR and ATEX gets priority.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Illinois small firms (under 500 employees) headquartered in Illinois or with a substantial facility there, in operation at least one year before the activity, profitable with at least $250,000 in gross annual revenue (less may be accepted if the firm adds or keeps Illinois jobs), with products or services of at least 51% U.S. and 25% Illinois content.
How to apply: Direct application: submit the ISTEP web application form; DCEO asks applicants to contact their nearest SBDC International Trade Center or a DCEO Office of Trade and Investment trade specialist about the process.
Who qualifies fit: exporters
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · Open listing · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Ohio

International Market Access Grant for Exporters (IMAGE)

Ohio — Ohio Department of Development (STEP)

Up to $10,000 per program year, reimbursing 50% of eligible export costs (50% of $20,000 in spending); a separate Export Training Grant repays 50% of training up to $5,000 a year

GrantEquity-freeexporting

The catch: Reimbursement of 50% after you pay: nothing that happens before your approval date (or before October 1) counts. Development's program handbook requires each reimbursement request within 30 days of finishing the activity, with invoices paired with bank or card proof of payment. Eligible uses are international trade shows, trade missions, supported market visits, Commercial Service programs, EXIM credit insurance premiums, marketing design and translation, and some domestic trade shows and compliance testing.

Next deadline: Rolling · Program year October 1–September 29; first come, first served until funds run out, then a wait list

Applicant tip: Use IMAGE and the Export Training Grant together: they have separate caps ($10,000 and $5,000 per year), so an export training course does not eat into your trade show budget. Apply early in the October program year, since once the money is gone Development only wait-lists eligible applications.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Licensed for-profit Ohio businesses that make, assemble or distribute a product or provide an exportable service, meet SBA size standards, have been in business at least one year, promote products with at least 51% U.S. content, have a strategic plan for exporting and are in good standing with Ohio agencies.
How to apply: Direct application: apply to the Ohio Department of Development's IMAGE program before the activity; each activity must be approved before it takes place.
Who qualifies fit: exporters
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Georgia

Georgia Export Grant

Georgia — Georgia Department of Economic Development (STEP)

Varies — check official page (75% of actual costs, or 90% for SBA-designated Small Business Communities, up to a per-activity maximum and a per-company cap per grant period that the page does not publish)

GrantEquity-freeexporting

The catch: Reimbursement after the pre-approved activity is completed, at 75% (90% for Small Business Communities) up to each activity's maximum. The program page and FAQ now list only two eligible activities: international trade show booth costs (domestic shows need an international component) and export training course fees; earlier cycles also covered travel, marketing design and website localization. Approved companies must set up a state vendor profile before they can be paid.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling within each grant period until funds are spent; the application portal lists a September 1 application deadline

Applicant tip: Write the application like an export plan: the review committee scores your export goals for the next 12–18 months, the steps you have taken to prepare, whether the product is export-ready and how the activity will turn into measurable export sales.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit Georgia businesses that meet SBA size standards (typically 500 or fewer employees), are incorporated in the U.S. and registered with the Georgia Secretary of State, have been in business at least one year and export goods or services with at least 51% U.S. content. Foreign-owned companies are ineligible. Open to all eligible firms; minority-, woman- and veteran-owned businesses and firms in 85 listed rural counties get the higher 90% rate.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online through the Georgia Department of Economic Development's Submittable portal at least 30 business days before the activity, with a separate application for each activity (two per grant period).
Who qualifies fit: exporters
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

North Carolina

North Carolina State Trade Expansion Program (STEP 13)

North Carolina — Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (STEP)

Up to $12,000 in reimbursements per company; caps of up to $3,000 for travel when co-exhibiting in an EDPNC trade show booth and up to $8,000 for booth costs or for export services, marketing media, website localization and e-commerce, EXIM insurance, lead subscriptions or Commercial Service fees

GrantEquity-freeexporting

The catch: Reimbursement: you pay first and are repaid for qualifying costs up to each cap. The travel allowance applies only when you co-exhibit in an EDPNC booth at a trade show. Funding can run out early in a period: EDPNC said it allocated an earlier round's $750,000 within the first three months.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling within each federal funding period (STEP 13: June 30, 2026–September 29, 2027)

Applicant tip: Apply early in the STEP 13 period, which began June 30, 2026. If you plan to travel to a show, pick one where EDPNC runs a North Carolina booth, because the $3,000 travel money is available only to companies exhibiting with EDPNC.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: North Carolina small businesses that meet SBA's STEP rules for eligible small business concerns; EDPNC reviews eligibility with each company (the criteria are covered in its STEP 13 webinar rather than listed on the page).
How to apply: Through your state: contact your EDPNC international trade manager to start a STEP application, or use the contact form on the STEP page to reach the STEP program manager.
Who qualifies fit: exporters
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Michigan

Michigan State Trade Expansion Program (MI-STEP)

Michigan — Michigan Economic Development Corporation (STEP)

Up to $15,000 per fiscal year, covering 75% of pre-approved expenses

GrantEquity-freeexporting

The catch: Reimbursement of 75% after you pay, claimed through the MI-STEP client portal, and reimbursements are paid first come, first served as funds allow, even after approval. Travel covers economy airfare and lodging at the federal per diem for at most two employees who are U.S. citizens; meals, ground transportation, passport and visa fees, printing, giveaways, conferences and membership dues are not covered. Approval also weighs past performance, compliance and return on investment.

Next deadline: Rolling (FY2027 applications accepted October 15, 2026 to September 15, 2027, while funding lasts) · Annual fiscal year: FY27 applications accepted October 15, 2026–September 15, 2027, while funding lasts

Applicant tip: Attach a real export strategic plan: MEDC weighs the export growth need shown in that plan, along with your past results, when it decides. Since FY25 the program also pays for design and translation of international marketing media, compliance testing or certification of an existing product and sample shipping, not only travel.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Michigan small businesses that meet SBA size standards, have been in business at least one year as a full-time operation, have an EIN tied to a Michigan address, at least $100,000 in gross annual revenue, export-ready goods or services of at least 51% U.S. content and good standing with the Michigan Department of Treasury. Intermediaries, consultants, law firms, wholesale distributors of imported products, multi-level marketing companies, real estate developers and logistics firms are ineligible.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a MI-STEP application at least 10 business days before the trip or activity (applications received fewer than five business days ahead are not processed); MEDC's intake form lets you talk with an International Trade Manager first.
Who qualifies fit: exporters
Equity taken: None
Who wins: In fiscal year 2025, MI-STEP allocated more than $1 million to 117 small businesses (MEDC, August 2026).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

New Jersey

New Jersey State Trade Expansion Program (NJ STEP)

New Jersey — Business Action Center, Office of Export Promotion (STEP)

Varies — check official page (partial reimbursement of export promotion costs; per-company caps are not published on the page)

GrantEquity-freeexporting

The catch: Reimbursement: the award partially offsets export costs you have already paid, and it is competitive as well as first come, first served. You need a UEI number from SAM.gov before you can apply.

Next deadline: Rolling · Rolling within each federal funding period, first come, first served (the STEP 13 period, 2026–2027, is open)

Applicant tip: Get your UEI from SAM.gov before you send the intake form, since the page lists it as a requirement alongside your EIN and NAICS code. NJ STEP covers website, SEO and localization costs and international marketing media as well as trade shows and missions, so an online export push can qualify.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Businesses registered in and domestic to New Jersey, small under SBA standards, in business at least one year and New Jersey tax compliant, making goods or providing services with at least 51% U.S. content, with an EIN, a DUNS number and a UEI number.
How to apply: Direct application: send a client intake form to the NJ STEP project director (or call 1-800-JERSEY-7); once eligibility is confirmed, the Office of Export Promotion sends the link to its electronic application.
Who qualifies fit: exporters
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

6. Federal grants a small business can apply for

Outside research grants (SBIR) and export help (STEP), the federal grants an ordinary business can apply for itself are few and specific, and most come from USDA. They fit farms, food and farm-product businesses, rural firms cutting energy costs, wood-products companies, and any employer that hires through the public workforce system. Awards run from $750 per organic certification scope to $500,000 for a local-food, energy or wood-products project. Most programs open one window a year, usually between late winter and early summer, and close within six to ten weeks. The common mistake is the match: Value-Added Producer and Wood Innovations grants require you to put up as much as you receive, and under USDA's October 2026 rule a REAP energy project must already be built and running for a year before you apply. Register in SAM.gov at least a month before any deadline. Programs where a city, county or nonprofit is the applicant, such as USDA's Rural Business Development Grants, are in the economic development grants guide.

7 programs

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) — Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement grants

U.S. Department of Agriculture — Rural Development, Rural Business-Cooperative Service

$1,500 to $500,000 for renewable energy systems; $1,500 to $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements. Under the October 2026 rule you must cover at least 75% of project cost yourself, so the grant pays at most 25%.

GrantEquity-freeenergy & efficiency

The catch: The project must already be built and running when you apply: completed 12 to 24 months earlier (12 to 36 months in the first window), with 12 months of actual energy output or savings and 12 months of pre-installation data. One award per federal fiscal year, and businesses under common ownership count as one. Not eligible: ground-mounted solar or wind on certified cropland, solar or wind with components from a foreign-adversary country, multi-location projects, EV chargers, flexible-fuel pumps and stand-alone storage. USDA rescinded its FY2025–2027 REAP funding notice on April 15, 2026, and applicants without a signed award must reapply under the new rule. REAP guaranteed loans stayed open; that side is a loan, not a grant.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — check official page (USDA says the first window under the October 16, 2026 rule will be set by an annual notice) · annual window announced in a yearly notice; none has opened yet under the rule that took effect October 16, 2026

Applicant tip: If your rural business finished an energy project in the last two to three years (efficient lighting, HVAC, refrigeration, a biomass boiler or a rooftop array), it may qualify in the first window; gather 12 months of energy bills from before and after installation now.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Agricultural producers (at least half of gross income from farming) and small businesses meeting SBA size standards; the project must be in a rural area (outside cities and towns of more than 50,000 people and their adjacent urbanized areas). Under the new rule the business must have operated at least one full year and must not be owned or controlled by another entity.
How to apply: Direct application: apply to USDA Rural Development during the window set by its annual notice (USDA plans an online application portal); talk to your State Rural Development Energy Coordinator first.
Who qualifies fit: rural businesses, farms & ag producers
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG)

U.S. Department of Agriculture — Rural Development, Rural Business-Cooperative Service

Planning grants up to $50,000; working capital grants up to $200,000 (about $25 million and 185 awards expected in FY2026)

GrantEquity-freemarketing & salesR&D & new products

The catch: You must match the grant dollar for dollar, in cash or eligible in-kind contributions. Planning grants pay for feasibility studies and business or marketing plans; working capital grants pay operating costs of processing and marketing the product (processing, packaging, advertising, inventory, salaries). If you pay a consultant or grant writer, you must disclose who and how much, and paying them more than 15% of the request forfeits the Administrator's priority points.

Next deadline: Expected: April 2027 · annual (late winter to spring): FY2024 ran Jan 17–Apr 11, 2024; FY2025 Jan 17–Apr 17, 2025; FY2026 Feb 17–Apr 22, 2026

Applicant tip: For FY2026, USDA gave extra points to first-time VAPG applicants and to requests under $125,000, so a first application sized below $125,000 starts ahead. Start SAM.gov registration at least a month before the window closes.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Agricultural producers (including harvesters), producer groups, farmer or rancher cooperatives and majority producer-controlled businesses that own and produce more than half of the raw commodity they will turn into a value-added product. Priority goes to beginning, veteran and socially disadvantaged producers, small and mid-sized family farms, cooperatives and mid-tier value chain projects; all producers can apply.
How to apply: Direct application: apply in USDA's Grant Application Portal (GAP), not Grants.gov, with an active SAM.gov registration and a Level 2 USDA eAuthentication account; the authorized representative must start the application.
Who qualifies fit: farms & ag producers
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

On-the-Job Training (OJT) wage reimbursement under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

U.S. Department of Labor — Employment and Training Administration (through local workforce development boards and American Job Centers)

Typically up to 50% of the new hire's wage during the training period; a governor or local workforce board may raise it to 75%, weighing employer size with an emphasis on small businesses. Caps and contract length are set locally.

OtherEquity-freehiring & training

The catch: Covers people you hire through the workforce system, not staff you already employ. The contract lasts only as long as the trainee needs to become proficient. Boards will not contract with an employer that has a pattern of not keeping OJT hires on as regular employees at the same wages, benefits and conditions as peers. Employer criteria, and whether the rate goes above 50%, are set by your state or local board.

Next deadline: Rolling · rolling (year-round; arranged contract by contract with your local workforce board)

Applicant tip: Call the American Job Center before you post the opening: you still make the final hiring decision, and the board can raise the rate above 50% (up to 75%) for a small employer or a trainee with barriers to employment, but it must document why, so ask what your board's policy is.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Private-sector, nonprofit and public employers (and registered apprenticeship sponsors) that hire a WIOA participant referred through the public workforce system and train that person on the job. Local boards set additional employer criteria.
How to apply: Through a partner: contact the business services team at your local American Job Center; an OJT specialist refers candidates and you sign an OJT contract covering positions, wages and reimbursement before training begins.
Who qualifies fit: employers with staff, any small business
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Wood Innovations Grant Program

U.S. Department of Agriculture — Forest Service (Wood Innovations)

Generally up to $300,000; up to $500,000 for a project with a significant market impact (after consulting the regional coordinator); up to $1,000,000 for qualifying wood energy systems above 5 megawatts thermal

GrantEquity-freeequipment & expansionenergy & efficiency

The catch: You must match at least 100% of the federal request from non-federal sources, backed by third-party commitment letters, and construction, mobile equipment, production costs and operating labor cannot count as match. Paid as cost reimbursement. Best suited to later-stage work such as engineering designs, cost analyses and permits that unlock financing.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — check official page (FY2026 applications were due April 22, 2026) · annual (one window a year; recent deadlines Dec 15, 2023, Dec 11, 2024 and Apr 22, 2026)

Applicant tip: Bring a project that is close to construction or financing: the notice says early-phase development proposals will not be competitive. The same window also opens the Community Wood and Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance grants, so ask the coordinator which fits.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit businesses, plus state and local governments, tribes, nonprofits, universities and special districts, with projects that expand U.S. wood products or wood energy markets in support of forest management (mass timber, wood energy, manufacturing capacity). Early-phase project ideas score poorly.
How to apply: Direct application: submit through Grants.gov during the annual window, with active SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations; talk to your regional Wood Innovations coordinator first.
Who qualifies fit: manufacturers
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP)

U.S. Department of Agriculture — Agricultural Marketing Service (Local Agriculture Market Program)

Planning projects $25,000–$100,000; implementation projects $100,000–$500,000; turnkey marketing-and-promotion or recruitment-and-training projects $50,000–$100,000

GrantEquity-freemarketing & saleshiring & training

The catch: You must contribute a match equal to 25% of the federal award. Projects run 24 months (planning and turnkey) or 36 months (implementation). LFPP is for the middle of the supply chain; selling directly to consumers belongs in the Farmers Market Promotion Program.

Next deadline: Expected: June 2027 · annual (spring): FY2024 closed May 14, 2024; FY2025 closed June 27, 2025; FY2026 closed June 5, 2026

Applicant tip: Pick the right sibling before you write: if you sell straight to consumers, apply to FMPP; if you aggregate, process, distribute or store local food for others, apply to LFPP. The two share one notice and one deadline.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Agricultural businesses and cooperatives, plus producer networks, CSA networks, food councils, nonprofits, local governments and tribes, whose project supports local or regional food businesses that aggregate, process, distribute or store locally or regionally produced food. Applicants must be domestic entities located in the U.S. or its territories.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through Grants.gov during the annual window (the FY2026 notice opened April 21, 2026), with an active SAM.gov registration.
Who qualifies fit: restaurants & food, farms & ag producers
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP)

U.S. Department of Agriculture — Agricultural Marketing Service (Local Agriculture Market Program)

Capacity building $50,000–$250,000; community development training and technical assistance $100,000–$500,000; turnkey marketing-and-promotion or recruitment-and-training projects $50,000–$100,000

GrantEquity-freemarketing & saleshiring & training

The catch: You must contribute a match equal to 25% of the federal award. Projects run 24 months (turnkey) or 36 months (capacity building and training). The project has to develop or expand direct producer-to-consumer markets, the program's stated purpose.

Next deadline: Expected: June 2027 · annual (spring): FY2024 closed May 14, 2024; FY2026 closed June 5, 2026

Applicant tip: Read the turnkey menus first: the marketing-and-promotion and recruitment-and-training options fund a defined set of activities at $50,000 to $100,000, so if your plan fits one you do not have to design a custom project.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Agricultural businesses and cooperatives, plus CSA networks, producer networks, farmers' market authorities, food councils, nonprofits, local governments and tribes, with projects that build direct producer-to-consumer markets for local and regional farm products. Applicants must be domestic entities located in the U.S. or its territories.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through Grants.gov during the annual window (the FY2026 notice opened April 21, 2026), with an active SAM.gov registration.
Who qualifies fit: farms & ag producers, restaurants & food
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

7. Corporate and nonprofit small business grants

Corporate grants are paid by a company and usually run by a nonprofit or a platform: LISC for Verizon and Gran Coramino, Main Street America and the National Trust for American Express, Hello Alice for Progressive and DoorDash. A few nonprofits and community development financial institutions (CDFIs) run grants of their own, mostly for fresh-food retail and farms: Reinvestment Fund's FARE Fund, The Food Trust in Pennsylvania and American Farmland Trust. Corporate programs are usually open to any U.S. small business under a size cap, with a storefront, industry, city or disaster test on some; the nonprofit ones pay for one purpose in one kind of place. Awards run from $4,000 (NASE, members only) to $50,000 for a restaurant facade or a work vehicle, and up to $250,000 for a food-access project. Most open one short window a year and fund a few dozen to a few hundred businesses, and several had not posted a 2026 round by October, so join each funder's mailing list. Programs reserved for women- or minority-owned businesses are in OpenGrants' grants for women and minority small business grants guides.

10 programs

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 National Grant

Verizon — LISC (Small Business Digital Ready)

$10,000 per national grant, with 10 businesses selected each month from June through December 2026; separate state rounds of $5,000 grants (25 in West Virginia) closed March 31, 2026

GrantEquity-freeany business use

The catch: Competitive, not first come: only 10 grants a month. You may apply only once in 2026, answers cannot be changed after you submit, and applications filed before April 15, 2026 did not carry over. Finalists must supply W-9 and ACH paperwork and answer LISC promptly or an alternate is picked. Past Digital Ready grantees may apply but are unlikely to win again.

Next deadline: Rolling through 2026 (the two unlocking courses must be finished by December 7, 2026) · Annual program year (calendar 2026); apply once, selections monthly June–December

Applicant tip: Apply as early in the year as you can: one application is considered in each monthly selection, so a June application gets seven chances and a December one gets one. Grant emails come from an @lisc.org address, so watch your spam folder once you apply.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Owners, 18 or older, of a for-profit small business based in the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands; one business per owner, and nonprofits are not eligible. You unlock the application by finishing any two free Digital Ready courses or events between January 1 and December 7, 2026.
How to apply: Direct application: create a free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready account, complete two eligible courses, virtual or recorded events, or listed in-person events, then submit LISC's application once; it stays in every monthly selection for the rest of 2026.
Who qualifies fit: any small business
Equity taken: None
Who wins: More than 1,500 small businesses have received Digital Ready grants since 2021, totaling $15 million (Verizon).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

NASE Growth Grants

National Association for the Self-Employed — NASE Growth Grants

Up to $4,000 per grant

GrantEquity-freemarketing & salesequipment & expansionhiring & training

The catch: You pay membership dues first (the grant page does not state the price), and Monthly members wait 90 days. The money must be spent as your grant-use statement says, cannot pay existing debt, rent or mortgage, and you must keep records of how it was used. NASE publishes winners' names, businesses, amounts and photos and asks you to show its member badge on your website for a year. The grant is generally taxable, and NASE gives no feedback on applications.

Next deadline: Dec 31, 2026 · quarterly: Mar 31, Jun 30, Sep 30, Dec 31 (applications completed in each quarter are reviewed the following month)

Applicant tip: Submit inside the quarter you want reviewed: an application finished on October 2 waits for the January review, not October's. The committee scores a specific business need and a detailed use of the money, so tie each dollar to a named purchase, hire or campaign.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: NASE members in good standing when they apply and through the award date. Annual, Veteran and Gold members can apply right away; Monthly members after 90 days of membership; other membership levels are not eligible. A new business without a tax return can submit projected income and expenses.
How to apply: Membership required: join NASE, log in to the member-only grant portal and submit a grant-use statement, a business plan, a recent tax return or profit-and-loss statement and a photo of you or the business.
Who qualifies fit: any small business
Equity taken: None
Who wins: More than $1 million awarded since 2006 (NASE).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Backing Historic Small Restaurants

American Express — National Trust for Historic Preservation

$50,000 per restaurant; 50 grants in 2025 ($40,000 after the grant agreement is signed, $10,000 when the exterior project is finished)

GrantEquity-freestorefront & property

The catch: At least $40,000 must go to exterior improvements (up to $10,000 of it can pay a preservation partner to scope or manage the work); only $10,000 is unrestricted. The last $10,000 is paid only after the public-facing work is 100% complete and documented, by the program's deadline (January 31, 2026 for 2025 grantees). Taxes are the recipient's responsibility, and American Express receives your business name, location and finances.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — no 2026 round posted on the program page (the 2025 window ran May 12–June 2, 2025) · annual (spring; the 2025 window ran May 12–June 2)

Applicant tip: Pick an exterior project you can finish in about five months: 2025 grantees were notified in July and had to complete their work by January 31, 2026, and the final payment depends on it. Public nominations do not substitute for your application, but community support is weighed, so ask regulars to nominate you after you apply.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Under the 2025 terms: independent restaurants that cook and serve food on site, with fewer than 100 employees including owners, in an older or historic main street, downtown or commercial district (or a historic building or Main Street community) in a U.S. community hit hard by disasters or other hardships. Must be a registered business in good standing and not part of a national franchise; digital-only businesses and unincorporated self-employed individuals are not eligible.
How to apply: Direct application: the owner completes the full application on the National Trust's program page during the window. Customers can suggest a restaurant, but only restaurants that file their own application are considered.
Who qualifies fit: restaurants & food
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Over $8 million to 180 restaurants in 2021–2024, then 50 grants of $50,000 in 2025 (National Trust for Historic Preservation).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Backing Small Businesses Grant Program

American Express — Main Street America

$10,000 per grant in 2025 (400 grants in the broad round), with $30,000 Enhancement Grants for 25 of the recipients

GrantEquity-freestorefront & propertyequipment & expansion

The catch: The window is short (16 days in 2025) and the business must operate from its own permanent storefront in an older or historic commercial district. Grants fund projects for growth, resilience and local impact; repair and accessibility projects need a before photo. American Express receives your business name, location and finances, and other active American Express grants can count against you.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — check official page (the 2025 broad round ran July 16–31, 2025) · annual (summer; the 2025 broad round ran July 16–31)

Applicant tip: Subscribe to Main Street America's small business updates list so you see the next window the day it opens. Main Street America also ran a separate Amex Shop Small Grants window from Small Business Saturday (November 29, 2025) to January 23, 2026, so check its site in late November too.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Under the 2025 rules: owners of independently owned for-profit businesses open on or before January 1, 2024, operating from a brick-and-mortar location (open by January 1, 2025) in an older or historic main street, downtown or commercial district in the U.S. or its territories, with 20 or fewer full-time-equivalent employees including the owner. Home-based, co-working, mall, office-park, franchise, online-only and nonprofit applicants are not eligible, and past grantees cannot reapply. Main Street America membership is not required.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online on Main Street America's program page while the window is open; you may be asked for a certificate of good standing or a business license.
Who qualifies fit: storefront & retail
Equity taken: None
Who wins: More than $14 million to over 1,600 small businesses since 2021 (Main Street America).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Progressive Driving Small Business Forward Grant

Progressive — Hello Alice (Driving Small Business Forward)

$50,000 per grant toward a commercial vehicle; 20 grants ($1 million) in 2025, plus a 12-week Hello Alice Boost Camp coaching program

GrantEquity-freeequipment & expansion

The catch: The grant goes toward buying a commercial vehicle and related expenses, not general operating costs. A committee picks 20 recipients nationally against published criteria; one entry per business and per officer. No 2026 round had been posted as of October 2026.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — no 2026 round posted on the program page (the 2025 window ran May 12–June 20, 2025) · annual (spring; the 2024 and 2025 windows ran in May–June)

Applicant tip: Show exactly how the vehicle changes your business: 2025 recipients had to demonstrate how a commercial vehicle would directly improve efficiency, expansion and service to their community. Name the vehicle, its price and the work or revenue it unlocks.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: The leading executive of a for-profit business based in the 50 states or D.C. (U.S. territories excluded), 18 or older (19 in AL and NE), with 10 or fewer employees, under $5 million in annual gross revenue and a clear need for a commercial vehicle. Independent contractors whose main work is rideshare or food delivery are not eligible.
How to apply: Direct application: create a free Hello Alice account and complete the online application while the window is open.
Who qualifies fit: any small business
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 20 recipients of $50,000 each in 2025; more than $2.5 million awarded over the program's four years (Progressive).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

DoorDash Local Business Disaster Relief Fund

DoorDash — Hello Alice (Local Business Disaster Relief Fund)

$5,000 per business

GrantEquity-freeany business use

The catch: There is no standing application: you can apply only while a round is open for a disaster that hit your area, and only for damage or revenue loss that disaster caused. Recipients are notified within about 30 days of the window closing and paid the month after. The grant is meant for urgent recovery costs such as payroll, inventory, repairs and utility reconnection.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — rounds open only after a qualifying disaster (the latest, for the 2026 Spokane fires, closed October 1, 2026) · Rounds open after qualifying state- or federally-declared natural disasters; each round is typically open 4–6 weeks

Applicant tip: Join the DoorDash community on Hello Alice before you need it so you hear when a round opens; windows typically last only four to six weeks. Keep photos and before-and-after revenue records after any disaster, since eligibility turns on direct damage or lost revenue.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Independently owned for-profit local businesses with a brick-and-mortar location (restaurants, grocers, flower, liquor, convenience and pet stores) in the U.S., D.C. or Puerto Rico that lost revenue or suffered damage from the declared natural disaster a round covers. Up to three locations, fewer than 50 employees and $3 million or less in revenue per location, open at least six months; franchises and subsidiaries are excluded. Businesses on the DoorDash platform get priority.
How to apply: Direct application: when DoorDash activates the fund for a disaster, the business's leading executive applies through Hello Alice's DoorDash page during that round's window.
Who qualifies fit: restaurants & food, storefront & retail
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Nearly $10 million awarded to hundreds of small businesses since 2020 (DoorDash and Hello Alice).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative FARE Fund Grants

Reinvestment Fund — America's Healthy Food Financing Initiative (Food Access and Retail Expansion Fund)

$20,000–$250,000 per planning or implementation grant (the 2026 round made at least $5.25 million available for grants and $1 million for technical assistance)

GrantEquity-freestorefront & propertyequipment & expansion

The catch: Federal money with federal rules: payment by reimbursement or advance with backup documents, semi-annual progress reports and reporting after closeout on equipment or property bought. No match is required. Not eligible: farming and other pre-harvest production, restaurants and prepared food, snacks and beverages, charitable food, nutrition education, stand-alone kitchens, vehicles and single consumer-packaged-goods makers. Implementation grantees from the 2024–2025 round cannot win another grant in 2026.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — the 2026 funding inquiry deadline was July 31, 2026 (invited applications due October 30, 2026) · annual (2026: funding inquiries due July 31, invited applications due October 30; 2024–2025 ran three grant rounds)

Applicant tip: Register in SAM.gov before you file the funding inquiry: an inquiry without active SAM registration is ruled ineligible, and registration can take weeks. Retail projects must accept SNAP, so start SNAP authorization early; USDA allows itself 45 days to process an application.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit, nonprofit and cooperative food retailers and food enterprises (also colleges and state, local and tribal governments). Retail projects must be SNAP-authorized stores selling staple and perishable foods in an underserved (low-income, low-access) area; food enterprises such as food hubs, distributors and processors must supply SNAP retailers in those areas. Individuals cannot apply, and active SAM.gov registration is required.
How to apply: Direct application: submit a funding inquiry form in Reinvestment Fund's SmartSimple portal; eligible inquiries are invited to file a full application.
Who qualifies fit: storefront & retail, restaurants & food
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Over $41 million awarded directly to food retail and food enterprise projects in 50 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico (Reinvestment Fund).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative (The Food Trust's PA FFFI)

The Food Trust — Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative (with PA DCED and Pennsylvania CDFIs)

$5,000–$200,000 per grant, with technical assistance (most past grants were up to $50,000)

GrantEquity-freeequipment & expansionstorefront & property

The catch: Pennsylvania only, and the project must serve low- to moderate-income shoppers; 2025 grantees all accepted SNAP, WIC or farmers' market checks. Grants are one-time and project-based (equipment, renovation, storage, marketing), and the detailed match and payment terms are set in each year's request for applications. A separate program with the same name, run by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, has its own rules and deadline.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — The Food Trust says the application reopens in 2027 (the 2026 window closed September 15, 2026) · annual (the 2025 window ran August 15–November 1, 2025; the 2026 window closed September 15, 2026)

Applicant tip: Fill out The Food Trust's keep-in-touch form now so you are told when the 2027 window opens, and run its eligibility checklist before you scope a project. Past grants went to specific purchases such as reach-in coolers, cold storage and storefront renovation, so price a concrete equipment or build-out list.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Nonprofit, for-profit and cooperative food businesses that open or expand healthy food retail in Pennsylvania (grocers, corner stores, markets, mobile markets) and serve low- to moderate-income residents in urban, suburban or rural areas.
How to apply: Direct application: apply to The Food Trust during the yearly window using the request for applications and eligibility checklist on its PA FFFI page.
Who qualifies fit: storefront & retail
Equity taken: None
Who wins: $4 million to 92 projects since 2018; $800,000 to 13 retailers in the 2024–2025 round (The Food Trust).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

The Coramino Fund

LISC — The Coramino Fund (funded by Gran Coramino Tequila)

$10,000 per grant, with technical support; 50 grants in 2025

GrantEquity-freeequipment & expansionhiring & training

The catch: Windows are short (the 2026 round opened March 31 and closed April 6) and eligibility shifts each year, including which cities qualify and the five-year age limit used in 2026. LISC aims the fund at businesses in under-resourced communities that struggle to get capital.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — the 2026 round closed April 6, 2026 · annual (spring; the 2025 round closed April 23 and the 2026 round April 6)

Applicant tip: Sign up for LISC's small business grant email alerts; the 2026 round was open for about a week. Spell out a concrete growth use such as equipment, a hire or testing a new product line, which are the uses LISC and Gran Coramino name for the grant.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Rules change by round. The 2026 round took businesses located in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Houston or Los Angeles that had been in business five years or less, with no more than three locations and 30 employees; the 2025 round awarded businesses in 18 states.
How to apply: Direct application: apply to LISC online during the round's short spring window, following that round's grant guidelines.
Who qualifies fit: any small business
Equity taken: None
Who wins: $1.5 million to 150 businesses since 2022, including 50 grants of $10,000 in 2025 (LISC).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Brighter Future Fund: National Farm Viability Grant

American Farmland Trust — Brighter Future Fund

Up to $10,000 per project

GrantEquity-freeequipment & expansionexpert help

The catch: The window is about 10 days long and funding is limited. Projects that improve land need ownership, a lease or another written agreement long enough to justify the work. Money arrives about 90 days after the award agreement is signed and goes to you, not your vendors; you must file a W-9. One grant per farmer or farm family.

Next deadline: Expected: June 2027 · annual (June; the 2026 window ran June 8–18)

Applicant tip: Draft the proposal before June: the 2026 window was open 11 days. Tie the project to one of the fund's three goals (farm viability, access to or transfer of farmland, or regenerative practices) and show that farming is your main work, since both are weighed in selection.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit farmers and ranchers in the U.S. in soil-based crop or livestock production (including agroforestry and silvopasture) that sold, bartered or exchanged more than $1,000 of farm products in the most recent growing year. Beginning, limited-resource and veteran farmers and people who farm most of their working time get priority; anyone who received an American Farmland Trust grant on or after January 1, 2025 is ineligible.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through American Farmland Trust's online grant portal during the short June window; the link is posted on opening day.
Who qualifies fit: farms & ag producers
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

8. Recurring pitch competitions and business plan contests

Pitch competitions and business plan contests pay cash, services or an investment to the few entrants judges rank highest, after rounds of written applications, recorded pitches and a live final. Most are built for young, scalable companies, so several also appear in OpenGrants' startup business grants guide; the U.S. Chamber's CO—100 is the main national contest that rewards an established small business, with $25,000 for its top pick. State contests in Rhode Island and Wisconsin pay cash and services, once a year with a spring deadline. Read the prize line twice: 43North and Startup World Cup pay $1 million as an investment that takes equity, and 43North also requires a move to Buffalo. The common mistake is treating a prize as a plan: one company in dozens or hundreds wins cash, so enter for the feedback and the contacts. The CO—100 has a paid entry route alongside a free one; use the free one, and be wary of any contest that only takes paid entries.

6 programs

CO—100: America's Top Small Business

U.S. Chamber of Commerce — CO—100 awards

$25,000 to the Top Business of the year and $2,000 to each of 10 category winners; all 100 honorees get a one-year U.S. Chamber membership

PrizeEquity-freeany business use

The catch: The standard entry charges a non-refundable application fee once you are found eligible; the free entry method avoids it and, per the rules, does not change your odds. Only one business wins $25,000 and ten win $2,000; the other 89 honorees get recognition and membership, not cash. You must agree to the award rules, which may include attending the ceremony, and you owe tax on any cash.

Next deadline: Expected: July 2027 · annual (applications open in May and close in late summer; honorees announced in the fall)

Applicant tip: Use the free entry method: email [email protected] with "Free Application Code Request" in the subject line for a one-time code. Spread your entry across up to five categories that fit your story, such as Micro-Business Leaders, Enduring Businesses or Community Champions, since each category is judged separately.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. for-profit businesses operating at least one year (before May 4 for the 2026 round) with fewer than 250 employees and under $20 million in gross revenue in each of the two prior years; the applicant must be a legal U.S. resident. Businesses named to the CO—100 before cannot reapply.
How to apply: Direct application: apply online at CO100.com during the spring–summer window and choose up to five of ten award categories. A free entry method (email for a one-time code, then mail a printed copy) replaces the application fee.
Who qualifies fit: any small business
Equity taken: None
Who wins: One $25,000 Top Business and ten $2,000 category winners each year (U.S. Chamber of Commerce).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Rhode Island Business Competition

Rhode Island Business Competition — Providence, RI (sponsor-funded)

Varies — check official page (cash and in-kind services for a winner and 2–3 finalists; the 2026 awards were reported at over $80,000 in total)

PrizeEquity-freeany business use

The catch: Finalists and winners must use the prize to establish or continue operations that employ people in Rhode Island. Much of the prize pool is in-kind services from sponsors rather than cash, and partial applications are not accepted. Approaching a judge, directly or through someone else, can get you disqualified.

Next deadline: Expected: March 2027 · annual (applications open in January and are due in late March)

Applicant tip: Apply even if you doubt you will place: every completed application earns two months of free co-working space at Sprout Coworking in Providence, and semifinalists get free mentoring from RIHub. Finalists can also enter round two of MassChallenge's judging.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Anyone 18 or older, alone or on a team, with a new business or early-stage company in any industry that will operate and employ people in Rhode Island. An existing business may enter with a new venture that would operate in Rhode Island.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit the online application by the March deadline; semifinalists email a full pitch deck and give a five-minute presentation, finalists meet the judges for 25 minutes, and the winner is announced in late April.
Who qualifies fit: any small business
Equity taken: None
Who wins: 57 applicants and three finalists in 2026 (Rhode Island Business Competition).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Launch Wisconsin (formerly the Wisconsin Governor's Business Plan Contest)

Wisconsin Technology Council — Launch Wisconsin (with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.)

Varies — check official page (cash and in-kind prizes for a winner in each of four categories and a grand prize; about $3 million in cash and services awarded since 2004)

PrizeEquity-freeany business use

The catch: Built for early-stage, tech-enabled ventures: a traditional business qualifies only with a technology-based idea, such as an e-commerce platform for an existing business. The contest runs about five months across three phases, and the contest pages do not publish prize amounts. Previous category winners cannot re-enter with the same plan.

Next deadline: Expected: June 2027 · annual (executive summaries due in June; finals in October)

Applicant tip: Enter each distinct idea separately if you have more than one: there is no cap on entries, though each needs its own account and email address. Second- and third-place finishers may re-enter with the same plan as long as they still meet the funding limit. Entry is free.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Wisconsin residents 18 or older, or teams from Wisconsin businesses, schools and organizations, with a tech-enabled business idea; out-of-state teams qualify if they plan to base or expand in Wisconsin. You must not have raised more than $100,000 in angel or venture funding for the idea, and you must own or control the intellectual property it uses.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit a roughly 1,500-word executive summary in Phase 1 (late spring); the top 50 submit a recorded five-minute pitch deck in Phase 2, and 12 finalists pitch live at the Wisconsin Tech Council conference in October.
Who qualifies fit: tech & R&D firms
Equity taken: None
Who wins: Almost 5,000 entries and about $3 million in cash and services awarded since 2004 (Wisconsin Technology Council).

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

TechCrunch Startup Battlefield

TechCrunch — Startup Battlefield (TechCrunch Disrupt)

$100,000 equity-free to one winner, plus the Disrupt Cup; all 200 selected companies get a free exhibit booth and tickets to TechCrunch Disrupt

PrizeEquity-freeany business use

The catch: One winner out of 200 selected companies takes the cash. Selected companies exhibit at Disrupt in San Francisco and are invited to a virtual prep program of about two hours a week. Built for venture-scale startups rather than main street businesses; overlaps with OpenGrants' startup business grants guide.

Next deadline: Expected: June 2027 · annual (applications in spring; finals at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco in the fall)

Applicant tip: Record a real product demo before you apply: TechCrunch requires a video showing the product working and does not accept animated or AI-generated demos. Its journalists judge what is new and category-defining, so lead with what no one else does.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Early-stage startups from any country and industry with a working minimum viable product; most selected companies are pre-Series A, and Series A companies are considered case by case (mainly capital-intensive ones or those that raised outside the U.S.).
How to apply: Pitch gate: apply online in spring with a product demo video; TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield and editorial teams review in up to four rounds, pick 200 companies to exhibit at Disrupt, 20 to pitch on the main stage and 5 for the final.
Who qualifies fit: tech & R&D firms
Equity taken: None (the $100,000 prize is equity-free)
Who wins: One $100,000 winner a year from 200 selected companies (TechCrunch).

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

43North Startup Competition

43North — 43North Finals (Buffalo, NY)

$1 million investment in each of five companies a year, plus free incubator space in Buffalo and mentorship

PrizeEquity: see termsany business use

The catch: This is an investment, not a grant: 43North takes 5% of your company. Your CEO and half your staff must relocate to within 30 miles of the Niagara Power Project for at least 12 months, and commuting does not count. Finalists must attend all of Finals Week; 43North pays round-trip flights for two founders and one hotel room, and the rest is on you.
Equity: 5% equity in each winning company, taken as a non-negotiable warrant

Next deadline: Not yet announced — applications open once a year in late spring for about six weeks · annual (applications open in late spring for about six weeks; finals in October)

Applicant tip: Apply only if you would actually move, since relocating the CEO and half the team is a condition of the money. Judges score team, market knowledge, product, product-market fit and revenue plans, so show revenue or a clear path to it within 12 months.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Startups from anywhere with a strong team, customer traction and outside investment (typically pre-seed and seed), willing to relocate to Buffalo. Not eligible: brick-and-mortar retail, residential real estate, investment vehicles, sports venues, gaming, lodging, entertainment venues and single productions, franchises, buy-outs and past 43North cash winners.
How to apply: Pitch gate: apply online during the six-week window that opens once a year in late spring; finalists spend Finals Week in Buffalo in October, where five companies win.
Who qualifies fit: tech & R&D firms
Equity taken: 5% equity in each winning company, taken as a non-negotiable warrant
Who wins: Five companies a year at $1 million each; 43North reports investing $5 million annually since 2014.

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Startup World Cup

Pegasus Tech Ventures — Startup World Cup

$1,000,000 investment prize to the Grand Finale winner; regional winners get tickets to the San Francisco finals

PrizeEquity: see termsany business use

The catch: The top prize is an investment, not a grant. Startup World Cup does not pay or reimburse travel or hotels for regional winners going to San Francisco, and some regionals sell optional exhibit booths. You can enter several regionals, but not after becoming a regional champion.
Equity: The $1 million is an investment: equity on the terms of your most recent funding round, or a convertible note, depending on company size and funding raised

Next deadline: Not yet announced — each regional event sets its own deadline (the 2026 Grand Finale is November 4–6, 2026) · annual (regional events through the year; Grand Finale in San Francisco in the fall)

Applicant tip: Enter the regional closest to you and, if you do not win, try another: you may apply to more than one regional until you become a champion. The optional video helps only when your product is hard to explain in slides.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: Startups in any industry and at any stage, from any country, with no limit on capital already raised; the startup must be a legal entity, not just an idea.
How to apply: Pitch gate: apply free to one or more of about 200 regional events worldwide; each regional champion advances to the semifinals and Grand Finale in San Francisco.
Who qualifies fit: tech & R&D firms
Equity taken: The $1 million is an investment: equity on the terms of your most recent funding round, or a convertible note, depending on company size and funding raised

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

9. SBIR and STTR: federal R&D grants and contracts

SBIR and STTR set aside part of federal research budgets for U.S. small businesses, and together they are the one large federal grant route a for-profit company can apply to directly. The money pays for research and development against a real technical risk. Phase I tests feasibility, typically $125,000 to $325,000 (some NIH institutes allow $700,000); Phase II builds the prototype, from about $600,000 to $3 million. It is not operating capital: it will not pay to launch, market or scale a product that already works. The usual mistake is submitting a business plan; reviewers score the research question. Congress reauthorized both programs through September 30, 2031 in Public Law 119-83, signed April 13, 2026, after a lapse that froze most calls. Civilian agencies open one to three windows a year, often behind a short pitch, while the Defense Department releases contract topics every month. This section covers five agencies; OpenGrants' SBIR grants guide covers every agency.

5 programs

NSF SBIR/STTR (America's Seed Fund) — NSF 26-510

U.S. National Science Foundation — America's Seed Fund

Phase I up to $305,000; Phase II up to $1,250,000 (Phase II only for NSF Phase I awardees)

GrantEquity-freeR&D & new products

The catch: Pays only for R&D on technical risk, not sales, marketing or routine product development. A company may send at most two Project Pitches in 12 months. Federal grant reporting applies.

Next deadline: Nov 4, 2026 · Three full-proposal windows a year: first Wednesday in November, first Thursday in March, first Wednesday in July

Applicant tip: If you have not pitched yet, aim for the March 4, 2027 window: the invitation has to come back before you can write the full proposal.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. small business with 500 or fewer employees including affiliates, working on high-risk technology in almost any field. STTR also needs a U.S. research-institution partner.
How to apply: Pitch gate: submit a short Project Pitch on seedfund.nsf.gov; only invited companies send a full proposal through Research.gov. An invitation stays valid for the next two deadlines.
Who qualifies fit: tech & R&D firms
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

NIH, CDC and FDA SBIR and STTR (Parent notices PA-27-100 and PA-27-102)

National Institutes of Health — SEED office (with CDC and FDA)

Phase I up to $400,000 at most NIH institutes and $700,000 at some (including NCI, NIA and NIAID); Phase II up to $2,500,000 or $3,000,000 depending on the institute

GrantEquity-freeR&D & new products

The catch: Phase I normally runs up to 6 months and Phase II up to 2 years. No late applications. Foreign-affiliation disclosures are required, and NIH grant reporting applies.

Next deadline: Jan 5, 2027 · Three standard due dates a year: Sept 5, Jan 5, Apr 5

Applicant tip: Budget caps differ by institute, so choose the institute that fits your project before you build the budget. Registrations can take weeks; start them before you write.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. for-profit small business, majority owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, working on a biomedical or health technology. For SBIR the principal investigator must be primarily employed by the company; STTR needs a nonprofit research-institution partner.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through NIH ASSIST or Grants.gov Workspace on a standard due date, after registering in SAM.gov, eRA Commons and the SBA company registry.
Who qualifies fit: tech & R&D firms
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

Department of Defense (Department of War) SBIR/STTR — FY2027 BAAs

U.S. Department of Defense (Department of War) — SBIR/STTR program, with the Army, Navy, Air Force and other components

Set per topic — Air Force (AFWERX) lists Phase I up to $323,000 and Phase II up to $2.1 million; other components set their own ceilings

R&D contractEquity-freeR&D & new products

The catch: These are contracts with deliverables, not grants: you build what the topic asks for. Many topics carry export-control and cybersecurity (CMMC) requirements. Each component sets its own ceilings and page limits.

Next deadline: Nov 25, 2026 · monthly: twelve topic releases a year, each open about four weeks after a three-week pre-release

Applicant tip: During pre-release you can contact the topic author directly; once the topic opens, questions go only through DSIP's public Q&A. Read topics at pre-release, not in the final week.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: U.S. small business meeting SBIR/STTR size and ownership rules, proposing against a specific military topic. STTR topics need a research-institution partner. Awards are subject to a security and foreign-ties review.
How to apply: Direct application: register in SAM.gov and on the Defense SBIR/STTR Innovation Portal (DSIP), pick a topic in the current monthly release, and certify the proposal on DSIP before the release closes.
Who qualifies fit: tech & R&D firms
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

DOE SBIR/STTR

U.S. Department of Energy — Office of Technology Commercialization

Varies — check official page (the FY26 Genesis Mission Phase I call paid up to $250,000 plus $6,500 for technical and business assistance; amounts for the next call not posted)

GrantEquity-freeR&D & new products

The catch: DOE now uses a single entry application with go/no-go milestones between phases, so progress is judged against milestones you commit to. Federal grant reporting applies.

Next deadline: Not yet announced — DOE says a broader Phase I call is expected this fall · Several calls a year, announced on the Application Hub; no fixed dates

Applicant tip: Join the Application Hub mailing list and request your portal account now, so the account is ready when the next call opens; the hub listed no open opportunity on October 27, 2026.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit U.S. small business meeting SBA SBIR/STTR rules, with technology tied to DOE missions such as energy, advanced manufacturing, critical materials, quantum, semiconductors and biotechnology. STTR needs a research-institution partner.
How to apply: Direct application: request an account on DOE's SBIR/STTR Application Hub (sbir-sttr.connectwerx.org) and submit one Phase I application when a call opens; later phases follow go/no-go reviews instead of new applications.
Who qualifies fit: tech & R&D firms
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗Verified 2026-10-27

USDA SBIR/STTR (FY2026 Phase II: USDA-NIFA-SBIR-012221)

U.S. Department of Agriculture — National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

Phase II $600,000–$650,000 (FY2026 call, $24.75M total); the last Phase I call (FY2025) paid $125,000–$181,500

GrantEquity-freeR&D & new products

The catch: No match required. USDA does not fund businesses getting established, and it does not accept firms majority owned by multiple venture or private-equity funds. NIFA expected to fund about half of Phase II applications.

Next deadline: Nov 17, 2026 · annual (fall): Phase II call each fall for prior Phase I winners; Phase I call dates not set since FY2025

Applicant tip: If you are new to USDA SBIR, the November 17 deadline is not yours: subscribe to Grants.gov alerts for 10.212 so you see the next Phase I notice the day it posts.

Eligibility, how to apply, past winners

Eligibility: For-profit U.S. small business, majority owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, doing agricultural research in one of NIFA's 10 topic areas. The open FY2026 call is Phase II only, for prior USDA SBIR/STTR Phase I recipients.
How to apply: Direct application: apply through Grants.gov under USDA-NIFA-SBIR-012221 (Phase II). New companies wait for a Phase I notice; set a Grants.gov alert for Assistance Listing 10.212.
Who qualifies fit: tech & R&D firms
Equity taken: None

Official page ↗ · On OpenGrants ↗Verified 2026-10-27

12-month calendar

Each program with a known or expected deadline, plotted by month. Solid = a confirmed date, from the official page or the program's OpenGrants listing. Grey italic = expected, based on the program's past cycle. The calendar follows the filters above.

Get alerts when these windows open

This page covers recurring programs. OpenGrants tracks 43,000+ open opportunities (grants and contracts) in the searchable index across federal (Grants.gov, SAM.gov, SBIR/STTR), state and local programs, private foundations, and corporate giving — refreshed daily. Searching and browsing is free and needs no account. A subscription ($9/month once the 7-day free trial ends, or $8/month billed annually) adds the application link to each funder's own listing, saved grants, deadline tracking, AI match scoring, funding alerts, and pipeline management.

Get Started Free Search open grants

How to use this page

Read this first: what the SBA does and does not fund

1. Free help paid for by SBA and federal grants

Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)

SCORE Business Mentoring

Women's Business Centers (WBC)

APEX Accelerators (formerly Procurement Technical Assistance Centers)

Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers

U.S. Commercial Service and U.S. Export Assistance Centers

2. State small business grants

Ohio

JobsOhio Small Business Grant

Michigan

Underserved, Value-Added, Regional Food Systems, and Supply Chain Grant

Pennsylvania

Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant

New Jersey

Main Street Acquisition Support Grant

Texas

Agriculture Production Resource Opportunity (AgPro) Grant

Illinois

Illinois Grocery Initiative Equipment Upgrades Grant (Round 3)

North Carolina

NC AgVentures Farm Grant

3. City small business grants in the largest U.S. cities

New York, NY

Customized Training Grant Program

Chicago, IL

Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF)

Philadelphia, PA

Storefront Improvement Program (SIP)

Dallas, TX

Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP)

Jacksonville, FL

Façade Renovation Matching Grant Program

Fort Worth, TX

Urban Village Storefront/Façade Improvement Program (FIP)

4. State training grants for employers

Texas

Skills for Small Business

Florida

Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Grant

Ohio

TechCred

Illinois

Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP), multi-company grant for manufacturers

Pennsylvania

WEDnetPA employee training funds (2026–27 program year)

Michigan

Going PRO Talent Fund

New Jersey

UPSKILL: NJ Incumbent Worker Training Grant (FY2027)

North Carolina

NCWorks Incumbent Worker Training

5. Export grants: STEP and state trade programs

Texas

Texas State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Export Stipend

Florida

SelectFlorida Target Sector Trade Show Grant

New York

Global NY State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)

Pennsylvania

Global Access Program (GAP)

Illinois

Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) Program

Ohio

International Market Access Grant for Exporters (IMAGE)

Georgia

Georgia Export Grant

North Carolina

North Carolina State Trade Expansion Program (STEP 13)

Michigan

Michigan State Trade Expansion Program (MI-STEP)

New Jersey

New Jersey State Trade Expansion Program (NJ STEP)

6. Federal grants a small business can apply for

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) — Renewable Energy System and Energy Efficiency Improvement grants

Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG)

On-the-Job Training (OJT) wage reimbursement under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

Organic Certification Cost Share Program (OCCSP)