Local Business and Commerce Grants

Hurricane Recovery Grants are available for homeowners, renters, and business owners in Daytona Beach, Florida. Eligible residents with moderate or low income can receive up to $9,000 for reimbursement of costs such as mortgage payments, rent assistance, insurance deductibles, mold remediation (for owner-occupied homes), and relocation assistance. Applicants must be Daytona Beach residents, qualify as a "qualifying household," and submit a formal insurance or FEMA claim related to Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole. The total amount of assistance shall not exceed $9,000 per household. Additionally, small businesses with 50 or fewer employees can receive up to $3,000 for reimbursement of business-related losses.

The City of Shreveport, through its Department of Community Development, has announced a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Affordable Rental Housing Proposals. This initiative is primarily funded by the HOME Investment Partnerships Program American Rescue Plan (HOME ARP). The core mission of this grant program is to address the critical need for affordable housing within the community by soliciting proposals from experienced agencies dedicated to developing and managing such properties. This aligns with a broader strategic priority to enhance housing stability and accessibility for vulnerable populations. The primary beneficiaries of this program are individuals and families from specific qualifying populations. These include people experiencing homelessness, those at risk of homelessness, individuals fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, and other populations where supportive services would prevent homelessness or serve those with the greatest risk of housing instability. The impact goal is to provide safe, stable, and affordable rental housing, thereby reducing homelessness and housing insecurity for these vulnerable groups. The program's priorities and focuses revolve around the production or preservation of affordable housing through new construction, rehabilitation, and property acquisition, including vacant land, specifically for HOME-ARP rental housing projects. These projects must commit to providing affordable rental housing for a minimum of 15 years. The City of Shreveport aims to fund up to three qualified entities that demonstrate extensive experience in affordable housing development, non-congregate or transitional housing operations, supportive service programs, and federal policy compliance. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of available affordable rental housing units in Shreveport, directly benefiting the identified qualifying populations. Measurable results will likely include the number of new units constructed or rehabilitated, the number of individuals and families housed, and the duration of their housing stability. The City's strategic priority is to leverage federal funding to create a sustainable impact on housing affordability, with a theory of change that posits that by investing in experienced developers to create and preserve affordable housing, they can directly mitigate the effects of housing instability and homelessness in the community.

The Aging Adults Program, offered by The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida (CFNF), is designed to support nonprofit organizations primarily focused on aging adults or their caregivers. This grant aligns with the foundation's mission to address critical needs within its service area, particularly given the growing population of aging adults facing challenges in maintaining a high quality of life on limited incomes. By providing funding, the CFNF aims to bolster community initiatives that directly benefit this vulnerable demographic, reflecting a strategic priority to support the well-being of the region's older residents and those who care for them. The primary target beneficiaries of this program are aging adults seeking to maintain a high quality of life, as well as the caregivers who support them. The impact goals are centered on providing direct support to these groups, which can encompass a range of services designed to alleviate the challenges associated with aging and caregiving. The program specifically emphasizes the importance of maintaining a high quality of life on limited incomes, indicating an underlying goal of fostering financial stability, health, and overall well-being for aging individuals within the community. The program prioritizes organizations that serve Duval County primarily, with limited support also available for services in Baker, Clay, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. This geographic focus ensures that the grants address the needs of the communities where the foundation operates. The grants' focus on direct support for aging adults or their caregivers highlights the foundation's commitment to tangible, immediate benefits. The grant size, up to $15,000, suggests a focus on supporting smaller to medium-sized initiatives or specific projects that can demonstrate a clear and measurable impact within the grant period of October 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025. Expected outcomes include improved quality of life for aging adults, enhanced support systems for caregivers, and the sustained operation of vital nonprofit services in the region. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the direct support, the emphasis on a two-year work history and an annual operating budget of $100,000 or above for eligible nonprofits suggests that the foundation seeks to partner with established organizations capable of delivering impactful and sustainable programs. The CFNF's strategic priorities are evident in its exclusion of funding for athletic associations, fundraising event sponsorships, schools, and programs promoting religious beliefs, indicating a focused approach on direct social services for aging populations, aligning with a theory of change that posits direct community investment will lead to improved societal well-being for its elder citizens.

The Opelousas Downtown Development District (ODDD), with support from the City of Opelousas and Opelousas Main Street (OMS), is launching the fifth round of funding for its Building Improvement Grant (BIG) program. This program is a grant/reimbursement initiative designed to empower property and business owners in rehabilitating commercial buildings. The overarching mission alignment for this program is to create a positive visual impact within the city, stimulate private investment, and diligently preserve Opelousas' historic identity and cultural assets. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are property and business owners within the Opelousas Downtown Development District who own commercial buildings. The core impact goals are to foster economic development through private investment, enhance the aesthetic appeal of the downtown area, and ensure the safeguarding of the city's rich historical and cultural heritage. The program directly supports the revitalization of commercial spaces, which, in turn, contributes to a more vibrant and economically robust downtown. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly on tangible and permanent building improvements. Eligible uses of funds are comprehensive, including restoration and renovation of buildings, installation of awnings (without signage), brick cleaning or re-pointing, accent lighting, removal of deteriorating or inappropriate materials visible from the street, and restoration of windows, doors, and original exterior/interior architectural features. Additionally, interior work related to ceiling repair, electrical, and plumbing is covered, as well as work on roofs, cornices, gutters, downspouts, and the cleaning, preparation, and painting of walls and trim. These priorities are aimed at holistic improvement of commercial properties. The expected outcomes include a noticeable improvement in the visual appeal of downtown Opelousas, an increase in private investment in commercial properties, and the successful preservation of historic buildings. While not explicitly stated as "measurable results" in the traditional sense, the program's structure and goals imply that the number of rehabilitated buildings, the amount of private investment stimulated, and the visible improvements in the downtown area would serve as key indicators of success. The program offers a total of $200,000 in grant funds, with a maximum application amount of $10,000 per project, providing a clear framework for financial allocation and impact tracking.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is offering grants through its relaunched Materials Management grants program, now named the Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine Grants Program. This initiative aims to support statewide efforts in reducing the environmental and human health impacts of materials throughout their entire life cycle. The program's core mission is to build local capacity and foster community-driven solutions that address the environmental, social, and health consequences arising from the production, consumption, use, and disposal of materials. This aligns with a broader strategic goal of promoting sustainable consumption and material use, creating environmental and health benefits, and inspiring innovative projects. The program primarily targets a diverse range of eligible applicants, including local governments, nonprofit organizations (501(c)3 or 501(c)4 status) or fiscally sponsored organizations, organizations created by an Oregon public entity, Tribal nations, public schools, public universities, community colleges, and small businesses of 50 people or less. The impact goals are centered on empowering community action to reach environmental solutions, advancing equity, and ensuring environmental justice by providing resources to historically underserved and underrepresented communities across Oregon. The program seeks to fund projects that offer promising solutions to reduce material impacts, ultimately aiming for a more sustainable future. For the 2024 grant cycle, the program's annual funding area is specifically focused on waste prevention. This priority reflects an environmentally centered approach to reduce the consumption of natural resources and the generation of waste before items become trash or pollution. Waste prevention activities encompass changes in product design, reduced usage, extended product life, or repair. Examples of eligible activities include farmers markets purchasing reusable dishes, establishing or expanding community tool libraries, small businesses adopting new technologies to reduce plastic labels, and stores investing in bulk storage for low-waste products. Eligible activities also include education and outreach, training, research, program/policy development, and workforce development. The expected outcomes and measurable results of the Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine Grants Program include a tangible reduction in the environmental and human health impacts of materials. This will be measured by the successful implementation of innovative projects and programs that embody waste prevention principles. The program anticipates creating environmental and health benefits through more sustainable consumption and material use practices. Furthermore, it aims to advance equity and environmental justice by ensuring resources reach communities that have historically been underserved, fostering localized solutions and building capacity within these communities. The total funding available for the 2024 grant cycle is up to $1,000,000, with individual grant awards ranging from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $125,000, providing significant resources for impactful initiatives.

The Wichita County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Western Kansas Community Foundation, is a local grantmaker dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Wichita County, Kansas. Its mission is to strengthen community well being by supporting charitable activities carried out by eligible organizations that serve residents of Wichita County. The program seeks proposals that address community issues, stimulate participation, leverage other support, and demonstrate broad impact, innovation, responsiveness to emerging needs, collaboration, and long term sustainability. Grants are intended to improve quality of life across the service area through new initiatives or enhancements to existing programs. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) public charities or other tax exempt entities and government equivalents such as public schools and city, county, or state entities, including churches for non religious activities, that serve Wichita County, Kansas. The board will not consider requests from individuals or for operating or maintenance expenses including salaries, medical or scholarly research, membership fees, banquets, ticket purchases, religious purposes, travel for groups, capital debt reduction, political lobbying or legislative activity, fiscal agent services, endowments, umbrella funding, marketing tchotchkes, or giveaway prizes or incentives. Applications are submitted through the foundation’s stated process by the deadline of May 1, 2024. Grant size and duration are not stated. Additional information and official details are available from the Wichita County Community Foundation.

This program provides financial assistance to local businesses in Leavenworth for upgrading fire safety systems and improving accessibility in their buildings.

This grant provides funding to non-profit organizations in Missouri that support entrepreneurs in developing high-tech companies and creating sustainable jobs through innovation and commercialization of new technologies.

The Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development in New York is offering a matching grant of $10,000 to $100,000 for a duration of 3 years to not-for-profit organizations, schools, governmental agencies, businesses, and landowners for the development of tourism events and attractions, with a focus on increasing visibility and visitor numbers.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community-based organizations and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Connecticut that serve Trumbull residents, focusing on projects that address the ongoing public health and economic challenges related to COVID-19.

This funding opportunity provides financial and technical support to small businesses and microenterprises in Vancouver, focusing on those owned by individuals with low to moderate incomes.

The Funds for the Newest New Yorkers is a collaborative initiative between government and philanthropic organizations, managed by The New York Community Trust, aimed at supporting innovative efforts to improve the lives of migrants who have recently arrived in New York City. This program aligns with the broader mission of ensuring that new arrivals thrive and contribute to a stronger city, recognizing the positive impact immigrants have on New York City. The grant is designed to enhance and fill gaps in existing government programs and funding, rather than replace them. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are newly arrived migrants in New York City. The program's impact goals are focused on facilitating their integration and stability within the city. This includes connecting them to essential services like work, school, legal assistance, public benefits, housing, and general support for city life. The program also aims to build the capacity of service providers to meet the increasing demand for these critical services. The program prioritizes proposals that offer services in three key areas: Case Management, Legal Services, and Community-Based Social Services. For Case Management, the focus is on providing support within shelters (both City-run and nonprofit-run) to connect migrants with necessary resources. Legal Services aim to increase the capacity of providers to assist with benefits applications, work authorization, deportation defense, and achieving lawful status. Community-Based Social Services are designed to help community groups provide or connect newcomers with public education, workforce development, job opportunities, English classes, and other services that aid in their integration. Expected outcomes and measurable results include improved efficiency and speed in migrants' path to stability, evidenced by successful connections to shelter, case management, and social services. The program also seeks to foster partnerships between organizations with complementary expertise, and to fund projects that can be adopted and scaled by the government for long-term impact. Prioritization will be given to projects that deliver services with cultural and linguistic sensitivity, and that leverage the existing strengths and experience of organizations. Grants are expected to range from $75,000 to $250,000 per year for up to two years, with larger grants awarded to projects that include a strong, coordinated case management component along with legal and/or community-based social services.

This program provides $5,000 each to ten minority-owned businesses in Columbia, Missouri, to promote inclusivity and support underrepresented entrepreneurs.

The Launch LC grant opportunity, facilitated by Naturally Lewis, is a competitive program designed to bolster start-up businesses within Lewis County, New York. Its core mission aligns with enhancing the quality of life for residents and fostering a more appealing community for living, working, and recreation. Naturally Lewis, as the funding body, strategically aims to support creative entrepreneurs whose ventures will contribute to these overarching community development goals, embodying a direct alignment between the grant's purpose and the foundation's strategic priorities. The program is specifically tailored to address local economic growth and community enrichment through targeted business support. The program's target beneficiaries are start-up microenterprises—defined as businesses with five or fewer employees—that are either new or have been operating for less than six months in Lewis County. A key impact goal is to empower low-to-moderate income individuals, either by directly supporting businesses owned by them or by incentivizing the creation of jobs made available to this demographic. This focus ensures that the grant funds not only stimulate economic activity but also contribute to social equity and opportunity within the community. The 6-month program structure is designed to provide comprehensive training, funding, and essential tools, thereby equipping entrepreneurs for successful business launch and sustained operation. Naturally Lewis prioritizes start-up businesses within specific categories: Food & Beverage, Small-scale Manufacturing, Tourism, and Construction Trades. These sectors have been identified as key areas that can significantly enhance local experiences for both tourists and residents, directly contributing to the community's attractiveness and economic vitality. The funding model, with awards ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 based on project costs, ensures that a variety of small-scale projects can receive crucial early-stage capital. The requirement for applicants to contribute at least 10% of project costs with personal funds promotes a shared investment and commitment to the business's success, aligning with a theory of change that emphasizes entrepreneurial buy-in. Expected outcomes include the successful establishment and growth of new microenterprises in Lewis County, leading to job creation, particularly for low-to-moderate income individuals. Measurable results will be seen in the number of businesses successfully launched, the volume of grant funds effectively utilized for equipment, machinery, furniture, and inventory, and the tangible improvements in community quality of life and attractiveness. The program explicitly excludes retroactive projects, ensuring that funding is directed towards new ventures that will generate future positive impacts. Ultimately, Naturally Lewis anticipates that the Launch LC grant will serve as a catalyst for sustainable economic development and community vibrancy in Lewis County.

This grant provides financial assistance to businesses in Takoma Park for enhancing their storefronts, promoting a vibrant commercial environment.

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.

The City of Gig Harbor is offering 2025 Lodging Tax Grants to foster tourism and economic activity within its limits. This program is funded by a percentage of hotel/motel taxes collected from lodging establishments, with funds distributed by the Department of Revenue back to the City. These grants are specifically allocated for tourism-related capital facilities, non-event operations, and event marketing and operations, aligning with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), Chapter 67.28, which details the use and reporting of tourism funds. The target beneficiaries for this program are non-profit organizations and municipalities that can demonstrate the ability to achieve specific tourism-related goals. The primary impact goals are to increase hotel/lodging occupancy within the City of Gig Harbor by generating overnight stays and to increase the number of visitors traveling more than 50 miles away to the city. All applicants are required to provide estimates on how their proposed activities will lead to these increases, including attracting visitors from other states or countries. The program's priorities and focuses revolve around maximizing tourism promotion and its economic impact. "Tourism" is defined as economic activity from tourists, encompassing sales of lodging, meals, tours, gifts, or souvenirs. "Tourism promotion" includes activities like advertising, publicizing, developing strategies to expand tourism, and operating special events and festivals designed to attract tourists. "Tourism-related facilities" are properties with a usable life of three or more years that support tourism, performing arts, or accommodate tourist activities. The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee considers various factors when making recommendations, including the estimated available funds, proposal thoroughness, financial stability of the applicant, and projected economic impact, particularly on overnight stays. Expected outcomes and measurable results are central to the grant program. Applicants must explicitly detail how their activities will result in increased overnight stays and an influx of visitors from over 50 miles away, or from outside the state/country. The City requires this data to be collected and provided in the lodging tax application. The Committee’s considerations, such as the projected economic impact and the applicant’s history of tourism promotion success, underscore the emphasis on tangible, positive results directly related to tourism growth and economic benefit for Gig Harbor.

This funding opportunity provides $100,000 to established for-profit businesses in Cook County, Illinois, to support their growth through capital investments in workforce expansion, equipment, and facility upgrades.

The City of Mishawaka's 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program aims to ensure decent affordable housing, provide services to vulnerable community members, and create jobs through business expansion and retention. This program is a vital tool for local governments to address community challenges, aligning with the broader mission of community development and support for low and moderate-income individuals and areas. The program targets several key beneficiaries and impact goals. It focuses on homeless individuals by improving and increasing public services. It also addresses the needs of special populations, including youth, the elderly, disabled, and low-income individuals, through public service programs like feeding and social welfare initiatives. Housing is another critical area, with goals to promote homeownership, develop new affordable housing, preserve existing owner-occupied housing, and make accessibility improvements. The Mishawaka Consolidated Plan, covering 2025-2030, outlines specific priorities and focuses. These include Homeless Priority-Public Services, Special Needs Priority-1 Public Services, and various Housing initiatives such as Homeownership Assistance, Affordable Housing, and housing preservation and rehabilitation. Community Development Priority focuses on improving public and community facilities, infrastructure (streets, walks, curbs, ADA ramps), and eliminating slum conditions through demolition. Administration, Planning and Management, and Fair Housing are also key priorities, ensuring sound program oversight and promoting fair housing choices. Expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in decent affordable housing, enhanced public services for vulnerable populations, job creation, and improved community infrastructure. The program seeks to assist low and moderate-income persons and families in achieving homeownership, provide accessible housing, and revitalize blighted areas. Through these initiatives, the City of Mishawaka is implementing a strategic approach to community development, guided by a theory of change that posits that by addressing fundamental needs in housing, public services, and infrastructure, the overall quality of life for all residents will significantly improve. Eligible activities for CDBG funding are diverse and designed to help low and moderate-income individuals, households, or areas. These activities encompass Public Facilities and Improvements, Code Enforcement, Architectural Barrier Removal, and a wide array of Public Services (including youth, senior, childcare, homeless shelter operations, services for persons with HIV/AIDS, and crime prevention). Other eligible activities include Planning, Housing Services (down payment assistance, renovation), Microenterprise Assistance, Economic Development Assistance, and Façade Improvements for Private Businesses. This comprehensive approach ensures that various community needs can be addressed effectively.