Raleigh Facade Grant

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 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to implement a capital grant program to support reproductive health care facilities in Illinois that are experiencing increased demand for their services. Following the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade in 2022, Illinois clinics have seen an influx of out-of-state patients, resulting in limited capacity and stress to reproductive health care service providers. To address the need to maintain and expand access to care, the Illinois Reproductive Health Facilities Capital Grant Program will help abortion providers in Illinois address their needs for capital investment. Grant funds may be used to invest in facility construction or durable equipment.

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 Hey Helen Grant is a privately funded initiative by Visionaries that invests in women entrepreneurs building impact-driven, for-profit businesses in the U.S. Each grant cycle, one founder will receive a $10,000 unrestricted cash award — designed to fuel whatever moves your business forward, whether that’s operations, growth, marketing, hiring, or infrastructure. Grant cycles close at the end of April, August, and December. This grant is open to businesses that are 100% women-owned, generate less than $1M in annual revenue, and are legally registered in the United States. Nonbinary applicants assigned female at birth or who feel aligned with the intent of the grant are also welcome to apply. If you’re building something with purpose, grit, and integrity — and just need a little extra backing to take the next leap — you’re in the right place.

The Batavia Microenterprise Assistance Program (MAP) provides Batavia, New York microenterprises with grants ranging from $5,000 to $35,000 to support the creation or expansion of small businesses with five or fewer employees. Administered by the Batavia Development Corporation (BDC) on behalf of the City of Batavia and funded through New York State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars, the program is designed to help small business owners invest in their operations while creating employment opportunities for low-to-moderate income individuals in the city. Grant funds may be used for machinery, equipment, furnishings, fixtures, inventory, operating costs, and other working capital expenses, but cannot be used for construction, renovations, leasehold improvements, or demolition. Eligible applicants must operate or plan to operate within the City of Batavia, have five or fewer employees (including the owner), and may be structured as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC, or other legal business form. Because the program is funded with federal CDBG dollars, all grants must meet a national objective: applicants must either be owned by a low-to-moderate income individual or create at least one full-time-equivalent job available to low-to-moderate income persons. Additional program requirements include a 10% equity contribution by the business, completion of an entrepreneurial training course through Brockport SBDC or Niagara SBDC before receiving funds, submission of a complete business plan, and a commitment to continue operating in Batavia for at least 12 months following grant closing. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible.