Tucson Ready, Steady, Open Grant

The Reimagine Oregon Economic Opportunity Investment Fund Grant provides Portland based for-profit businesses, nonprofits, and social service organizations with flexible grant funding ranging from $5,000 to $300,000 for standard projects, or $50,000 to $700,000 for large-scale anchor projects. Administered by Prosper Portland and funded through Recreational Cannabis Tax revenue, the program is focused on supporting economic and business development for communities disproportionately impacted by the historical prohibition of cannabis. Funding is awarded through two tracks. Track 1 supports for-profit businesses with grants designed to strengthen and grow existing operations, scale new businesses, and promote entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic growth across Portland. Track 2 supports nonprofit organizations and those operating under a fiscal sponsor with grants focused on building community wealth, promoting economic empowerment, and supporting social enterprises. Each track includes both standard grants and anchor project grants, with anchor projects supporting larger initiatives that act as catalysts for economic growth and community development. Eligible uses of funds are intentionally broad and include strategic investment capital, infrastructure development, business incubators and innovation centers, community-owned business support, job creation and training programs, mixed-use community hubs, employment opportunities, housing development, and property acquisition. To qualify, applicants must be located within the City of Portland, fit one of the eligible organization types (for-profit, nonprofit, or social service org with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor), and demonstrate how their proposal relates to and benefits communities disproportionately affected by cannabis prohibition. Direct political advocacy, personal use, and prior Reimagine Oregon grant recipients are not eligible.

The Women’s Business Development Council is offering grants of up to $2,500 to qualified start-up businesses The WBDC Launch Pad Grant Program offers newly established businesses the opportunity to receive a $2,500 grant to put toward start-up costs. The grant funds cannot be used towards payroll/to pay yourself, real estate improvements (e.g. construction costs), reimbursement for past purchases or debt repayment.

The Invest Atlanta Small Business Improvement Grant provides Atlanta small businesses and commercial property owners with grants of up to $50,000 to fund interior and exterior improvements to their commercial property. Administered by Invest Atlanta, the program is funded through Tax Allocation District (TAD) revenue and is geographically targeted to seven specific Atlanta TADs: Campbellton Road, Hollowell-ML King, Metropolitan Parkway, Perry Bolton, Eastside, Westside, and Stadium Neighborhoods. Funded improvements typically include building repairs, infrastructure upgrades, interior renovations, accessibility enhancements, signage, lighting, painting, and other capital improvements that strengthen long-term business sustainability. To qualify, the property or business must be located within one of the seven eligible TADs, the project must be less than 15,000 square feet, and a minimum of 25% of grant funds must be used for exterior improvements. Funding priority is given to locally owned businesses that support job creation, neighborhood revitalization, and equitable economic development. Applicants are encouraged to first contact Invest Atlanta to confirm property eligibility before being granted access to the formal application.

The Portland Vacant Storefront Grant Program provides Portland grocery stores, restaurants, and retailers with matching reimbursement grants of up to $100,000 (reimbursing up to 75 percent of eligible project costs) to occupy vacant street-level storefronts within the City of Portland. Administered by Prosper Portland, the city's economic development agency, the program is funded through $800,000 in one-time general fund resources and is designed to foster a vibrant central city and commercial districts by reducing the barrier to entry for eligible businesses seeking to move into vacant commercial space. Applications are accepted on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. Maximum grant award amounts vary by business category. Grocery stores that occupy more than 5,000 rentable square feet and provide household products, packaged foods, bulk foods, produce, or meat for home consumption are eligible for up to $100,000. Restaurants are eligible for up to $50,000. Retailers, including grocery stores of 5,000 square feet or less, are eligible for up to $25,000. Awards provided under this program count toward the maximum awards available through Prosper Portland's Prosperity Investment Program (PIP) grant, so businesses that have already received the maximum PIP grant within the last five years are ineligible for this program. Grant funds may be used for both hard costs and soft costs. Eligible hard costs include signage, painting, lighting, storefront work, mechanical systems, tenant improvements, roofs, security, landscaping, and other permanent fixtures. Eligible soft costs (capped at 20 percent of the total grant) include design, architectural and engineering services, permitting fees, and third-party project management. Ineligible expenses include costs incurred before grant agreement execution, inventory purchases or replacement, non-permanent fixtures and furnishings, equipment purchases, real property purchases, and operating expenses such as owner or employee wages, marketing, and rent. To qualify, business owner applicants must own a grocery store, restaurant, or retail business located in the City of Portland, have secured a lease with at least three years remaining to occupy a vacant street-level storefront in a property zoned for commercial, mixed-use, employment, industrial, or multi-dwelling use, hold a City of Portland business license and State of Oregon registry, and be current on all financial obligations related to the property (including taxes, debt payments, and any obligations to Prosper Portland). Franchises or businesses with three or more locations regardless of location must be locally owned, with the owner residing in Portland. Property owners are also eligible if they are leasing to an eligible business owner. Nonprofits, national franchises that are not locally owned, businesses that exclude minors during all business hours, businesses that sell THC products, e-commerce businesses without a storefront, and food carts or food trucks are not eligible.

The Global Citizen and PayPal Small Business Impact Awards provide small and medium-sized business owners around the world with $20,000 cash prizes, along with data and insights, technical training, and marketing and brand activations to accelerate their work. Administered through a partnership between Global Citizen, a global advocacy and citizenship platform, and PayPal, the awards recognize creative business leaders who have developed innovative products and services that drive measurable social or environmental impact in their communities. Multiple winners are selected each year (five winners were honored in 2025). To be eligible, applicants must be the owner, founder, or CEO who plays a crucial role in the business, operate a small-to-medium-sized business with fewer than 50 full-time employees or annual revenue under $1 million (subject to local regulations and standards), maintain an online presence that allows customers to buy their product, have between 1 and 5 years of demonstrated impact in their community, and live and work in one of four eligible regions: North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, or Latin America. Demonstrated community impact may include supporting local causes, charities, or nonprofits, engaging in community development projects or partnerships, implementing sustainable practices that benefit the local environment or economy, or creating jobs or educational opportunities for community members. Franchises and businesses that are part of national or international chains are not eligible, and businesses affiliated with organizations subject to U.S. financial sanctions cannot receive awards. The application consists of four parts: basic information about the applicant and their business, a 1 to 2 minute pitch video explaining why they deserve the award, four short-answer questions describing how the work aligns with the judging criteria, and supplemental organizational details if requested. Applications are evaluated on three core criteria: Innovation (how the business's innovation supports its mission and creates positive societal or environmental impact), Vision (a compelling vision and concrete plans for expanding the work over the next 3 to 5 years), and Impact (a demonstrated track record of measurable impact advancing one or more of the United Nations' Global Goals). Up to 50 finalists are selected for additional review and asked to submit three letters of recommendation before final winners are chosen.