The Detroit Legacy Business Project

The HerRise MicroGrant offers financial support to innovative women who struggle to secure funding for their community-impacting small businesses

The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund provides U.S. military veterans in the beginning years of farming or ranching with small grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to help launch and grow their agricultural businesses. Administered by the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC), a national nonprofit that supports veteran-owned farm and ranch businesses, the program has awarded nearly $4 million to more than 930 veterans since 2011. The program is powered in part by Wounded Warrior Project and receives additional support from Kubota (whose "Geared To Give" equipment program is integrated into the same application), the Tractor Supply Co. Foundation, Farm Credit, AgWest, and the SBA. Rather than disbursing cash directly to recipients, the Fellowship Fund pays approved third-party vendors on the recipient's behalf for specific items the veteran identifies as crucial to the launch of their farm business. Recipients have six months from award notification to use their grant. Common purchases funded through the program include all-terrain vehicles, beekeeping equipment, breeding livestock, bulk feed, fencing, storage freezers, tractor implements, walk-behind tractors, and scholarships. To qualify, applicants must be a member of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, have served or currently be serving in any branch of the United States military, have received an Honorable characterization of service upon discharge (other characterizations are considered on a case-by-case basis), operate an agricultural business with a formal business plan, and be willing to fully participate in the Fellowship Program (which includes periodic progress reports, mentoring other farmer veterans, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the farmer veteran community). Currently serving service members must provide a letter of support from their commanding officer attesting to their characterization of service. The Fellowship is designed to support for-profit agricultural businesses; nonprofit entities are not eligible. Previous Fellowship recipients may only reapply if they were previously awarded $1,000 or less. The application opens once per year and consists of short answer and essay questions across five focus areas: military service, educational background, prior farming experience, business and financial planning, and short-term and long-term goals. Applicants are evaluated on farm training and transferable skills, personal investment in their farm business, the strength of their funding request and demonstrated ability to grow the business through the award, vision and goals for the future, and community involvement.

Attracting workers to North Dakota is essential in helping to meet the state’s current and future workforce needs. Internships provide a valuable way for students to make connections with businesses and identify career options in North Dakota. Operation Intern is designed to expand the number of internships, work experience and apprenticeship positions with North Dakota employers. The program’s primary focus is employers in the state’s targeted industries: energy, advanced manufacturing, value-added agriculture, tourism and technology-based businesses, and autonomous systems. North Dakota businesses receive up to $5,000 in matching funds for the internships/apprenticeships. Funding can be used for items needed for the intern/apprentice to perform their internships, like wages, tools and equipment, essential training or tuition reimbursement. The funding is a one-to-one match.

CanGrow farmer training and farmer loan financing grants will help eligible organizations provide educational resources, guidance, and low-interest loans for farmers who want to be part of the legal cannabis industry. While grants will be awarded to eligible organizations, Minnesota farmers will ultimately benefit by expert mentorship, compliance training, business planning resources, and low-interest loans. Grant awards for technical assistance in the second round of funding are expected to range from $10,000 to $100,000 per project. Grant awards for loan financing are expected to range from $200,000 to $500,000 per eligible organization (individual farmer loans will range from $2,500 to $50,000 or up to $150,000 for projects with matching funds). OCM intends to fund investments in eligible communities throughout the state. This is a competitive grant program.

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 the Acceleration Grant is to provide early-stage funding to startups to accelerate a company’s technology and/or business model to the next level of maturity and market readiness. Acceleration Grants provide funding up to $50,000.