National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Growth Grants

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.

GreenGain provides small Connecticut manufacturing companies with training, funding and mentoring support. We help you identify simple ways to incorporate sustainability practices while improving economic gains, ensuring your business stays competitive in a rapidly evolving market and changing climate. Apply for matching funds up to $25,000 through our voucher program to support energy efficiency equipment upgrades, renewable energy projects, carbon accounting software, energy audits, Ecovadis certification and more.

The Inclusive Beauty Fund will award 12 grants of $25,000 each to beauty businesses and entrepreneurs across the United States–including extension artists, braiders, aestheticians, barbers, salon owners, suite owners, students, and stylists. The grants will be administered in partnership with the NAACP's Economic Empowerment Fund and Hispanic Federation through Deed, a leading social impact platform. Open to all, the goal of the program is to support all members of the beauty industry with a focus small business growth and increasing overall economic opportunity.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is offering grants to support the development of new and existing cooperatives in Wisconsin, with a goal of fostering the success of current and future cooperatives by supporting planning and exploratory research in advance of making a large investment. WEDC has set aside up to $200,000 for each of the next two years, with a $50,000 maximum per grant. Applicants may use the funds to cover consulting fees for business planning, feasibility studies, legal services, and accounting services to help new or existing cooperatives become established or further develop.

The LaunchLNK Grant awards six early-stage scalable startups building their businesses in Lincoln, Nebraska with a $20,000 non-dilutive cash grant, plus more than $15,000 in in-kind services and benefits. Administered by StartupLNK in partnership with Select Lincoln, the program is designed to help promising startups establish and grow their companies in Lincoln by combining meaningful capital with the connections and support needed to move from early-stage to fully operational business. Beyond the cash grant, recipients receive four additional forms of support: introductions to potential sources of additional capital through StartupLNK's Midwest investor relationships; connections to mentors and to local and regional corporations that may become early customers or partners; access to professional services (legal, accounting, marketing, and other business needs) at little or no cost through corporate and service provider partnerships; and inclusion in the LaunchLNK alumni network, which has supported dozens of Lincoln-area startups since the program launched. Grant funds are distributed as the company meets milestones defined jointly with the LaunchLNK Program Manager. Applications are open to all industries and types of companies, with a clear goal and vision for business growth required. Applicants are prioritized based on the grant's potential economic impact in Lincoln, meaning reviewers look for companies where the funding could spur revenue and job creation and attract additional capital investment. Standout applications tend to demonstrate a clear use of funds tied to a specific next milestone, and founders actively contributing to the Lincoln business or innovation community receive additional consideration. The selection process includes an initial application review, screening calls, and interviews with a selection committee that ultimately selects the six recipients from a pool of 50 to 100 applications each cycle. Previous applicants who were not selected are welcome to reapply, as long as they have not already been awarded a LaunchLNK grant.