LaunchKC Grants Competition

The goal of this program is to support collaborative translational research projects aligned with NIH efforts to enhance the translation of basic biological discoveries into clinical applications that improve health. It encourages high quality science demonstrating the potential to result in understanding an important disease process or lead to new therapeutic interventions, diagnostics, or prevention strategies within the research interests and priorities of the participating NIH Institutes/Centers (ICs).Specifically, the program seeks to broaden and strengthen translational research collaborations between basic and clinical researchers both within and outside NIH to accelerate and enhance translational science by promoting partnerships between NIH intramural investigators (e.g., those conducting research within the labs and clinics of the NIH) and extramural investigators (e.g., those conducting research in labs outside the NIH), and by providing support for extramural investigators to take advantage of the unique research opportunities available at the NIH Clinical Center by conducting clinical research projects in collaboration with NIH intramural investigators.

The Royal Credit Union Small Business Grant provides pre-launch, startup, and early-stage small businesses in Wisconsin's Chippewa Valley with a $3,000 grant to support meaningful investments in the business, from startup costs to equipment and technology upgrades. Administered by Royal Credit Union (RCU), a Wisconsin-based credit union headquartered in Eau Claire, the program is designed to empower entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed, help create local jobs, and support small business owners in strengthening the communities RCU serves. The grant is currently offered as a pilot initiative, with the goal of expanding to additional communities within RCU's credit union footprint in the future. To qualify, applicants must be owned by Royal Credit Union members or individuals who qualify for membership, be pre-launch, in startup phase, or have been established within the last three years, and be located in one of six eligible Wisconsin counties: Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Trempealeau, or Taylor. Applicants are asked to provide information about their business, including financial needs, community impact, and future plans, and must submit a business plan and financial projections as part of the application. Applicants are also encouraged (but not required) to connect with the UW-Eau Claire Small Business Development Center or the Western Wisconsin Women's Business Center for support during the application process.

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont (NOFA-VT) offers annual Farmer Resilience Grants to projects that have a positive social, environmental, and economic impact in their community. Farmers can earn between $2,000 and $5,000 for their projects.

The ROI Jamestown (Reinvestment for Opportunity & Impact) Grant Program provides Jamestown, New York commercial property owners and tenants with reimbursement grants of up to $50,000 to make improvements to their facilities and operations. Administered by the City of Jamestown's Department of Development and funded through federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the program is designed to facilitate the revitalization of Jamestown's commercial buildings and businesses, encourage economic growth, secure private investment, promote small businesses and entrepreneurship, and ultimately sustain and create jobs. The program is competitive, with grants awarded on a quarterly basis as funding permits. Grant funds may be used for building improvements, permanently installed fixtures and equipment, permanently affixed signage, ADA accessibility improvements, and interior commercial buildouts. Eligible improvements include painting, exterior refinishing, doors, windows, lighting, roof repair, brick repointing, HVAC, handicap-accessible improvements to restrooms, entrances, and ramps, and machinery permanently affixed to the building (available only when the applicant is both the deeded property owner and the business owner). A portion of grant funds may be used for building acquisition on a case-by-case basis, subject to strict job creation requirements. Residential rental buildings (unless connected to a mixed-use building), home-based businesses, financial institutions, nationally dominant chains and franchises, and structures outside Jamestown city limits are not eligible. To qualify, the property must be located within the City of Jamestown's census tracts and be found code-compliant by the City's Building and Code Enforcement Officer, and all City and School taxes and Board of Public Utilities (BPU) accounts must be paid in full. Property owners must provide a copy of their deed, and tenants must provide their lease agreement. Priority is given to commercial buildings in the Downtown Business District, City corridors, and industrial buildings occupied by businesses that will maintain or create employment. Applicants must demonstrate financial viability by providing 12-month and 3-year cash flow projections, or a Profit and Loss statement covering the last two years. Grant recipients must commit to remaining in the location for at least three years for grants of $15,000 or less, and at least five years for larger awards. Business tenants must document these commitments in a signed lease. All applications must include two sets of estimates for the work to be completed, and all estimates involving labor over $2,000 must include prevailing wage. Applicants are also required to self-certify that they are in good standing with the Department of Labor and Department of Environmental Protection. Deeded property owners who receive grant funding must sign a Five-Year Anti-Speculation Agreement, which is recorded as a lien with the Chautauqua County Clerk's Office; if the property is sold within five years of the last grant disbursement, a portion of the grant must be repaid (with the repayment amount decreasing each year). Buildings located in the Downtown Historic District or with an individual historic designation must obtain a No Adverse Effect letter from the State Historic Preservation Office before any work begins. Grant funds may be disbursed either as reimbursement to the applicant for paid invoices, or paid directly to the contractor through a signed Contractor's Agreement.

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.