Clackamas County Tourism Business Grant

The Community Investment Fund provides Franklin County, Maine businesses, nonprofits, and individual entrepreneurs with grants of $5,000 to $15,000 to launch and grow projects that benefit the local community. Administered by the Greater Franklin Development Council (GFDC), the fund fills a gap identified by GFDC after evaluating what funding options are actually available to small operators in Franklin County (many block grants go to towns, county TIF dollars are restricted to unorganized territories, and innovation funding often requires a patentable product, leaving small operators without an accessible source of early stage capital). The fund is made possible through GFDC's funding accord with the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) transmission line, which reinvests a share of the transmission line's negotiated community benefits back into local businesses, organizations, and jobs across Franklin County. Projects must advance at least one of six focus areas: workforce development (training, credentialing, apprenticeships, recruitment and retention efforts), business expansion or creation (equipment, buildout, new product lines, new locations, new hires), organizational programming (new or expanded programs that serve county residents), entrepreneurial support (coaching, shared space, startup services, technical assistance), community development (projects that make the county a better place to live and work), or services for low-income residents (direct services that reduce cost, remove barriers, or expand access). Two themes run through all funded projects: innovative programming and job creation. To qualify, applicants must be a for-profit business operating in Franklin County, a nonprofit organization serving Franklin County, or an individual entrepreneur or resident with a project that meets the fund's purpose, with proof of Franklin County residency or operation required. A documented funding match is required for all applications, and applications with a higher match percentage score higher (personal funds, in-kind contributions, and other grants all count as match). Projects must run 12 months or fewer, with recipients required to submit a progress report at six months and a final report at twelve months. Applications include a project summary of 100 words, an alignment narrative of 300 words, and an impact and measurement narrative of 300 words, along with attachments including a project budget, letters of support, proof of Franklin County residency, and documentation of matching funds. Applicants are also expected to describe a defined return on investment (with estimates of margin, sales, volume, people served, or jobs created) and to name real risks and barriers to project success.

The Sky's the Limit Entrepreneur Grants program awards monthly startup grants of up to $2,500 to entrepreneurs, with new funding opportunities opening each month. Administered by Sky's the Limit, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities, the program is funded through partnerships with major corporate sponsors and operates as a recurring pitch-based opportunity: members sign up on the Sky's the Limit platform, submit a pitch describing their business, and are considered for that month's grant pool. In addition to grant funding, members of the platform gain access to one-on-one mentorship from a global network of business advisors, step-by-step guides for working through key business milestones, members-only workshops and events, and pitch competitions. The program is part of Sky's the Limit's broader mission to help early-stage entrepreneurs build meaningful relationships, access capital, and grow sustainable businesses.

The Hampton Roads Regional Apprenticeship Hub Employer Incentive provides employers and Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) sponsors in Southeastern Virginia's Hampton Roads region with reimbursement grants of up to $30,000 to help develop and expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs. Administered by the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and funded through a $6 million Apprenticeship Building America Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, the incentive is designed to help offset the initial financial risks and resource investments involved in launching or expanding a highly skilled, specialized workforce through a "grow-your-own" and "earn-while-you-learn" apprenticeship strategy. Eligible expenses include the registration of an apprenticeship program, train-the-trainer costs, curriculum development costs, classroom education or online training, and training supplies for apprentices, with specific funding caps per activity detailed in the incentive application. Ineligible uses include training that began before the incentive agreement was executed, using funds to offset current training costs without expanding training capacity through a registered apprenticeship program, wrap-around support (such as transportation, housing, or childcare), general education not tied to specific on-the-job skills, general onboarding or orientation without a defined skill progression, mandatory compliance training without additional skill advancement, continuing education unrelated to job performance, training primarily for networking or professional association participation, construction or purchase of facilities, business relocation expenses, lobbying, and research and development. The incentive is open to employers and sponsors of any size or cohort size operating in the Hampton Roads region of Southeastern Virginia, including the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg, and the counties of Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton, York, and Eastern Shore. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all funds are exhausted, with the Hampton Roads Workforce Council reviewing applications and notifying applicants of a decision within two weeks. Approved employers receive an incentive agreement and supporting documentation for invoicing, and payment may take up to 45 days after the Council receives the appropriate documentation to process the reimbursement request.

This grant fosters greater economic development activity in Rural Texas by encouraging and enabling rural woman-owned, small businesses to undertake new and innovative projects. A total of ten grants for $10,000, totaling $100,000, will be given.

The Merchants Fund Emergency Grant provides Philadelphia small businesses with up to $20,000 in grant funding to help recover from hardship caused by qualifying events such as fire, natural disaster, extreme acts of physical vandalism, utility failure, or highly disruptive public works projects. Administered by The Merchants Fund, the program prioritizes small and micro business owners that have been historically undercapitalized and cannot withstand a prolonged loss of revenue, with a preference for businesses earning less than $500,000 in annual revenue. To be eligible, businesses must be located in Philadelphia, generate annual revenue of $1.5 million or less, and demonstrate financial need for the grant. Ineligible business types include professional services such as medical, legal, insurance, graphic design, architecture, real estate, child and elder care, and nonprofit organizations. Applicants whose emergency does not clearly fall into one of the qualifying categories are encouraged to contact The Merchants Fund directly to confirm eligibility before applying.