Grants for For Profit Organizations Other Than Small Businesses

This funding program provides financial support for the development and maintenance of off-highway vehicle parks and trails in Illinois, targeting local governments, private clubs, and individuals to promote responsible recreational use.

This initiative provides $1 million in funding to empower global cybersecurity defenders by supporting innovative AI-driven projects that enhance defensive measures against cyber threats.

This funding opportunity provides financial assistance to various organizations and government entities in Minnesota for upgrading or replacing older freight switcher locomotives with cleaner, more efficient engines to improve air quality and public health.

This program provides financial incentives to Minnesota retail stores to promote and sell lead-free fishing tackle, helping protect wildlife and support local businesses.

This grant provides funding to organizations developing a web-based mental health literacy curriculum and print guide to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in understanding and managing co-occurring mental health challenges.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to national hotlines that assist crime victims by enhancing their crisis intervention and referral services across the United States.

This funding program provides financial and strategic support to early-stage for-profit start-ups developing innovative solutions to combat climate change, particularly those benefiting underserved communities in select U.S. cities.

This funding opportunity is designed to empower emerging leaders in the space sector across the Middle East and North Africa by providing training and resources to enhance collaboration with the United States in space policy and commerce.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for research and technical assistance projects that foster job creation and economic development in distressed communities across the U.S. and its territories.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations working to eliminate child and forced labor in critical mineral supply chains in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia, promoting fair labor practices and compliance with international standards.

This grant provides funding to Minnesota-based organizations to develop and expand primary care residency programs, particularly in underserved and rural areas, to help address the shortage of primary care physicians in the state.

This grant provides funding to Minnesota educational institutions and training providers to develop customized training programs that meet the specific needs of local businesses, particularly for individuals facing economic challenges.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and for-profit businesses to help foreign governments adopt trusted digital technologies, enhancing cybersecurity and infrastructure resilience while countering potentially harmful foreign technology influences.

This initiative provides $10,000 in unrestricted funding to women entrepreneurs in the U.S. who are running for-profit businesses with a strong commitment to purpose and impact.

This program provides financial assistance to Maryland farmers and watermen for purchasing and installing cold storage equipment to improve product quality and expand their operations.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in Minnesota that aim to reduce economic disparities and enhance workforce development for Southeast Asian residents facing employment barriers.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), through its Office of Adult Career Pathways (ACP), is offering the Women’s Economic Security Act (WESA) Competitive Grant for State Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027. The ACP supports Minnesotans facing barriers to employment by funding workforce training, wrap-around services, and educational programs that prepare individuals for family-sustaining wages, with a focus on eliminating racial disparities and increasing access to high-growth, high-wage jobs. This competitive grant program aims to encourage and assist women in entering high-wage, high-demand, and nontraditional occupations, particularly in skilled trades and STEM fields, thereby increasing representation and economic security for women. Funding totals $1.5 million statewide, with applicants eligible for up to $125,000 per year, or $250,000 total over the two-year period. Awards will be evenly split between SFY 2026 and SFY 2027. Funding must support activities aligned with WESA objectives, including recruitment, preparation, placement, and retention of women in nontraditional occupations; training and education; innovative outreach to girls and women; employer incentives; technical assistance; and supportive services such as childcare and transportation. Target populations include women of color, girls of color aged 16–17, women over 50, and low-income women, with priority given to programs serving women of color. Programs must focus on occupations meeting Minnesota’s high-wage, high-demand criteria or U.S. Department of Labor definitions for nontraditional careers for women. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, employers, labor unions, business or trade associations with 501(c)(6) status, secondary and postsecondary institutions, workforce and economic development agencies, registered apprenticeship programs, and state, local, or Tribal governments. All applicants must have a Minnesota physical location open to the public, be in good standing with the Minnesota Secretary of State, and—if nonprofit—hold a recognized tax-exempt designation and be in good standing with the IRS. Each organization may submit one proposal as primary grantee but may partner on other proposals. Applicants must be able to comply with DEED administrative requirements, use Workforce One for participant tracking, and follow applicable state and federal regulations. Applications must be submitted as a single PDF via email to ACPgrants.deed@state.mn.us with the subject “WESA Application – [organization name].” The deadline is 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, August 28, 2025. Required forms include the cover sheet, narrative responses, work plan, budget, partnership chart and letters of support, conflict of interest disclosures, unemployment insurance account consent, nonprofit financial documents if applicable, and other attestations. Questions must be submitted in writing to Sarah Lee at sarah.lee@state.mn.us by August 21, 2025. DEED hosted an informational webinar on July 16, 2025, and recorded technical assistance sessions are available online. Proposals will be scored on a 100-point scale across seven categories: organizational capacity and experience, program description, implementation work plan, outreach and engagement, partnerships, performance and evaluation, and budget capacity. Reviewers will include DEED staff and community experts in workforce development, education, and relevant industries. Awards are expected to be announced October 8, 2025, with the grant term running from the date of execution through June 30, 2027. Grantees are expected to participate in onboarding, quarterly engagement sessions, evaluation activities, and monitoring visits, and to submit regular performance and financial reports. DEED may offer partial awards to ensure equitable geographic and community distribution of funding. Performance metrics will include job placements, wages, retention, and credential attainment. The grant also carries administrative requirements such as competitive procurement for large purchases, compliance with affirmative action and non-discrimination laws, and retention of records for at least six years. Contact Sarah Lee, ACP Program Coordinator, at sarah.lee@state.mn.us or 651-259-7307 for further information.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Minnesota to support adult residents facing employment barriers by offering training and resources for high-demand jobs, with a focus on promoting racial and economic equity.

This funding opportunity provides $8 million to support a four-year project that will enhance the U.S. shipbuilding workforce through international training partnerships, focusing on critical trades and promoting fair labor standards.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S.-based organizations, including universities, nonprofits, and businesses, to help outsourcing facilities produce critical medications that are in short supply and vulnerable to fraud.