NC Catalyst Building Resiliency Micro-Grant

The Catalyst Building Resiliency Micro-Grant provides early-stage entrepreneurs in Western North Carolina facing economic barriers with $1,000 micro-grants to support the next stage of their business growth. Grants start at $1,000, with additional funding possible for applicants with especially compelling needs or plans. Administered by Mountain BizWorks, a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) that supports small businesses across Western North Carolina, the program is part of the organization's broader Catalyst Fund initiative, which is dedicated to expanding access to funding and leveling the playing field for under-resourced entrepreneurs.

To qualify, applicants must meet criteria across two required areas. The Early-Stage Business criterion requires the business to have either been generating revenue for less than 5 years or have annual gross revenue under $150,000 (only one of these must apply). The Economic Need criterion requires the owner's household income to be below 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), the owner's household net worth to be under $100,000 (excluding primary residence), or the business to be located in a census tract with a poverty rate of 20 percent or higher (only one of these must apply). Additional caps apply in all cases: owner household income must be below 2x AMI, and household net worth must be under $250,000. The business must be an independently owned, for-profit entity located and operating in Western North Carolina, and applicants must be at least 18 years old. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible, and each applicant may apply for one business only.

Grant funds may be used for qualified business expenses only, including marketing and advertising, business equipment or supplies, technology and software, business systems and operational improvements, and professional services or coaching support. Grants are awarded at the sole discretion of the Selection Committee based on the strength of the application and any other factors the committee deems relevant, and submitting an application does not guarantee an award. Recipients are required to submit a brief report 12 months after receiving funds describing the financial condition of the business, how the grant was used, and the number of people impacted, and grantee business names and grant amounts are publicly announced. Grants do not need to be repaid but are taxable, and applications do not roll over between funding rounds.