OH International Market Access Grant for Exporters

The VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund provides new, startup, and emerging small businesses in Southwest Virginia's e-Region with dollar-for-dollar matching grants of up to $10,000 to support business launch and early-stage growth. Administered by the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA), the program was established in 2017 to address access-to-capital barriers for small businesses in the region and to attract new small businesses from outside the e-Region to relocate there. Since launching, the program has assisted more than 200 new startups and has been credited with a 34-to-1 return on investment in an independent Virginia Tech study. To qualify, applicants must secure dollar-for-dollar matching funds from one or more other sources in at least the amount requested from VCEDA, operate a for-profit business that is no older than one year from the application date, currently employ or plan to employ fewer than 10 full-time employees, and intend to create or retain at least one full-time job within the e-Region within one year of application. Eligible business categories are reviewed and set annually by the VCEDA Board. Applications are typically reviewed twice per year, subject to fund availability. Interested applicants begin the process by working with their local Small Business Development Center (Mountain Empire Community College or Southwest Virginia Community College SBDC), which helps coordinate the application with VCEDA. Applicants are also required to obtain a letter or resolution of support from the county industrial development authority of the county where their project is located, or from the Norton Industrial Development Authority for businesses in the City of Norton.

Fifty eBay business sellers can receive $10,000 grants from the eBay Up & Running grant program. To be eligible, you must have been an eBay seller with a rating of "Above Standard" or "Top Rated."

Our small business grant program gives select new stores $5,000 to use on Faire to stock their shelves with amazing products. It’s our way of helping you kickstart your dream shop.

Pathway to Opportunity is a competition designed to connect small businesses with corporations seeking to expand their supply chain with innovative products and services. Through Pathway to Opportunity, we aim to do more than provide a seat at the table—we strive to open doors and build relationships that can lead to long-term, sustainable contracts. Finalists are selected to pitch their businesses in front of a virtual audience, and three winners receive prizes of $5,000.

The Wish Local Empowerment Program, funded by the e-commerce brand Wish, is designed to support Black-owned small businesses. With a $2 million fund, the program offers financial assistance between $500 and $2,000 to around 4,000 Wish Local partners. To qualify, businesses must be Black-owned, have 20 or fewer employees, and earn under $1 million annually. Recipients will also gain access to Wish Local's consumer base through various partnership opportunities.