South Bend Vibrant Places Grant

The El Monte Small Business Grant Program offers grants of up to $10,000 with the goal of helping eligible local businesses strengthen their operations, invest in growth and continue serving the community. Eligible businesses are required to be in El Monte, have been operating for at least six months and be in good standing with the city. Funding will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis, and previous grant recipients are not eligible to apply again.

The intent of this program is to assist companies with large-scale capital investment projects that commit to significant job creation for Illinois residents as they relocate or expand operations within Illinois. Business Attraction Prime Sites grants can encompass a wide range of economic development projects and may include infrastructure and capital equipment purchases that will result in job creation in the state of Illinois.

The BBB Breakthrough Accelerator provides emerging small business owners with a 12-week accelerator program valued at over $5,000, culminating in a microgrant (typically $1,000 to $1,500) awarded to every graduate at the end of the program. Administered by the BBB Foundation for Education and Entrepreneurial Leadership (FEEL), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliated with the Better Business Bureau, the accelerator is delivered in person at BBB campuses across the country, including Cromwell (CT), Fresno (CA), Phoenix and Prescott (AZ), Richmond (VA), and San Diego (CA). The program equips small business owners with the strategies, mentorship, and tools needed to grow with intention, resilience, and integrity, with particular focus on those building without consistent access to traditional resources or support systems. Participants pay a $99 program and materials fee to attend, and the curriculum covers core business topics including branding and digital presence, financial and legal foundations, sales, marketing, AI strategies, operations and leadership, and entrepreneurial resilience. To qualify, applicants must be actively running a registered, revenue-generating business with at least six months of operation, be early in their growth journey, and be ready to strengthen operations and scale with intention. In addition to the microgrant and educational programming, graduates receive one-on-one mentorship and strategy calls, on-site childcare during sessions, complimentary professional headshots, business tools to strengthen their online presence, curated networking with industry leaders and peers, and (at the San Diego location only) six months of coworking, podcast studio, and meeting room access.

The Opportunity Council Districts Program, an incentive-based initiative focused on encouraging growth in retail-stagnant areas within City Council Districts 3 and 5. The program will provide funding for property improvements to help businesses expand and attract new investment in Athenas, Alabama. Eligible small businesses can apply for incentive awards of up to $20,000 for one-time, permanent upgrades. The funding is split evenly, with $100,000 allocated to each district.

The Graduated Lab Space Incentive Program supports Delaware companies that need more lab space to operate and innovate. Businesses can apply for a grant that covers up to one-third of the fit-out or building costs for a new lab space; the maximum grant amount is $70 per square foot for up to 50,000 square feet.