American Express Backing Small Businesses Grant

The Intuit IDEAS Program is a 12-month business growth program that provides participating small businesses with over $10,000 in complimentary Intuit tools and expert support, plus a $5,000 cash grant awarded upon successful completion of the program (with an additional $1,000 technology grant potentially available for eligible business technology needs). Administered by Intuit, the corporate parent behind QuickBooks, TurboTax, Credit Karma, and Mailchimp, the program is designed to help small businesses grow, scale, and become capital-ready through Intuit's AI-driven platform combined with business coaching from experienced community partners and executive coaching from Zella Life. Participants receive free QuickBooks, Mailchimp, and TurboTax software, plus access to Credit Karma and Intuit tax and bookkeeping experts. In addition to product access, participants receive monthly business coaching and executive coaching, hands-on training in Mailchimp, QuickBooks, and TurboTax, networking with Intuit professionals and program alumni, exposure through product presentations and other marketing opportunities, and a personalized IDEAS Growth Plan with clear business milestones. The program requires roughly 3 hours per week during onboarding and 3 to 5 hours per month throughout the 12-month program. Eligibility is limited to registered small businesses located within roughly 40 miles of one of the 2026 program markets: Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York City, Philadelphia, San Diego, or West Virginia. Los Angeles is supported through a separate dedicated cohort with its own application process. Military veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs may apply nationwide through a special virtual cohort. Ideal applicants have at least one year in operation and a small team (1 to 9 employees have performed best in past cohorts). Nonprofits, C Corporations, current Intuit employees (including contractors and experts), and businesses with foreign bank accounts or cryptocurrency transactions are not eligible. Businesses do not need to be current Intuit customers to apply, but selected participants must successfully complete QuickBooks onboarding as part of a three-phase application, review, and onboarding process.

The Foundations in Industry Training (FIT) Grant Program is a statewide program which offers assistance to registered apprenticeship programs. The program’s goal is to increase apprenticeship availability to Pennsylvania employers to assist them with their talent recruitment and development.

​​​​​​​​​​A flexible and broad-based program, Advantage Maryland (also known as MEDAAF) funds conditional grants, loans and investments to assist economic development initiatives. Uses include business attraction and retention, infrastructure support, brownfield redevelopment, arts and entertainment districts, daycare, revolving loan funds and local strategic planning. Projects must be within Priority Funding Areas and eligible industry sectors. Awards are made on a competitive basis.

The Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation (CCSA) program is helping to revitalize 12 South and West Side business corridors through targeted improvements to underutilized and vacant commercial spaces. Led by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD), the $30.5 million program is offering grants that fund up to 75% of eligible project costs for qualifying small businesses and property owners. In addition to funding for storefront improvements, each corridor has a partner agency and technical service providers to assist with business-related tasks such as marketing, accounting and business planning, as well as project-specific tasks that include design and permitting.

The City of Appleton offers multiple grant programs for businesses: The Business Recruitment Grant offers $1,000 boost grants to businesses that need a little extra capital to move downtown or open a new business there. The Façade Improvement Grant offers grants to businesses that need assistance in enhancing their exterior aesthetics. Businesses can receive between $2,500 and $5,000 to use on minor improvements (such as painting and lighting) or facade renovations (like window upgrades).