One North Carolina Fund

The Asheville Recovers Together Grant provides Asheville, North Carolina small businesses impacted by Tropical Storm Helene with reimbursement grants of $5,000 to $75,000 to support recovery and ongoing operations. Funded by the City of Asheville and jointly administered by ArtsAVL, Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation, and Mountain BizWorks in collaboration with community partners across the city, the program is designed to help local businesses stabilize, recover, and grow following the storm's economic impact. Grant funds may be used for payroll, rent and utilities, inventory, supplies and equipment, marketing, and other eligible business operating expenses, and may also support efforts to rehire staff, replace lost inventory, add jobs, or launch new products and services. Eligible applicants must have a primary location within Asheville city limits, have been operating before September 27, 2024, have experienced financial losses due to Hurricane Helene that were not fully covered by insurance or other funding, have owners who are legal U.S. residents, have generated at least $20,000 in revenue in one of the last three years, and be currently open or have a plan to reopen. Businesses must also be in good standing with no active bankruptcies, tax liens, or federal funding bans. Nonprofits, cannabis-related operations, passive real estate or investment holdings, political or lobbying organizations, adult entertainment businesses, corporate-owned national franchises or chains, and residential short-term rentals are not eligible. Awards are issued as reimbursements, requiring applicants to pay eligible expenses upfront and then submit receipts or proof of payment for review and approval.

The Food and Fiber Processing Grant Program, administered by the Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF) on behalf of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, supports the scaling of existing and new products produced and harvested in New York State. Funding is available for the construction and renovation of facilities, as well as the purchase and installation of equipment. Priority will be given to projects that expand processing for fruits, vegetables, grains and beans for human consumption; plant and animal fibers. Eligible applicants may apply for awards ranging from $250,000 to $2.5 million. Of the $8.5 million available, $1 million is reserved for projects that use plant and animal fiber. Processed products developed through the grant must contain a minimum of 51% raw agricultural ingredients grown or raised in New York State.

The Warrior Rising Business Showers awards non-dilutive grants ranging from $2,000 to $150,000 to veteran, military spouse, and immediate family entrepreneurs through invitation-only pitch competitions held in cities across the country (past events have taken place in Cedar Rapids, Washington D.C., and Salt Lake City). Administered by Warrior Rising, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting veteran entrepreneurship, Business Showers are the organization's flagship pitch events where top finalists compete for real capital with no equity requirements or other strings attached. Eligibility to compete is earned by completing Warrior University, Warrior Rising's advanced entrepreneurship education cohort for veteran and military spouse founders with early-stage startups. Warrior University is a fully virtual program offered quarterly over two evenings, hosted in partnership with flagship educational institutions, and delivers expert-led instruction in strategy, business model design, customer discovery, competitive analysis, and go-to-market planning. Graduates who earn a certificate of completion may then apply to compete at a Business Shower, with only the most competitive graduates selected. Selected finalists receive covered flights and hotel accommodations, individualized pitch coaching leading up to the event, live access to investors and decision-makers, and long-term partner introductions. Together, Warrior University and Business Showers form a pathway that combines advanced training with the opportunity to earn meaningful startup funding.

The Building Energy Efficiency (BEE) Grant Program provides Portland small businesses and small commercial building owners with grants of up to $200,000 to fund energy efficient upgrades that reduce energy usage and cost, create health benefits, and increase business resilience. Administered by Prosper Portland and funded through a five-year partnership with the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), the program serves both commercial property owners and small business tenants whose buildings or leased spaces are located within Portland city limits and are 40,000 square feet or smaller. Commercial property owners can receive up to $200,000 (with a 25 percent owner match) to fund building-wide improvements such as insulation and building envelope upgrades, lighting, HVAC equipment, building-wide controls, and solar electric systems with battery storage. Small business tenants can receive up to $100,000 with no required match to fund energy efficient appliance and equipment upgrades such as refrigeration equipment, washers and dryers, manufacturing equipment, and food service equipment like stoves, ranges, and hoods. All funded projects must generate at least 20 percent energy savings, and the program prioritizes investment in high energy use sectors with strong savings opportunities, including food service, food sales, small manufacturing, lodging, and laundromats. To qualify, small business applicants must have a current City of Portland and Oregon State business registration, employ 50 or fewer employees, and meet at least one social vulnerability or sector-based criterion (such as displacement by urban renewal, limited access to capital, being a first-generation college graduate, location in a low income census tract, or operating in one of the high-energy-use sectors above). Nonprofits, home-based businesses, mobile businesses (including food carts and trucks), and any building or leased space larger than 40,000 square feet are not eligible.

The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund provides U.S. military veterans in the beginning years of farming or ranching with small grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to help launch and grow their agricultural businesses. Administered by the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC), a national nonprofit that supports veteran-owned farm and ranch businesses, the program has awarded nearly $4 million to more than 930 veterans since 2011. The program is powered in part by Wounded Warrior Project and receives additional support from Kubota (whose "Geared To Give" equipment program is integrated into the same application), the Tractor Supply Co. Foundation, Farm Credit, AgWest, and the SBA. Rather than disbursing cash directly to recipients, the Fellowship Fund pays approved third-party vendors on the recipient's behalf for specific items the veteran identifies as crucial to the launch of their farm business. Recipients have six months from award notification to use their grant. Common purchases funded through the program include all-terrain vehicles, beekeeping equipment, breeding livestock, bulk feed, fencing, storage freezers, tractor implements, walk-behind tractors, and scholarships. To qualify, applicants must be a member of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, have served or currently be serving in any branch of the United States military, have received an Honorable characterization of service upon discharge (other characterizations are considered on a case-by-case basis), operate an agricultural business with a formal business plan, and be willing to fully participate in the Fellowship Program (which includes periodic progress reports, mentoring other farmer veterans, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the farmer veteran community). Currently serving service members must provide a letter of support from their commanding officer attesting to their characterization of service. The Fellowship is designed to support for-profit agricultural businesses; nonprofit entities are not eligible. Previous Fellowship recipients may only reapply if they were previously awarded $1,000 or less. The application opens once per year and consists of short answer and essay questions across five focus areas: military service, educational background, prior farming experience, business and financial planning, and short-term and long-term goals. Applicants are evaluated on farm training and transferable skills, personal investment in their farm business, the strength of their funding request and demonstrated ability to grow the business through the award, vision and goals for the future, and community involvement.