Downtown Danville Facade Improvement Grant

The Business or Commercialization Planning assistance micro-grant can reimburse up to $5000, spent on hiring an approved, independent, third party to write a comprehensive business or commercialization plan for a Wisconsin business. Typically awardees are pursuing a Phase II SBIR/STTR grant in which a detailed commercialization plan is required. The program is limited to businesses in certain industries.

The Rural and Agriculture Energy Assistance Program offers grants to farms, ranches, and rural small businesses to help cover the costs of energy audits. Audits are performed by approved assessors who review energy use, as well as buildings, processes, and equipment. The goal is to find ways to be more energy efficient. The grant program covers 75% of the audit expense, with applicants paying the remaining 25% of the costs. Energy assessment costs vary depending on size and scope but typically range between $4,000 and $8,500.

PWQ provides matching training grants and support services targeted to improve the competitive position of small and mid-sized manufacturing and technology companies. Grants are used to increase the skills of existing workers for new technologies and production processes, improve employee productivity and increase employment stability. Applicants should have a minimum of ten full-time employees. At least 60% of available funds must be awarded to employers with 150 or fewer employees in the State. The Program encourages the participation of small and minority-owned businesses. Priority will be given to manufacturing and technology companies. In regions of the State where regionally important industries have been identified beyond manufacturing and technology, justification should be provided to approve PWQ funding.

The Scranton Small Business Façade Improvement Grant Program provides Scranton commercial property owners and tenants with reimbursement grants of up to $10,000 (or 50 percent of total project cost, whichever is lower) to fund permanent exterior improvements to commercial buildings. Administered by the City of Scranton and funded through federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars, the program is designed to create a more aesthetically pleasing environment along Scranton's commercial corridors and support the revitalization of the city's business districts. Grants are geographically targeted, with eligible properties limited to commercial buildings located within the federally designated low-to-moderate income areas of Scranton. To qualify, applicants must be either the owner of a commercial property or a business owner or manager operating from a commercial property within the eligible area, with tenants required to submit an Owner Consent Form as part of their application. Businesses must be in compliance with all current City of Scranton codes and regulations, current on taxes, fines, and fees, and properly registered in the city. Eligible buildings are limited to existing commercial structures with facades visible from the street. New construction, mobile businesses, structural repairs, and interior projects of any kind are not eligible. Funded improvements must be permanent, exterior alterations that enhance the appearance of the commercial property, and may include the repair, preservation, improvement, replacement, or installation of windows and doors, signage, lighting, awnings, canopies, and sunshades, decking and stairs, gutters and downspouts, cornices or decorative trim, historically significant architectural details, masonry, pointing, or carpentry work, painting or surface treatment, entranceways to buildings or parking lots, greenery, and sidewalks, patios, walkways, benches, planters, and other permanent exterior features.

In 2013, to foster job creation, facilitate small business development and enhance the workforce pipeline, the Rhode Island General Assembly created the Innovate Rhode Island Small Business Fund (IRISBF). Eligible Rhode Island small businesses may apply for grants to defray the cost of applying for SBIR/STTR awards, match SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II awards, and hire interns. Application Grant: Provides grants of up to $3,000 to assist small businesses offset the costs associated with preparing a competitive Phase I SBIR/STTR application. Matching Grant: Provides grants of up to $75,000 to encourage recipients of SBIR/STTR Phase I awards and up to $150,000 to recipients of Phase II awards.