Grants for Business Launch and Growth
As a service for our small business clients, the Pace SBDC keeps a running list of grants that provide financing to entrepreneurs looking to grow or expand their small businesses. If you're looking for COVID-19 relief related grants, check out our Privately-Funded COVID-19 Grant Programs and Government-Funded COVID-19 Grant Programs pages.
Privately-Funded Growth & Launch Grants
Phase I SBIR grants are intended to conduct research to determine the scientific or technical merit and feasibility of concepts, topics, or ideas. NIDILRR will make 11 grants under this opportunity. Grants will have a 6-month project period with a corresponding six-month budget period.
Deadline: 12/16/24
This contest offers a $10,000 grant opportunity for small business owners with innovative solutions and projects in food, beverages, and packaging. Eligible applicants will have a chance to pitch their ideas to a panel of industry experts for the opportunity to win funding to support growth and development.
Deadline: 12/31/24
Cultivate Small Business is a no-cost, 12-week mini-MBA program designed to empower women of color food entrepreneurs. With a food-focused curriculum, expert mentorship, industry insights, peer networking, and small capital grants of up to $13,000, this program provides the resources to help your business grow and thrive.
To be eligible to apply, businesses must:
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Be located in or represent a business in a low-to-moderate income area (determined by the program team).
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Have gross/net revenues of $25,000 to $1,000,000 in the most recent full calendar year.
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Have been in operation for at least one year at the time of application.
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Employ between 1 and 10 full-time equivalent employees (including the entrepreneur).
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Operate in a food-related industry such as processing, technology, manufacturing, or food services.
Deadline: 1/30/25
Citizens Committee for NYC is awarding Neighborhood Business Grants of up to $5,000 to New York small business owners.
To be eligible, a business must be located in one of New York City’s five boroughs, been operating for at least two years, have 10 or fewer employees, be profit-generating and provide proof of business such as bank statements, tax documents and POS terminal statements.
Deadline: 2/7/25
The Amber Grant by WomensNet is providing $10,000 and $25,000 grants for female entrepreneurs to achieve their business dreams.
To be eligible, applicants must be a women-owned business or a female entrepreneur. Further, Applicants must share their business or business idea and explain how they would use the grant money.
Deadline: Monthly
Public Sector Grant Programs
New York State has launched a Pre-Seed and Seed Matching Fund Program which will offer early-stage start-up companies in high-growth industries $50,000 to $250,000 in growth assistance, which they will match with funds from private sector co-investors.
SBIR/STTR programs support scientific excellence and technological innovation through the investment of Federal research funds in critical American priorities to build a strong national economy.
The Global NY State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) offers reimbursable grants of up to $5,000 to qualifying small and medium-sized business engaging in exporting for expenses related to participation in trade missions, trade shows exhibitions, export training, website translation, and development of international marketing campaigns.
As of 1/25/24 all STEP funding has been allocated. Any applications submitted on or after 1/25/24 will be accepted and put on a waiting list. If funds become available, companies from the waiting list will be notified.
The Global NY Grant Program offers reimbursable grants of up to $25,000 to help companies customize for export markets, participate in trade shows, and undertake product adaptation to meet foreign regulatory requirements.
HVAC small businesses can hire students and recent grads and get reimbursed for up to 90% of intern wages! The program offers access to a pool of qualified candidates and supports flexible internship schedules.
NYC's Department of Small Business Services offers a Customized Training Grant Program to reimburse 60% of training costs incurred by eligible small businesses. Businesses must train at least 10 employees who are either currently or after training will be working full time, be based in NYC, and must pay for training upfront as the program reimburses participants quarterly.
The New York State Department of Labor has grants available for businesses who wish to train both existing and new employees. Each of their programs have unique eligibility requirements and generally necessitate that businesses have and train more than one employee.
Empire State Development’s Employee Training Incentive Program provides tax credits to science and technology businesses that train employees (50% of eligible training costs, up to $10,000 per employee receiving eligible training) and/or host internships (50% of the stipend paid to an intern, up to $3,000 per intern).