Vermont Training Program

The Business Assistance Program (BAP) is a matching grant program designed to encourage small businesses to locate, expand or redevelop in the City of Orlando. BAP provides matching funds to new and expanding businesses in the city to assist in off-setting development fees, including sewer and transportation impact fees, building permit fees, and all elements of public right-of-way infrastructure within the city’s jurisdiction that may require new installation, repair, replacement or relocation. Eligible improvements include, but are not limited to, street lighting and fire hydrant installation/relocation, sidewalk repairs; traffic signalization; water and sewer line construction, removal or relocation; curb, gutter, street improvements and landscaping or installation of publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The Economic Development Department administers and monitors the program, as well as determines eligibility of applicants. The program requires eligible business owners to pay 50 percent of the fees assessed against the business, while the program fund pays the remaining 50 percent up to $20,000.

The Big Dreams Grant awards $25,000 in total funding, plus structured business mentorship, to small business owners across the United States. Sponsored by Simply Business — an online insurance platform for small businesses headquartered in Boston — and run in partnership with Sky's the Limit, a nonprofit digital business accelerator that supports early-stage and underrepresented entrepreneurs, the program selects five winners who each receive a $5,000 cash grant and a one-year membership to Sky's the Limit's Launchpad Program, an accelerator and mentorship platform designed to help business owners refine strategy, streamline operations, and drive revenue growth. An additional twenty runners-up each receive a 6-month Launchpad membership. Applicants submit short responses describing what makes their business unique, how they have validated readiness to scale, their plan for financial growth, and how they would use the grant funds and the Launchpad program.

The Athens Downtown Development Authority (ADDA) Business Marketing Grant Program is intended to incentivize economic development by encouraging investment in brand development and online marketing. This grant supports funding for branding strategies; logo design; web design and development; e-commerce; and online/social media marketing optimization. The program will offer a 50% matching grant up to $5,000 for reimbursement. Improvements must contribute to the overall value of downtown business and investments.

The Midland Business Alliance has launched a new grant program to help small businesses in Midland County. Eligible businesses can receive $2,000 to $10,000 which can be spent on technology transformation, business process optimization, and upgrades to financial and marketing systems. To qualify, businesses must be headquartered in Midland County, employ 25 or fewer employees, demonstrate a need for capacity-building assistance and commit to the required cost share.

The Houston Texans Small Business Boost provides selected Greater Houston small businesses with a $5,000 grant along with marketing and promotional support designed to raise the winner's visibility across the city. Created in 2020 as a partnership between the Houston Texans and Amegy Bank, the program recognizes independently owned, for-profit businesses based primarily in the Greater Houston area. In addition to the cash grant, winners receive a feature on HoustonTexans.com (including a dedicated web article and a social media post announcing the win), access to event opportunities through Amegy Bank, and a commemorative plaque presented by the Texans and Amegy. Businesses are nominated for the award, and multiple winners are selected each year.