RI Invention Incentive Program

The Women’s Business Development Council offers grants of up to $10,000 to qualified women-owned small businesses in Connecticut. Ignite is designed to help women-owned businesses grow! Grants between $2,500 and $10,000 will be awarded for clearly defined projects that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth and profitability. The grant funds cannot be used towards operating expenses (e.g. inventory, marketing expenses, salaries), real estate improvements (e.g. construction costs), reimbursement for past purchases or debt repayment. Applicants are required to have invested at least $2,500 into their business in the last 12 months, unless located in a distressed municipality.

The Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation (CCSA) program is helping to revitalize 12 South and West Side business corridors through targeted improvements to underutilized and vacant commercial spaces. Led by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD), the $30.5 million program is offering grants that fund up to 75% of eligible project costs for qualifying small businesses and property owners. In addition to funding for storefront improvements, each corridor has a partner agency and technical service providers to assist with business-related tasks such as marketing, accounting and business planning, as well as project-specific tasks that include design and permitting.

The Downtown Business Fund, launched in April 2026, provides move-in grants, access to loans with discounted interest rates, and expert support to businesses along the Powell Street and Moscone Convention Center corridors. Mon-In Grants offer up to $500,000 grants to cover tenant improvements, equipment, working capital, and launch expenses

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.

The State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) is a national SBA program to help small businesses enter or expand into international markets. Funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and administered at the state level, this program provides direct reimbursement for the costs associated with "going global." Most states offer reimbursement grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 per year (though some states offer more) to offset export-related expenses. If your business currently makes any exports, or is looking to start exporting internationally, this is a fantastic program to explore. Please note that while this is a national program, the grants themselves are administered at the state level. The grant page that we have linked to provides a directory of the individual state websites where you can apply. Just click through to your state’s page to find specific details and eligibility criteria for your business.