SCRA Academic Startup Grant

The South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) Member Companies may apply for a variety of non-dilutive grants, each with its own eligibility and review criteria. The objective of a Small Business Demonstration Grant is to provide a valuable solution to a corporate partner and a significant growth opportunity for a small business by developing a new product, distribution channel, customer, market, etc. The grant is intended to offer a bridge for the small business to its next inflection point in development, while also supporting a monetary and/or in-kind match by a corporate partner into a project with the small business. Demonstration Grants are limited typically to $50,000 with rare exceptions.

Small business owners in San Francisco can apply for a grant to enhance accessibility in their establishments. The grant can cover expenses like accessible equipment, construction to remove ADA barriers, CASP inspections, design services, and relevant permit fees, with a maximum grant amount of $10,000. Eligible businesses must be registered in San Francisco, have less than $2.5 million in gross revenue for a single location, and employ an average of 100 or fewer employees. The application process is fast, and applicants can expect a response within 15 days of submission. Upon approval, they will need to provide proof of payment and photos showcasing accessibility improvements.

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 Illinois Grocery Rescue Program provides Illinois-based businesses and organizations with reimbursement grants of $100,000 to $1,500,000 to reopen recently closed grocery stores in areas with low access to fresh food. Administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) as part of the broader Illinois Grocery Initiative (authorized by Public Act 103-0561), the program has approximately $4.5 million in total funding available per cycle and anticipates 3 to 5 awards per round. The goal of the program is to prevent grocery closures from leading to long-term reductions in fresh food access, encourage economic stability and growth, and prevent existing grocery-suitable buildings from falling into disrepair. To qualify, projects must reestablish a grocery store at a specific location that experienced a grocery store closure within the 12 months prior to application, and the location must meet several geographic and community criteria: the census tract must be classified as a low-access tract for fresh food (rural tracts where at least 33 percent of the population or at least 500 residents live more than 10 miles from the nearest grocery store, or urban tracts where the same thresholds apply within half a mile), the census tract must have a median family income less than $116,620 (110 percent of the state median), and the store must be classified as a supermarket or grocery retailer under NAICS code 445110. The store cannot derive more than 30 percent of its revenue from alcohol and tobacco sales, must sell fresh foods such as unprocessed meats, fruits, and vegetables, and must prepare to accept both SNAP and WIC benefits. Property or business owners who were involved in the recent store closure are not eligible. Eligible applicant types include for-profit corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited liability companies, all limited partnerships, agricultural cooperatives, local government entities, sole proprietors, and special act corporations. Grant funds can be used for acquisition, repair, and refurbishment of real property and durable equipment at the former grocery store location, purchase of energy-efficient HVAC, refrigeration, and lighting equipment, and store operations for the period prior to reopening and the first 12 months of operations. Eligible operational costs include employee wages, utilities, initial food inventory, and point-of-sale systems that accommodate SNAP and WIC transactions. Grant funds cannot be used to purchase equipment, supplies, or inventory unrelated to the provision of food (such as lottery equipment or non-food initial inventory). Applicants must provide a 25 percent match of total project costs (representing a 1:3 match), which may come from any non-state sources such as local municipal funds, federal funds, or private investment. In-kind contributions and expenditures incurred prior to receipt of the Notice of State Award cannot count toward the match. The program operates on a reimbursement basis, with grantees submitting paid invoices for approved expenditures, though DCEO may allow an advance of up to two months' worth of expenditures on a case-by-case basis. Applications are scored competitively across three main categories: Need, Capacity, and Quality. Grantees must continue grocery operations at the project location for at least three years following project completion, and DCEO may claw back grant funds if the store closes before that time.

The Cybersecurity Adoption Program (CAP) is designed to support Connecticut manufacturing companies seeking Cyber Security assessments and CMMC Certification. The goal is to help companies striving to meet federal cybersecurity requirements. Up to $10K can used for a Cyber Assessment with the balance allocated to remediation. Eligible companies can apply for grant funding up to $35,000 in total to assist with cyber security assessments and CMMC adoption. Participating companies must pay half the cost. The program is administered by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology with funding provided through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development's Manufacturing Innovation Fund.