Lake Dallas BIG Program

The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown awards a $100,000 grand prize cash grant plus a package of in-kind services to one independent retail entrepreneur to help open a brick-and-mortar storefront in Detroit, Hamtramck, or Highland Park. Administered by TechTown Detroit and sponsored by Comerica Bank, the contest is built around the concept of "crowd entrepreneurship," giving Detroit residents an active role in the city's redevelopment by voting for their favorite finalists in successive elimination rounds. The application process narrows applicants down from the full pool to a Top 25, Top 10, and Top 4, with public voting playing a major role in determining the eventual winner during a live "Hatch Off" event. The contest is focused exclusively on independent brick-and-mortar retail concepts, including stores, bars, restaurants, studios, gyms, and other retail-driven businesses, and is intended to revitalize commercial corridors, activate vacant spaces, and spur further community investment. Food trucks and franchise stores are not eligible, though social enterprises and L3Cs may apply if they have a strong retail component. Beyond the grand prize, finalists gain significant visibility with thousands of potential customers and funders, plus access to the Hatch Detroit alumni network, which provides ongoing technical support and additional spot grant funding opportunities.

The Chicago Community Development Grant provides funding to support business and neighborhood vitality across the City of Chicago through three tiers of grants based on project size. Administered by the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development, the program supports business-related real estate investments that create and maintain jobs and improve quality of life for local residents. Eligible applicants include business owners, property owners, non-profit organizations, community developers, and entrepreneurs, with funding available for office, retail, cultural, industrial, institutional, light manufacturing, and mixed-use projects anywhere in the City of Chicago. Across all three tiers, grants are issued on a reimbursement basis and may, at DPD's discretion, be offered as a forgivable loan or traditional loan rather than a grant. Eligible uses generally include construction hard costs, pre-development soft costs (such as design and site preparation), and property acquisition costs. The Small Community Development Grant: Provides grants of up to $250,000 to support commercial, mixed-use, and light manufacturing projects, funding up to 75% of total eligible project costs. Small grants are funded through the Housing and Economic Development (HED) Bond and prioritize projects with strong local impacts that leverage local talent, capacity, and institutions. Mixed-use residential projects are eligible, though residential costs cannot exceed 25% of the total grant amount and must be part of a broader building improvement. Disbursements are made at defined construction milestones. The Medium Community Development Grant: Provides grants from $300,001 to $5,000,000 to support moderate-scale commercial, cultural, industrial, institutional, social service, and mixed-use projects. Medium grants fund up to 50% of total project costs and are awarded through competitive, semi-annual funding rounds. The CDG-M includes a Local Residency Bonus for applicants whose primary residence and proposed project are both located within the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund's Qualified Investment Area. The Large Community Development Grant: Provides grants in excess of $5,000,000 to support significant commercial, cultural, industrial, institutional, social service, and mixed-use development projects. Large grants are intended to cover approximately 25% of total project costs and are issued as a lump-sum reimbursement upon project completion. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with an initial DPD review within two to four weeks and final approval required from Chicago City Council.

This program will provide a state match to companies that have received a Phase I award through a federal SBIR or STTR grant program. The maximum award under this program may not exceed $50,000. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the total grant shall be remitted to the business upon receipt of the SBIR/STTR Phase I award and application for funds. The remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of the total grant shall be remitted to the business upon submission by the business of the Phase II application to the federal funding agency and acceptance of the Phase I report by the federal funding agency. This program is utilizing state funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

SBIR Assistance micro-grants are aimed at technology and research-based Wisconsin businesses, who intend to apply for SBIR/STTR federal funds. The business‘ SAM registration and SBIR submission must have a WI address. The grants cover reimbursement of costs up to $5000.00, incurred by a business in hiring an independent, approved third-party to assist in the development of federal Phase 1 SBIR/STTR research and development proposal.

The Modernization Investment Support Initiative (MISI) Program gives grants to eligible Delaware businesses that need help modernizing their operations to remain competitive. Eligible businesses can get up to 20% of approved modernization expenses reimbursed, up to $1 million per project. Businesses can use the funds toward equipment and machinery purchases, construction, and engineering services. In order to qualify, businesses need to have an operating history of at least ten years, have a proposed modernization budget of at least $1 million, and demonstrate a need for updates to remain competitive.