Government Grants for Business:
The TL;DR version:
- Grants (money you never have to repay!) is real.
- It can be worth it to investigate. If you meet the criteria required, you may be able to get the best kind of funding there is: the kind you don’t have to pay back!
- Government loans – usually via the SBA – are often at superior rates and terms than private sector funding, but it is a bit more fussy and difficult to get
- The SBA does not lend money directly. You should apply with us at Fremont Funding; the SBA acts as a bank guarantor, not a direct lender.
Small business can be a daily battle, but assistance is available from both government and private sectors.
You may be able to receive a grant, a loan, or assistance competing in a tough economic environment.
Here is a list to help you determine what is available.
Small-business grants from the federal government.
Government agencies distribute the biggest number of business grants, supporting a variety of environmental conservation and child care services. Small-business owners can benefit from federal grants if they apply. The process may seem daunting, but it is an excellent opportunity for those wishing to grow their business.
There are numerous government small-business grants listed in the Grants.gov database, which is administered by agencies such as the Department of Education and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The SBIR and the STTR grant programs focus on research and development for technology innovation and scientific research. The programs help connect small businesses with federal grants and contracts from 11 government agencies.
A small business must employ no more than 500 people to qualify. Other eligibility requirements must also be met.
The USDA Rural Business Development Grant program provides funding to help rural businesses thrive and prosper.
To qualify, businesses must have less than $1 million in gross revenue, have less than 50 new employees, and be located in an eligible rural area. USDA Rural Development local or state offices accept applications.
The SBA provides federal grants to microenterprise development organizations through the PRIME program so that they can provide assistance to disadvantaged microentrepreneurs. Typically, the SBA does not offer grants directly to small businesses. These organizations, such as the Nebraska Enterprise Fund and the Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon, both of which received funding in 2021, can be either public charities or operated by state, local, or tribal governments.
There are several great options if you are looking for SBA loans.
Small-business grants at the state and regional level.
The Economic Development Administration provides grants, resources, and technical assistance to help communities prosper and encourage new business and innovation ventures.
Businesses can locate locations and recruit employees through the state economic development agency (EDA). To find your EDA, look at the economic development directory.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) assist small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. SBDCs are frequently linked to local universities or a state’s economic development agency, and many can assist you connect with small-business grants, as well as other business funding opportunities, in addition to counselling, training, and technical assistance.
The MBDA operates a nationwide network of business centers dedicated to growing and promoting minority-owned small businesses. These centers assist business owners in accessing capital, securing contracts, and participating in emerging markets.
MBDA centers near you can assist you with debt-based financing as well as federal, state, and local business grants. The organization usually holds a small-business grant competition, and this contest is covered on its website.
The SBA provides grants to state governments to run the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), which helps small businesses develop into global markets. The amount of funding available and the eligibility criteria depend on your state, but you may use capital to take part in trade shows, develop global marketing products, and more.
Small-business grants for corporations
Some corporations and large businesses have a philanthropic component that includes small-business grants. Some provide grants to nonprofits serving specific industries, while others give to for-profit companies as well.
The grant competition, which awards $250,000 in grants to 10 small businesses, includes a $50,000 grant and $4,000 in FedEx print and business services for three grand prize winners every year. May 4 was the day winners were announced for the 2022 competition. U.S.-based, for-profit small businesses with up to 99 employees that have been operating for at least six months may participate.
Members of the National Association for the Self-Employed can apply for monthly small-business grants worth up to $4,000, in addition to an annual $3,000 college scholarship for their children. Grant requests are evaluated on a quarterly basis in January, April, July, and October, with grants awarded year-round.
Small-business owners can receive up to $500 in LegalZoom services or $10,000 in grant money through this partnership between the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League. This program is focused on assisting businesses in underserved and underrepresented communities. Applications are available twice a year.
The Patagonia Corporate Grants Program offers small-business grants to environmental non-profit organizations. In order to receive one of these non-profit grants, businesses must have innovative ideas for environmental preservation and protection projects, as well as specific objectives and action plans. These non-profit grants are usually between $5,000 and $20,000.
The Visa Everywhere Initiative is a grant competition that provides funding for technology-forward startups in five different geographic regions. Entrepreneurs must demonstrate how they’ve developed a product or service that creatively integrates Visa’s products.
Visa will select five regional finalists and send them to the global finals event. The overall winner receives a $100,000 small-business grant. Second- and third-place finishers, as well as audience favorites and regional and local winners, receive additional grants.
Starting a business can be funded.
If you’re seeking for startup business grants, you may have more difficulty locating available federal grants. Numerous state and local governments, as well as private corporations, nevertheless, provide startup grants for small businesses.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Dream Big Awards honor a small business for its contributions to the U.S. economy and provide a grant of $25,000. In addition to recognizing businesses in a range of categories, such as emerging business and green/sustainable business, awards are also given to businesses in a variety of categories, such as emerging business and green/sustainable business. You must have been in business for only one year to enter.
Hello Alice provides grants to small businesses, including startups, through partnerships with a variety of companies, such as Progressive and DoorDash. You can sign up to receive alerts about new grant opportunities and apply to those that are relevant to your business.
Through the Comcast RISE program, startup organizations can receive free marketing services and technological upgrades. These recognitions are granted annually to established businesses. In addition, your firm must be located inside the Comcast or Effectv service areas and must be 51% owned by a woman or a person of color to qualify.
WomensNet provides a $10,000 monthly Amber Grant as well as two $25,000 grants every year. In addition, the foundation provides year-round funding. All grants offered by WomensNet require only a single application to be completed. Startups and existing women-owned businesses are welcome.
Entrepreneurs seeking the best startup business loan options should look here.
A grant for small businesses is available through COVID-19.
Small businesses that require relief because of the COVID-19 epidemic may still apply for a handful of federal, state, and private grant programs. Here’s what you need to know:
Current small-business grants from the U.S. Small Business Administration, including the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, are no longer accepting applications. Similarly, the deadline to apply for the $10,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan advance, or grant, has also passed.
Small firms in New York can get up to $50,000 in free financing through the New York State Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program, which is still running and has been designed to provide COVID-19 relief.
In Sonoma County, California, microbusinesses can apply for grants of $2,500 through the California Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. You can visit your secretary of state, department of economic development, or other official government websites to see what options may be available for your business.
Small businesses may still be eligible for corporate COVID-19 coronavirus relief grants, although some private companies have closed down such programs.
Main Street America, a non-profit organization, is collaborating with American Express to provide the Inclusive Backing Grant Program. This program is giving out COVID-19 relief grants to brick-and-mortar businesses owned by women, nonbinary individuals, and veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces at this time.
Is a business grant taxable?
Small-business grants are for specialty businesses.
Organizations focus funding efforts on specific communities to help spread entrepreneurial success across demographics.
Here are some categories:
Other grant alternatives to help small businesses are:
Searching for and applying for the right small business grants can be time-consuming and difficult. If you are not eligible for certain grants, there are other ways to fund your business. Here are some possibilities to consider:
Are there any frequently asked questions?
Government agencies, state organizations, and private corporations all provide small-business grants. You can start your search at Grants.gov, your local Small Business Development Center, and organizations such as the Local Initiatives Support Corp.
Grant awarding organizations determine the requirements for grant qualification. For example, businesses in rural or impoverished locations or those operated by women or ethnic minorities may receive priority. Before submitting an application, be sure to check the grant’s exhaustive eligibility criteria to see if your company qualifies.
Small businesses cannot typically receive SBA grants directly. State, local, and tribal governments, as well as non-profit organizations, are given SBA grant funding to support small-business initiatives. SBA loans are an accessible alternative to SBA grants.
Money from the federal stimulus program.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, businesses of all sizes have been negatively affected. Some have been forced to rethink their business model, while others have simply just gotten started. President Biden’s recently signed coronavirus stimulus bill will provide $1.9 trillion in assistance to businesses and individuals. In addition to tax credits, loans, and grants, the law provides assistance in the form of tax deductions.
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Grants from the government
Grants.gov is where you should begin your search for a federal grant. The Grants.gov database contains the greatest variety of government grant money. There are thousands of grants to apply for, and they are available to businesses of all types.
You need to meet the criteria for that specific grant.
If you do, you may be able to win funding you don’t need to repay.
Remember that not all assistance flows directly from the federal government to small business. Some funds are distributed to state and local governments and agencies, non-profit organizations and colleges and universities, which in turn distribute the funds or use them to provide technical or educational assistance on a local level.
Besides the programs listed here, check with your state and local governments and use the resources listed below. When exploring grant and contract opportunities, remember that you may be eligible for multiple programs.
Depending on your specific situation, the assistance available from the government may vary as shown in the following sampling of grants.
There is a lot of paperwork involved when accepting free money from the government. It can also be time-consuming and technical. Before you apply for a grant, you must ensure that you are eligible. In addition to the legal and administrative requirements, there are ongoing auditing and reporting requirements.
Assistance obtaining government contracts is available.
Federal spending on goods and services amounts to billions annually. In an effort to assist certain small businesses in acquiring federal funds, programs have been established.
The Natural Resource Sales Assistance Program provides assistance to natural resource businesses.
The federal government also sells large quantities of natural resources and surplus property. In order to set aside a percentage of these materials for bidding by small businesses, the SBA Natural Resource Sales Assistance Program spends billions of dollars purchasing goods and services. Federal agencies sometimes divide excess materials into smaller pieces, which makes them more accessible to small businesses. The five categories are:
Small businesses can also benefit from the program by receiving training on government sales and leasing.
There are a variety of small business grants.
There are a variety of philanthropic and corporate organizations that provide grants and other assistance to small businesses. Here are a few examples of programs that are open to eligible small businesses in any sector:
More resources are available.
The programs listed above are a good starting point when it comes to grants and funding. You may find additional resources by following the links below.
Small business membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to helping you begin, manage, and expand your enterprise. Find out more about the advantages here.
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