Perry Business Support Grant

Employee retention is one of the biggest challenges for small businesses today. Larimer County’s LIGHTR Grant may it easier to keep your staff engaged by funding their professional development. Apply for up to $3,000 in grand funding per business, to: Fill skill gaps in your current workforce. Upskill staff to move into key leadership positions. Cover the costs of industry-recognized certifications. This partnership between Larimer County and the City of Fort Collins is designed specifically for small businesses (2-50 employees).

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) along with other participating Institutes encourages submission of applications proposing to conduct secondary data analysis and integration of existing datasets and database resources, with the ultimate aim to elucidate cancer risk and related outcomes (e.g., risk prediction or reduction, survival, or response to treatment, etc.). The goal of this initiative is to address key scientific questions relevant to cancer by supporting the analysis of existing clinical, environmental, surveillance, health services, vital statistics, behavioral, lifestyle, genomic, and molecular profiles data. Applicants are encouraged to leverage and perform innovative analyses of the existing data. Applications may include new research aims that are being addressed with existing data, new or advanced methods of analyses, or novel combinations and integration of datasets that allow the exploration of important scientific questions in cancer research.

The Philadelphia Boost Your Business Program provides selected Philadelphia small businesses with a $50,000 forgivable loan to help them grow, obtain new City contracts, increase revenue, and create jobs. Twenty businesses are selected per funding round. While structured as a loan rather than a direct grant, the loan is forgiven once the business meets its stated growth goals, effectively functioning as a grant for qualifying businesses. Administered by the City of Philadelphia's Department of Commerce in partnership with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), the program is specifically designed to support business owners who face unique barriers in accessing critical funding and resources to help their businesses grow. In addition to the funding, selected businesses receive ongoing business support assistance throughout the loan period to help them execute their growth plan and meet the forgiveness milestones. Businesses seeking City contracts are strongly encouraged to apply. To qualify, applicants must be located in Philadelphia, have annual revenue of $350,000 or more, be in operation for at least two years, hold an active Philadelphia Commercial Activity License (CAL), be independently owned (franchises are eligible only if independently owned), and have all required federal, state, and local licenses and permits to legally operate. Businesses must also be in compliance with all local, state, and federal taxes (or be on an approved payment plan). Applicants are required to submit a clear budget and growth plan showing how the funding will lead to increased contracts, revenue, or employees, and each application is evaluated based on the impact and feasibility of that growth plan.

The InStore Forgivable Loan Program provides Philadelphia retail, food, and selected personal service businesses with forgivable loans of $50,000 to $100,000 to purchase equipment and make interior improvements to their commercial space. Administered by the City of Philadelphia's Department of Commerce and expanded in 2022 with funding from the Neighborhood Preservation Initiative, the program is designed to boost economic development on historically underserved commercial corridors. No payment or interest is collected on the loan for five years, and the full loan is forgiven at the end of that period as long as the business remains open and operating at the same location, effectively functioning as a grant for qualifying businesses. To apply, businesses must be located in a low-to-moderate income community on an eligible commercial corridor, registered and licensed with the city, and current on city business taxes. A limited number of projects are approved each year, with priority given to businesses that provide affordable goods and services to the community and increase activity in commercial corridors that have historically received limited private investment.

The Elevate Vernon Grant provides Vernon County, Wisconsin small businesses and entrepreneurs with up to $10,000 in funding to help start, grow, strengthen, or transition their operations. Administered by Vernon County's Community Development Department and originally launched as a pilot through a $150,000 award from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation's (WEDC) Small Business Development Grant Program, the program supports local business growth through both financial support and optional technical assistance for business skill development. Funds may be used for marketing, improvements to physical spaces, equipment and technology acquisition or upgrades, working capital (for new businesses only), and diversification and resilience projects. Awards are competitive and recipients must provide at least a 20% match or invest up to 20 hours in business skills enhancement.