Utica Small Business Grant

Underrepresented communities continue to fuel entrepreneurship nationwide, with historically excluded founders driving innovation and economic growth. Despite this momentum, systemic barriers still prevent many from accessing the funding they need to scale. That is why we are excited to announce the return of the Dream Makers Founder Grant in 2025! This $1 million grant fund, established by Nancy Twine, is dedicated to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs and elevating the talents and innovations of historically excluded founders. As part of this multi-year commitment, the Pledge will award $125,000 annually, distributing five $25,000 grants each year to outstanding business owners.

DHCD provides funding to highly qualified community-based non-profit organizations to develop storefront façade improvement projects in low/moderate income retail/commercial areas in the District of Columbia. Typically, a project is comprised of between ten and twenty-five, preferably concentrated within a few blocks, storefronts selected by the participating non-profit. Qualified business and/or commercial property owners within the targeted area receive matching grants for general repairs/maintenance and for the installation of doors, windows, signs, storefront systems, awnings, and lighting. The non-profit organization provides the business and/or property owners with professional design and construction services throughout the storefront renovation.

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 Signage Improvement Program is a grant available to developers, business, and commercial building owners in Oxford, AL that wish to improve their signage. The program is divided into two types of funding for either a “brick and mortar” business or a mobile unit. The “brick and mortar” fund has a total pool of $7,000 and the mobile unit has a total pool of $3,000. The program is a 70/30 grant that may not exceed the amount of $1,000 per address, per year for the “brick and mortar” category and mobile units may not exceed the amount of $500 per unit, per year for the “mobile unit” category. Applicants may not apply for both, but only one category.

The Main Street Revitalization Program is designed to encourage economic vitality and growth of a business district within Long Island. This program offers financial incentive awards for customers undertaking renovation or expansion projects to startup or grow their business. Applicants may qualify for maximum award ranging from $5000 to $100,000 based on construction investment.