Bloom Grant Program

The Cultural STAR Program provides grants and loans to Saint Paul cultural projects and organizations. Most projects are located in the Saint Paul Cultural District (bordered by I-94 to the north, the Lafayette Bridge to the east, the Mississippi River to the south, and Chestnut Road to the west). Cultural STAR grows Saint Paul's economy by strengthening the arts and cultural sector and supporting downtown as a vital cultural center.

The Motor City Match Cash Track provides Detroit-based businesses with gap funding grants of up to $100,000 to help close a project's financing gap and open a new brick-and-mortar location to the public. Administered by Motor City Match, the Cash Track is open to both new businesses opening their first Detroit location and existing businesses opening an additional Detroit location, with the average grant award totaling $50,000. Grants are need-based and are designed to fill the funding gap remaining after applicants have secured other capital, with the award typically not exceeding 50% of total project costs and requiring at least 10% owner equity. In addition to grant funding, the program supports applicants with financial planning and project management assistance, lender networking events that connect businesses to community lending partners, and facilitated introductions to help applicants close any remaining loan financing they may need. Awardees that open are also promoted through Motor City Match, DEGC, and Detroit Means Business channels, providing additional publicity for the business. Businesses already open and expanding within their current space are not eligible to apply.

The Brooklyn Pitch Competition awards a total of $450,000 in unrestricted grant funding to selected Brooklyn-based businesses, including a $150,000 grand prize and additional finalist awards ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Administered by the Social Justice Fund (a Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation initiative), the competition is designed for established businesses ready for their next stage of growth and aims to spotlight entrepreneurs who are strengthening Brooklyn's economy, creating jobs, expanding opportunity, and investing in their communities. To be eligible, businesses must be headquartered or primarily operating in Brooklyn, generate between $1 million and $5 million in annual revenue, demonstrate a clear growth strategy and strong potential for expansion, show evidence of innovation, execution capacity, and business momentum, contribute to Brooklyn's economy through job creation, local hiring, community impact, or neighborhood investment, and be prepared to participate in a competitive screening process and a live pitch event if selected as a finalist. In addition to grant funding, selected finalists pitch live at Barclays Center and receive access to investor introductions, capital matchmaking, strategic advisory sessions, and connections to procurement and growth opportunities. Businesses ready to grow, hire, expand their market reach, or deepen their impact in Brooklyn are the program's target applicants.

The Wilkes EDC Entrepreneur Grant Program offers funds to support Existing Business Expansions and those planning to Start a Business in Wilkes County, where businesses have the potential to win up $6,000! Applicants submit a simple business plan and a financial summary that outline how the grant funds will be used to grow or launch their business. Additionally, you’ll create a 3-minute pitch video explaining your request. Grant recipients can receive up to $6,000 through the Entrepreneur Grant Program. Funds will be available for withdrawal within one year of the award date. To access the grant, recipients must provide receipts or documentation of purchased items or services approved by the program’s judging panel. Once reviewed and approved by Wilkes EDC, the funds will be released.

Through the GOED’s Workforce Development Program, companies can access money to help train new and existing employees that require additional skills as the result of company growth. The program can fund up to 50% of eligible training expenses to companies that meet certain wage and benefit criteria. The funds are awarded on a reimbursement basis.