Grants for Small businesses - Employment Labor and Training

The Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program provides funding to organizations to execute state/regional programs that increase the number of SBIR/STTR proposals leading to an increase in the number of SBIR/STTR awards from women, socially/economically disadvantaged individuals, and small businesses in underrepresented areas - typically rural states.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in New Jersey to enhance digital literacy and access to training for low-income adults receiving public assistance benefits.

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is making up to $2 million in State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) funding available under the Direct Entry Pre-Apprenticeship Programs (DEPA) Request for Applications (RFA). The purpose of the RFA is to: 1. Provide funding for DEPA programs to support approximately 300 participants; and2. Support entry into NYS Registered Apprenticeship (RA) programs for underrepresented populations including women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.NYSDOL is particularly interested in supporting DEPA programs that provide participants with training and exposure to various trades and offer opportunities for entry into RA training programs. Targeted industries include, but are not limited to, Building and Construction, Manufacturing, and Information Technology (IT).Although grantmaking activities will transition from the Grants Gateway to the Statewide Financial System (SFS) on January 16, 2024, applications for this funding opportunity will continue to be accepted through Grants Gateway until the submission deadline date of March 29, 2024.Note: With the transition of grantmaking activities from the Grants Gateway to SFS, prequalification will be unavailable from December 15, 2023 through January 16, 2024. After January 16, 2024, organizations will prequalify in SFS. If an organization is prequalified at the time of the cutover, their prequalification status will move over to SFS. Additional information regarding prequalification can be found at https://grantsmanagement.ny.gov/transition-SFS.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering the Manufacturing Retention Grant Program. This program is designed to help manufacturing companies maintain their operational presence within Illinois. Its core mission is to encourage businesses to invest in their workforce, facilities, equipment, technologies, and infrastructure, thereby securing existing jobs and fostering economic stability in the state. The program is supported through the Enterprise Fund, administered by DCEO, which typically funds a broad range of economic development projects. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are private for-profit business entities that operate a major manufacturing complex in Bushnell, Illinois, specifically within McDonough County. These companies must have less than 1,000 employees and extensive experience in tool manufacturing. A key eligibility criterion is the requirement to have acquired a tool manufacturing firm in McDonough County with a minimum of 100 full-time equivalent employees. The grant's impact goal is to retain these companies' manufacturing campuses at operating production levels that support at least 100 employees at the Bushnell site. The program prioritizes job retention in Illinois through various investments. Eligible expenses encompass employee payroll for existing employees (including backpay incurred from May 14, 2024), invoices for services, training expenses for existing employees, and significant capital improvements. These improvements include refurbishment or replacement of machinery, equipment, and tooling (e.g., forging hammers, Swiss lathes), facility repairs (e.g., roof repair, electrical upgrades), productivity and innovation initiatives (e.g., robotics reprogramming, induction heat furnaces), and the replenishment of inventory to maintain standard stocking levels for daily production. The expected outcome of the Manufacturing Retention Grant Program is the successful retention of manufacturing operations and a minimum employment level of 100 employees at the Bushnell site. Measurable results will be directly tied to the utilization of the $5,000,000 total funding, with a performance period spanning from September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2026. The DCEO's strategic priority, as evidenced by this program, is to safeguard manufacturing jobs and foster a robust economic environment within Illinois, aligning with a theory of change that posits direct investment in established manufacturing entities will lead to sustained employment and economic growth.

This grant provides financial support to organizations in New Mexico that empower socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, particularly in underserved and rural areas, through capacity-building services and resources.

This funding opportunity supports coalitions of organizations in the Kansas City region working together to create lasting solutions that improve economic mobility for local residents.

This program provides financial assistance to small business and commercial property owners in Decatur, Georgia, to improve the exteriors of their buildings and enhance the community's aesthetic appeal.

This grant provides financial support to local businesses in Lake County, Ohio, for infrastructure improvements, innovative projects, and employee training, fostering economic growth in the community.

This program provides funding to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop producers and related organizations in Michigan through initiatives in marketing, research, education, and sustainability.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that assist California's vulnerable populations in gaining employment through social enterprises and work-based learning programs.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that help underrepresented communities in Massachusetts access training and career pathways in the clean energy sector, addressing systemic barriers and workforce gaps.

This funding initiative provides financial support to Maine-based organizations in Penobscot County for projects that aim to reduce opioid and substance use disorders through prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations to develop training programs that prepare workers for energy efficiency jobs in small buildings, helping to meet upcoming energy performance standards in Washington, D.C.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to small businesses that have completed an initial research project, enabling them to develop innovative solutions that improve the lives of individuals with disabilities.

This program provides funding to organizations that assist socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs and very small businesses in New York in becoming ready for venture capital investment.

This program provides financial support to small businesses in Nassau and Suffolk counties, New York, to help them grow, enhance their communities, and improve operational stability.

This grant provides funding to culinary professionals and food entrepreneurs in North Texas to support innovative projects that enhance the local food community and promote culinary growth.

This funding opportunity supports collaborative projects and initiatives that promote healthy, resilient rural communities in Maine, focusing on areas like affordable housing, economic development, and climate change planning.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations and individuals in Rockford to develop programs that address economic development, violence prevention, and community reinvestment in areas disproportionately affected by past cannabis laws.

This program provides financial assistance to small businesses in Middlesex County, Connecticut, to help them sustain and grow their operations.