Alaska Microenterprise Grant

The Rural Jump-Start Program is a collaborative effort by the state, local governments, Institutes of Higher Education (IHE), and economic development organizations (EDO) to incentivize new businesses to start in or move to rural, economically distressed counties in Colorado, which are referred to as Rural Jump-Start zones, and hire new employees. Rural Jump-Start began in 2016 as a tax incentive program for businesses located in a Rural Jump-Start zone, and in 2021 a grant program was created. If you are a business interested in participating in this program, please review all program qualifications, discussed in greater detail under the Business Eligibility section below, before applying.

The Activate Downtown Grant Program (formally known as the Ground Floor Tenant Build-Out Matching Grant Program) provides property owners and business tenants in Downtown New Orleans with matching grants of up to $20,000 (covering 50 percent of eligible project costs) to activate long-vacant ground-floor commercial storefronts. Administered by the Downtown Development District (DDD) of New Orleans, the program is designed to reduce a common barrier to opening a brick-and-mortar business (the upfront cost of preparing a vacant commercial space for a new tenant) while revitalizing commercial corridors, promoting natural surveillance, and increasing pedestrian activity throughout downtown. Eligible improvements include interior build-outs, demolition and shell reconstruction, ADA accessibility improvements, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and lighting upgrades, storefront entryways, doors, and display windows, signage, exterior storefront lighting, security improvements (alarms, cameras, security glazing, and DDD-approved exterior lighting), permits, materials, and contracted labor. To qualify, the project must involve a ground-floor tenant space located within the Downtown Development District boundary with direct frontage on and pedestrian access from public rights-of-way, and the space must have been vacant for at least one year. Tenants may occupy no more than 10,000 square feet of ground-floor area, and applicants must demonstrate site control through a proposed lease, executed letter of intent, purchase agreement, act of sale, or option agreement. National credit tenants and franchise concepts are not eligible, defined as any business that is publicly traded, holds an investment-grade credit rating, operates more than 10 locations across multiple states, or is a subsidiary or affiliate of a company meeting any of these criteria. A wide range of business types are also ineligible, including tattoo parlors, check cashing, bail bonds, sexually oriented businesses, churches, convenience stores, locksmiths, pawnbrokers, smoke shops, wedding chapels, shooting ranges, self-storage, private clubs, and membership-driven enterprises. Ineligible expenses include furniture and equipment not permanently affixed to the space, inventory, business operations costs, property acquisition, working capital, and professional fees. Grants are awarded through a competitive scoring process that weighs vacancy duration, Canal Street corridor location, safety and crime prevention features, project readiness, and small business impact, and are disbursed on a reimbursement basis after project completion, verification, and issuance of an occupational license. Tenants must sign a lease of at least 24 months and remain open and operating for at least 12 continuous months following project completion.

Topeka and Shawnee County’s Small Business Incentives Program provides matching grants to local businesses to help with marketing costs, construction, equipment purchases, and more. Eligible businesses can get grants from $1,000 up to $20,000 depending on their project needs and matching investment. To qualify, businesses must be located in the City of Topeka or Shawnee County, have at least one but no more than 100 full-time employees, and demonstrate that their project will contribute to the economy.

The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) offers grants that support forest, farm, and food businesses. Grants also go to producer associations, business assistance provider organizations, and more. The state's annual budget process decides the amount of funds available each year. The Working Lands Enterprise Board (WLEB) meets each summer to decide which grants to offer for the coming year based on available funds and needs across Vermont. This is an annual program that opens in September yearly. The program typically awards $10,000 to $100,000 to businesses in Vermont to fund market development, research and development, infrastructure, energy, or workforce development projects.

The City of Newport News offers small grants to eligible e-commerce businesses, with a special focus on women-owned and minority-owned e-commerce businesses. Most businesses can get up to $2,500 in grant money; women and minority-owned businesses can get up to $4,500.