Veteran & Military Spouse
Business Accelerator

Every month, we select a business owner in the US as a Freed Fellow. Each Fellow receives a $500 grant to invest in their existing business. No strings attached. No equity required. Everyone who submits a feedback request also receives two months free inside Freed Studio—our virtual community designed to help you grow your email list and turn subscribers into sales. Freed Fellows are also eligible to receive an additional end-of-year grant of $2,500.

The Bend Small Business Assistance Grant Program provides Bend, Oregon small businesses with grants to strengthen operations, invest in employees, improve services, adapt to changing conditions, and invest in climate-smart projects. Administered by the City of Bend's Economic Development Department, the current program cycle offers a total of $130,000 to be distributed among qualifying businesses, allocated across two tracks: $100,000 for economic development projects and $30,000 for climate and sustainability projects. Individual grant amounts are determined based on project scope, funding requests, and available program funds. Eligible projects fall across six broad categories: Business Growth and Customer Engagement (such as website updates, online sales tools, marketing and outreach, customer service enhancements, and multilingual communication materials), Employee Development (workforce training, professional certifications, leadership development, and employee retention tools), Operations and Technology (technology upgrades, cybersecurity improvements, financial system improvements, business planning and consulting, and HR or compliance support), Business Resilience (business continuity planning, risk reduction projects, supply chain improvements, and economic or environmental preparedness), Planning and Innovation (market research, feasibility studies, strategic planning, and product or service testing), and Climate and Sustainability Projects (energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy planning, waste reduction initiatives, transportation improvements, and environmental tracking and reporting tools). Eligible uses of grant funds include professional services and consultants, employee time dedicated to the project, equipment, tools, and technology, training and certifications, marketing and communications, translation services, project supplies, technical studies and assessments, and environmental planning and support services. To qualify, businesses must be registered in Oregon, hold a current City of Bend business registration, employ 50 or fewer people, operate within the City of Bend, and propose a project that benefits business operations in Bend and supports program goals. Applications are reviewed by City staff for eligibility and completeness, then evaluated by either the Bend Economic Development Advisory Board (for economic development projects) or the Environment and Climate Committee (for climate and sustainability projects). Staff develop funding recommendations, and the City Manager makes final award decisions. Applications are scored across five categories: Project Impact (42 points), Business Capacity and Readiness (12 points), Feasibility (12 points), Alignment with Program Goals (12 points), and Equity and Accessibility (12 points), for a total of 100 possible points. Grant recipients are required to provide project updates every six months for two years following award. Businesses applying for climate-related projects are encouraged to first explore incentives available through utility and energy-efficiency programs (including Energy Trust of Oregon and Central Electric Cooperative) and explain in the application how those opportunities were considered before requesting grant funding.

The Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program provides additional resources for small businesses whose proven business models and technologies are helping accelerate innovation in the state. Small businesses who have an active Phase I or Phase II Federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant are eligible for non-dilutive funding from the Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program. This unique grant program provides support for recipients who do not need to exchange shares of their company for the grant. These businesses have proven through scientific review that their technologies are viable, valuable and scalable.

The Commissioner Yvette Colbourne's Small Business and Nonprofit Grant provides Miramar, Florida small businesses and nonprofit organizations with up to $5,000 in grant funding to support capacity building, strengthen operations, and stimulate increased business activity. Administered by the City of Miramar's Economic Development and Housing Department and named for Commissioner Yvette Colbourne, the program serves both Mom and Pop small businesses (independently owned and operated with ten or fewer employees) and nonprofit organizations operating under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code. Grant funds may be used for the purchase of machinery and equipment, professional services such as legal, accounting, and marketing, supplies and inventory, technology infrastructure and system upgrades, commercial lease rental deposits, salaries, and other miscellaneous business expenses. To qualify, applicants must operate within the City of Miramar (either at a commercial location or home-based), have been in operation for at least one year, possess a City of Miramar Business Tax Receipt (and Broward County, if applicable), maintain an active Sunbiz registration showing the current business name, and be current on property taxes if a property owner. All organizations applying for funding are required to attend a grant workshop to review program requirements, and recipients may be asked to provide proof that funds were used for the purposes stated in their application.

The Cultural STAR Program provides grants and loans to Saint Paul cultural projects and organizations. Most projects are located in the Saint Paul Cultural District (bordered by I-94 to the north, the Lafayette Bridge to the east, the Mississippi River to the south, and Chestnut Road to the west). Cultural STAR grows Saint Paul's economy by strengthening the arts and cultural sector and supporting downtown as a vital cultural center.