Business and Commerce Grants

The Doral Façade Improvement Grant Program offers financial assistance to businesses, homeowner associations, and commercial property owners within Doral. Its primary mission is to stimulate private sector investment, enhance beautification, foster economic growth, and create jobs by improving the appearance of buildings across the city. This program aligns with the broader goal of community development and economic vitality by directly investing in the physical infrastructure of Doral. The program targets a broad range of beneficiaries including local businesses, commercial property owners, and homeowner associations. The impact goals are multi-faceted: enhancing the visual appeal of the city, supporting local businesses, and indirectly contributing to a more vibrant and attractive environment for residents and visitors. By improving building aesthetics, the program aims to increase property values and encourage further private investment, creating a positive feedback loop for economic development. Initially established in 2012, the program's initial focus was on businesses and commercial owners within the Doral Decor District, offering 25% reimbursement up to $5,000 per project. In 2018, its geographical scope expanded to encompass the entire City of Doral and included publicly visible entry features of homeowners' associations. This expansion demonstrates a strategic priority to broaden its impact and inclusivity, reaching more areas and types of property owners within the city. The program's priorities are evident in its eligible improvements, which include siding/stucco, walls/fencing/railings, ADA improvements, pedestrian amenities, windows/doors, awnings/canopies, lighting, painting, signage, detached monument signs, sidewalks/surface parking, and landscape/xeriscape. These focus areas are designed to address a comprehensive range of external "facelift" improvements. The maximum grant amount has also increased to a 50% reimbursement of eligible renovation costs, up to $10,000 per project, indicating a strategic shift towards providing more substantial financial support to incentivize significant improvements. Expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in the number of beautified properties, enhanced economic activity through job creation in renovation and related sectors, and a general uplift in civic pride and aesthetic quality across Doral. The program's theory of change posits that by providing direct financial incentives for façade improvements, the city can catalyze private investment, leading to widespread beautification and fostering a more attractive environment that, in turn, draws further economic activity and improves the quality of life for its residents.

The Harford County Office of Economic Development administers the Harford Strides Fund as a temporary grant program to assist tourism related organizations in the infancy stage of program development. The fund supports organizations building models for long term sustainability that draw audiences from outside the county and encourage overnight hotel stays. Applicants must demonstrate success, lessons learned, and best practices, show clear intent to drive overnight stays, document hardship that jeopardizes program or operations but for county funding, and show pursuit of additional funding sources. Organizations must occupy a niche within tourism and may not apply if they have submitted to the Partnership Fund. Eligible applicants are Harford County 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) organizations in good standing with the state and registered as Maryland charitable organizations. The program has 220,000 dollars available and may provide support for up to two consecutive years, subject to eligibility and need. Applications are due May 3, 2024. Grant size is determined by need and available funds. Additional information is available from the Harford County Office of Economic Development.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) is offering grants under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) program. This program aims to transform the food system by increasing options, improving access, and creating new and better markets for small and mid-size producers. The core mission is to build a more diversified, distributed, and local food system to enhance its resilience and benefit consumers, producers, and rural communities. The RFSI program targets a broad range of beneficiaries, including agricultural producers and processors (or groups thereof), nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, local government entities, tribal governments, and institutions such as schools, universities, or hospitals. The primary impact goal is to strengthen the middle of the food supply chain in Pennsylvania. Expected outcomes include increased production capacities for food processors, improved storage for produce and grains, and enhanced aggregation points like food hubs and farmer cooperatives. Funding priorities are aligned with addressing critical gaps in Pennsylvania's middle food supply chain. Specifically, the program prioritizes projects that establish or enhance aggregation points, improve food processing infrastructure (including equipment upgrades and moves to licensed spaces), and expand storage facilities, particularly cold storage in urban areas and storage for identity-preserved grains and dry beans. The USDA also encourages projects that benefit underserved farmers and ranchers, new and beginning farmers, veteran producers, and businesses owned by socially disadvantaged individuals. The grant program offers Simplified Equipment-Only Grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, which do not require cost sharing or matching. These are fixed-price grants solely for equipment purchases, with funds to be awarded no earlier than July 1, 2024, and projects completed by June 30, 2026. This focused approach on equipment aims to directly support tangible improvements in the food system's infrastructure, enabling producers and processors to expand and diversify their operations.

The Advocates for Springfield Fund, established in partnership with the Community Foundation of Otsego County, is dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of the Springfield community in New York. This fund emerged from a local grassroots group, also called Advocates for Springfield, which initially focused on promoting good land uses within the town. Having successfully influenced the adoption of a comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance, and other land use laws since its inception in the early 2000s, the group sought to repurpose its remaining financial resources for broader community benefit. The Community Foundation's mission to support local communities aligns directly with this initiative, ensuring the longevity and effective deployment of these funds for the residents of Springfield. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are local nonprofit organizations that enhance the community's fabric, such as volunteer fire departments and libraries. Additionally, the fund supports initiatives that supplement summer jobs benefiting the community, with a particular focus on childhood education. Groups fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization are also eligible, provided they submit evidence of sponsorship. The program explicitly excludes direct grants to individuals or businesses, focusing instead on organizational support that fosters collective well-being and community development. The grant program prioritizes funding for projects that demonstrably contribute to the health and well-being of Springfield residents. This includes supporting essential community services provided by local nonprofits and investing in programs that offer educational and developmental opportunities for children through summer jobs. The focus on childhood education reflects a strategic priority to cultivate a strong future for the community by nurturing its youngest members. The overarching goal is to strengthen the community infrastructure and improve the quality of life for its residents through targeted, community-centric investments. Expected outcomes of this grant program include enhanced support for vital community services, increased opportunities for youth development and education, and a stronger, more resilient Springfield community. Measurable results will be tied to the impact of the funded projects, such as the number of individuals served by supported nonprofits, the number of summer jobs created or supplemented, and the educational outcomes for participating children. The Community Foundation’s strategic priority, as evidenced by allocating up to $1,500 for awards in 2024 with individual awards up to $500, is to distribute resources efficiently to generate meaningful, localized impact. This approach reflects a theory of change where targeted financial support for community-based initiatives leads to tangible improvements in the overall health and well-being of the community.

The Native American Agriculture Fund invites applications to its 2024 grant program. The fund provides support consistent with its trust agreement to advance business assistance, agricultural education, technical support, and advocacy services for Native American producers and communities. Funding is offered across entity types with both general and special focus areas. Pools include support for nonprofit organizations, educational organizations, community development financial institutions, and tribal governments and instrumentalities. Special focus areas emphasize climate and regenerative agricultural practices and, for CDFIs, additional CDFI and Native CDFI support. Youth programming is available to all eligible entity types. Funds may support projects of 12 or 24 months and may be used for project support, general support, scholarships, re grants, lending programs, or capital expenditures. Stated pools and request ranges include, among others, 1,000,000 dollars for nonprofit general and special focus with requests between 100,000 and 200,000 dollars, 500,000 dollars for educational organizations with requests between 75,000 and 150,000 dollars, 4,500,000 dollars for CDFIs with no fixed request limits, and 1,000,000 dollars for youth programming with requests from 20,000 to 200,000 dollars. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations, educational organizations described in Section 170(b)(1)(A)(ii), community development financial institutions including certified and emerging Native CDFIs that are 501(c)(3), and instrumentalities of federally recognized tribes meeting the fund’s charitable and reporting requirements including limited waivers as applicable. The program aligns with the trust agreement’s definitions and restrictions. Applications are due May 1, 2024. Typical award sizes for some pools range from 100,000 to 500,000 dollars depending on entity type and focus. Additional information and official details are provided by the Native American Agriculture Fund.

The Organizational Development program, funded by the City of Saint Paul through its Cultural STAR fund, provides grants for projects aimed at strengthening the management, administration, or operations of recipient organizations. This program aligns with the broader mission of the Cultural STAR fund, which is to promote cultural vitality and economic growth, particularly in the downtown Cultural District, by strengthening the arts and culture community. The intent is to challenge organizations, infuse new thinking, develop new systems, or strengthen existing systems to foster growth and development, thereby contributing to the overall cultural and economic health of Saint Paul. The target beneficiaries of this program are primarily nonprofit arts and cultural organizations located within the City of Saint Paul, with a significant focus on those within the Cultural District of downtown Saint Paul. Informal or unincorporated arts-focused groups, individuals, and one-time arts projects can also apply if associated with an eligible nonprofit and serving as a fiscal and contract sponsor. Additionally, businesses in the Cultural District may apply for projects that enhance visitor enjoyment, and City departments or divisions are eligible when partnered with an eligible organization. The program explicitly excludes churches, religious organizations, political groups, and federal, state, and county agencies. The program's priorities and focuses revolve around several key areas. Cultural STAR dollars are intended to build and diversify audiences, promote a broad range of cultural offerings, produce long-term impact, and leverage additional financial support. Specifically, the grants aim to attract audiences, develop and improve cultural facilities, and build the capacity of artists and cultural organizations. A geographic focus is maintained, with at least 80% of funds allocated to nonprofit organizations within the Cultural District, and the remaining 20% to businesses in the Cultural District or nonprofits located in Saint Paul but outside the Cultural District. Expected outcomes and measurable results include projects that advance the mission of the recipient group and have the potential for significant or long-term impact. The program anticipates strengthened management, administration, or operations within grantee organizations, leading to enhanced cultural vitality and economic growth within the city. While specific quantitative metrics for "significant or long-term impact" are not explicitly detailed beyond the general aims, the emphasis on audience development, facility improvement, and capacity building suggests an increase in public engagement with arts and culture, improved infrastructure for cultural activities, and a more robust and sustainable arts community. The grant size of $1,000 to $10,000, with a minimum request of $5,000, indicates a focus on projects that can achieve these outcomes within a one-year grant duration.

The City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce offers the PHL Made Grant to support manufacturing companies located in Philadelphia and to promote innovation in the sector. The program provides matching grants to help companies improve operations, increase efficiency, and bring new products to market. Applicants may request up to 30,000 dollars in matching funds. Consideration is given to clear plans for use of funds, job creation or retention with a commitment to hiring Philadelphia residents, and the introduction of new products or improved processes. Past awardees may apply if they have not received more than 10,000 dollars in PHL Made Grant funds during the prior three years. Eligible applicants must be manufacturing companies located in Philadelphia, in operation for at least one year, and able to provide matching funds. The program welcomes applications from companies producing consumer goods, industrial goods, and medical devices, among other manufactured products. Applications are due May 4, 2024. Additional information is available from the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce.

The 2024 States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP), announced by the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), seeks applications for grants to target federal resources toward communities in the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama Black Belt regions. With a focus on economically distressed counties and parishes, SEDAP aims to invest in community-based and regional projects across four congressionally mandated funding categories: basic public infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, business development with an emphasis on entrepreneurship, and workforce development. The program is designed to encourage job creation, regional collaboration, and funding partnerships, leveraging a total of $16,930,642, allocated across the eight-state DRA region with awards ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 depending on project type and application score.

This initiative provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and tribal councils that promote rural education, economic development, and the well-being of shareholders in communities where Doyon operates.

On March 26, the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the Northland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) jointly announced the launch of a Promise Act grant opportunity tailored for business owners in northeastern Minnesota. Pat Campanaro, serving as the Cook County consultant for the Northland SBDC, expressed her pride and happiness regarding the collaboration between the EDA and SBDC. The competitive Promise Act grant initiative, sanctioned during the 2023 legislative session, aims to extend assistance to businesses and communities grappling with economic adversity induced by the pandemic. The Northland SBDC has allocated $1.1 million in grants for eligible small businesses and certain nonprofits in northeast Minnesota. The grant application criteria for businesses are delineated as follows: Grants are accessible to currently operating businesses with gross annual revenues ranging from $10,000 to $750,000, as substantiated by their 2021 and 2022 tax returns or Forms 990. Grant amounts will be determined based on 2022 revenues, with the following tiers: Revenues of at least $10,000 but not exceeding $100,000 may qualify for a $10,000 grant. Revenues ranging from at least $100,000 to $350,000 may merit a $25,000 grant. Revenues between $350,000 and $750,000 may be eligible for a $50,000 grant. Preference will be given to applicants who did not receive substantial COVID-19 relief funding exceeding $10,000 from the State of Minnesota. Additionally, according to the Northland Foundation, nonprofit organizations may apply, provided they derive 30 percent or more of their revenue through non-tax-deductible sales or dues in a fee-for-service model. Grant applications opened on March 26 and will be accepted until May 21. The application form for the Promise Act grant program can be accessed through the provided link. To facilitate the application process and address queries, Campanaro and Theresa Bajda, the executive director of the EDA, announced weekly open office hours at the EDA office in Grand Marais, located at 425 W Hwy 61, Suite B. Bajda mentioned the availability of morning, afternoon, and evening sessions to accommodate diverse schedules. Interested individuals can find the scheduled office hours by contacting 218-387-3112 or reaching out to Campanaro via email at pcampanaro@gmail.com. Campanaro emphasized their shared goal of fostering economic opportunity in Cook County and expressed satisfaction in collaborating with Bajda to advance this objective and inform businesses about available services that can positively impact their opportunities for growth. WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins conducted an interview with Pat Campanaro, the Cook County Northland SBDC consultant, and Theresa Bajda, the executive director of the EDA, discussing the Promise Act grant opportunity. The audio recording of the interview is accessible below.

This grant provides financial support for property owners in the Village of Calumet to improve their buildings and enhance the downtown area's economic vitality through significant renovations.

The Chelsea Neighborhood Market & Food Business Grant Program aims to bolster the local food economy in Chelsea, MA, in response to increased food insecurity and economic turbulence exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, the program provides $100,000 over three years to support Chelsea residents who are first-time entrepreneurs and food business owners interested in becoming vendors at Chelsea Neighborhood Market. The market, intended to create entrepreneurial opportunities and expand food retail options, will be located near residential areas and accessible by public transport. Eligibility is determined based on residency in Chelsea, operation or intention to operate a Chelsea-based food business, and a commitment to being a market vendor for at least three months. APPLY BY APRIL 9, 2024 FOR FIRST CONSIDERATION. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ON A ROLLING BASIS UNTIL FUNDING IS EXPENDED.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and public entities focused on improving economic security, educational success, and health outcomes through program development, capacity building, and advocacy efforts.

The Ohio Meat Processing Grant Program, initially established by House Bill 110 of the 134th Ohio General Assembly and further funded by House Bill 33 of the 135th General Assembly, is designed to support Ohio livestock and poultry producers. This program offers grants up to $500,000 to assist in the improvement and expansion of meat harvesting/processing services. These grants aim to enhance processing efficiency and support the expansion or construction of facilities on existing sites. Administered by the Ohio Department of Development, eligible businesses must be for-profit entities operating a Federal or State registered meat harvesting/processing facility in Ohio as of July 1, 2023. Funding can cover a range of costs associated with plant construction/expansion and the purchase of new/upgraded machinery or technology, excluding personnel costs, land purchases, and non-eligible expenses. A total of $14 million in funds is available for Fiscal Year 2024, with grants covering no more than 65% of project costs, requiring matching funds for the remainder. Grant renewed every year.

Arts Respond - Cultural District Project Eligibility: TCA Cultural Districts; VERIFIED College Arts Institution, Established Arts Organizations, Established Arts Organizations of Color, Government Local Arts Agencies, Local Arts Agencies, Rural Arts Providers located within a TCA Designated Cultural District Intent: Projects that use the arts to diversify local economies, generate revenue, and attract visitors and investment. This competitive grant program provides project assistance grants on a short-term basis and may include administrative costs directly related to the project. This program is designed for projects that focus on significant cultural tourism projects. These projects should serve at least one of the following: High quality arts programming that will attract a significant number of visitors from 50 miles or more outside the community (i.e., blockbuster art exhibitions, national or regional premieres, major festivals) Enhancements to the cultural district to make it more accessible, attractive, cohesive-looking, and safe for visitors Improved signage and wayfinding for the district Promotion of the district; this may include the district’s website, branding, and marketing Organizational support for the management and operations of the district (TCA Cultural District only) These grants may include capital improvements. Grant Type: Annual Application Limit: Organizations may submit one application per deadline. Minimum Request: $3,000 Maximum Request: 50% of project budget, not to exceed $250,000 Match Requirement: dollar for dollar (1:1) Application Deadline: June 15 for projects beginning September 1 through Aug. 31 Attachments Deadline: June15 Criteria: see Application Review Criteria Click here for ineligible requests Click here for attachments checklist

The WeHo Community Arts Grant, offered by the City of West Hollywood, aims to support nonprofit arts organizations, individual artists, or artist collectives that have a history of supporting LGBQ, BIPOC, and/or female artists and audiences. This grant aligns with the City's mission to enhance the community through art-centered presentations and participatory programs, fostering cultural equity and providing access to specific communities. The overall strategic priority is to use the arts as a tool for community engagement, cultural recognition, and economic development within West Hollywood. The target beneficiaries of this grant are LA County-based artists, collectives, or non-profit arts organizations that meet specific criteria, including a history of supporting underrepresented groups in the arts. The grant specifically focuses on engaging West Hollywood residents and visitors, expanding arts audiences, and recognizing local cultural resources. The impact goals are to increase access to quality arts programming that is financially and geographically accessible, boost revenues for local businesses through arts-business partnerships, and generally increase participation in the arts through education. The grant prioritizes art-centered presentations and workshops that support community goals through cultural equity. Eligible projects must take place within West Hollywood or immediately adjacent areas and applicants must demonstrate a marketing and outreach strategy targeting West Hollywood residents. The City's theory of change appears to be that by investing in accessible and inclusive arts programming, they can create a more vibrant, engaged, and culturally equitable community, leading to broader social and economic benefits. Expected outcomes include increased engagement of residents and visitors with the arts, expanded arts audiences, and the discovery of new places for artmaking. Measurable results could include an increase in attendance at arts events, a rise in local business revenues attributed to arts programming, and a greater number of individuals participating in arts education. The total available funding for this category is $30,000, with a maximum award of $6,000 per organization, demonstrating a commitment to funding multiple impactful projects within the community.

This Annual Program Statement (APS) offers USAID Operating Units a mechanism to facilitate assistance awards to local and non-traditional partners for innovative, adaptive, and locally led development approaches. OUs may issue addenda under this umbrella to solicit, co-create, and fund a wide range of flexible and innovative approaches to locally led development related to their specific priorities, objectives, and programs. The APS aims to advance USAIDs capability to work with local partners, to learn from these engagements, and to share this learning broadly. INTERESTED APPLICANTS - PLEASE READ: This Locally Led Development APS is not a Request for Applications or a Request for Proposals, and this APS does not serve as a general request for locally led development concepts. Do not email concepts to LLD-APS@usaid.gov or submit concepts via grants.gov, as they will not be accepted. Interested Applicants must respond to specific documents that share USAID priorities in a specific country(ies) called addenda that may be issued throughout the year on grants.gov. These addenda, when added, can be found under Related Documents on this page. Please visit this page periodically for opportunities that may be relevant to your country and focus areas. Please see the attachment for further detailed information. This APS was last updated April 26, 2024, with Amendment 1 - 7200AA19APS00007 Locally Led Development Annual Program Statement (APS) 2024-4-26

TWC is committed to improving access to quality child care across the state of Texas. This RFA seeks Applicants to foster sustainable career pathways that increase the availability of qualified Early Childhood Educators through the development of RAPs, which combines OJL with related classroom instruction. RAPs have been expanding into more nontraditional occupations, including early childhood education in the form of child care RAPs. Child care RAPs will assist in improving the education and training that Early Childhood Educators receive, thus allowing them to improve their understanding of child development and improve the quality of child care. High quality training and supports for Early Childhood Educators are important to the child care field.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses in Louisiana to help them expand their international sales and export activities through reimbursements for various related expenses.