The Detroit Legacy Business Project

The Start Garden 100 is Michigan's largest open business competition, awarding a total of up to $500,000 in combined grant, loan, and startup capital across 100 finalists and 10 grand prize winners. Administered by Start Garden — a Grand Rapids-based accelerator focused on equitable entrepreneur-driven economic development — the competition is open to anyone in Michigan with a business idea, including aspiring entrepreneurs and existing businesses exploring a new opportunity. Applicants submit a 100-second video pitch to enter, and 100 finalists are selected to each receive a $1,000 no-strings-attached cash grant to begin preparing for the program's Demo Day event in downtown Grand Rapids. At Demo Day, ten grand prize winners are each awarded an additional $20,000 cash grant from Start Garden, and through a partnership with Northern Initiatives — a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that has supported Michigan small businesses for over 30 years — each of those ten winners is also offered an optional pre-approved $20,000 loan, bringing the maximum potential capital per winner to $40,000. While the specific blend of grant, loan, and additional capital partner funding varies depending on each winner's business and chosen pathway, the overall program represents one of the most significant pools of accessible startup funding available in the state. A separate high school category for students under 18 awards $1,000 each to five selected finalists, with an additional $5,000 going to a high school winner chosen on Demo Day. Beyond funding, finalists receive two months of mentorship and refinement support from Start Garden's leadership team and partners, along with visibility through the Demo Day platform and ongoing connections within Michigan's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The Dallas Small Business Assistance Program provides reimbursable grants to Dallas small businesses to help cover the cost of real estate and capital improvements as they grow or move into storefronts and offices within the city. Administered by the City of Dallas Office of Economic Development, the program is structured to incentivize investment in designated Target Areas and projects that create or retain living wage jobs. Maximum award amounts vary by location and job creation commitments: projects outside Target Areas are capped at $100,000, while projects within Target Areas can receive up to $300,000 without a job creation commitment or up to $400,000 with one. Importantly, improvements made before a grant agreement is executed do not count toward the project, so applicants should secure approval before beginning any work.

Innovation Vouchers are used to leverage Indiana’s research and higher education institutions, as well as approved non-profit research organizations to provide small businesses access to industry experts and research leaders. This grant will match your company’s funding for up to $50,000 and can be utilized for product development, simulations, studies, and more – all to help entrepreneurs in the State of Indiana develop innovative products and services. These grants are evaluated three times a year.

The Program supports the growth of very small meat and poultry processors in the Commonwealth. It does this by offering grants. The grants cover costs associated with opening a new processing operation or the expansion of a current operation. The grants can also be used to cover the costs of getting a USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) inspection. Grants are limited to no more than $100,000 per applicant.

The Alamo Small Business Grant Program is available to businesses located in the city of Alamo. It provides 50% reimbursement, up to $2,500, for projects such as storefront improvements, signage, repairs, renovations and equipment purchases. For a business to qualify for the Alamo Small Business Grant, it must have been in operation for a minimum of 24 consecutive months. Also, the business owner must have a yearly lease. In addition to completing an application, owners will need to describe their business, their project and the project budget. Tax returns for the past two years and documented leases from the business's landlord agreeing to the project are also required.