North Carolina Business and Commerce Grants

This program provides $50,000 grants to early-stage North Carolina startups with innovative concepts and a strong market potential, along with mentorship and resources to accelerate their growth.

This program provides financial assistance to local governments in North Carolina for restoring critical public infrastructure to support small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to licensed dairy farms in the southeastern U.S. to improve their infrastructure and operational efficiency, enhancing profitability and sustainability in the dairy industry.

This funding initiative provides financial support to state and local governments in the Appalachian Region for projects that enhance critical infrastructure and promote business and workforce development to stimulate economic growth and resilience.

This grant provides funding to individuals and organizations in North Carolina to create and support diverse entrepreneurial programs and events that foster community engagement and collaboration.

This funding opportunity supports local organizations in enhancing digital literacy and broadband access to drive economic growth and improve community quality of life.

This initiative provides funding to support large-scale economic development projects across the Appalachian region, focusing on workforce development, business growth, infrastructure improvements, and community capacity building.

This program provides a pitch competition and investor introductions for women and founders of color in the U.S. with scalable startups that have a minimum viable product and some customer traction, specifically targeting those outside major startup hubs.

This program provides financial assistance to local governments in economically distressed areas of North Carolina for the demolition of vacant, blighted structures to promote site readiness for future private investment and job creation.

This program provides funding to local governments in rural North Carolina to renovate and improve buildings, creating new jobs and enhancing healthcare access in underserved areas.

This program provides financial support to small retail, restaurant, and service businesses in Moore County, North Carolina, to help them improve their operations and enhance customer experiences.

This program provides funding to not-for-profit organizations and tourism-related groups in Haywood County, North Carolina, to promote tourism through advertising, events, and market research that attract out-of-county visitors and enhance local quality of life.

Beyond Open is a competitive small business grant program focused on enhancing economic mobility within Charlotte's Corridors of Opportunity. It aims to support diverse-owned small businesses, including those owned by minorities, women, veterans, LGBTQ individuals, and persons with disabilities. The grant can be used for capital assets such as equipment, technology, inventory, and real estate, and does not require repayment. Administered by FFTC Partners For Empowering Communities, a supporting organization of the Foundation For The Carolinas, and funded by the Wells Fargo Open for Business Fund, Beyond Open has awarded over $10 million in grants to nearly 300 small businesses during its first two rounds. The third round will distribute approximately $5 million in grants. The program aims to retain jobs, encourage job growth, and inspire new entrepreneurial endeavors in areas with low economic mobility and among historically underrepresented groups. It also seeks to create opportunities for small businesses to provide goods or services in affluent areas where minority business owners have been under-represented.

The Orange County Business Investment Grant Program in North Carolina is seeking applications to provide financial support ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to stimulate non-farm business development and expansion within the county, with eligibility criteria including the business's physical location, operational duration, tax status, and connection with business counseling services.

This program provides financial support to non-farm businesses in Orange County, particularly those owned by women and BIPOC, to help them grow, hire staff, and make a positive economic impact.

This grant provides funding to governmental entities and nonprofit organizations in North Carolina for projects that promote economic development, job creation, and workforce training, particularly in rural and tobacco-dependent communities.

The Pat Sanford Animal Welfare Grant, offered by Orange County Animal Services in North Carolina, provides up to $500 for individuals, groups, or organizations to fund animal welfare initiatives in Orange County, honoring the legacy of former Animal Protection Society Executive Director, Pat Sanford.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments, recycling businesses, nonprofits, multifamily property owners, public housing authorities, and colleges for developing or improving recycling programs in multifamily residences across North Carolina.

This program provides financial support to established small businesses in downtown North Wilkesboro and Wilkesboro, North Carolina, to enhance their operations through equipment upgrades, physical space improvements, and e-commerce development.

This grant provides funding to recycling businesses and nonprofit organizations in North Carolina to enhance their capacity and efficiency in diverting materials from the waste stream and creating jobs.