Washington Small Business Assistance Grants

The Lifting Up Small Businesses in Lubbock Grant provides Lubbock, Texas small businesses with $5,000 grants, with 25 businesses selected to receive funding per cycle. Administered through a partnership between Optimum Business and the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, the program is designed to directly support local small businesses, strengthen the Lubbock business community, and foster broader economic growth across the city. Beyond the cash grant, grant recipients who are not current Lubbock Chamber of Commerce members receive a free one-year chamber membership (with the option to renew), while non-selected applicants receive a free six-month chamber membership. As part of the application, business owners must describe how the grant funding would help their business expand while also making a positive impact on the community where they operate. To qualify, applicants must operate a business with a brick-and-mortar location in Lubbock within one of the following eligible zip codes (79401, 79403, 79404, 79407, 79409, 79410, 79411, 79412, 79413, 79414, 79415, 79416, 79423, or 79424), employ 25 or fewer full-time employees, and be willing to participate in promotional materials for the grant program. Lubbock Chamber of Commerce membership and Optimum Business customer status are not considered in the evaluation.

The Kenneth B. and Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Business Grant provides U.S. military veterans and military spouses running employer-based small businesses with a $1,000 flexible micro-grant plus free access to one of two signature Founders First business programs, with 25 finalists selected per cycle from a $25,000 total fund. Administered by Founders First CDC, a community development corporation that funds and coaches underestimated entrepreneurs, the grant was created in honor of U.S. Navy veteran Stephen L. Tadlock, brother of Founders First CEO Kim Folsom. The program is designed to combine funding with structured training to help veteran-owned and military spouse-owned small businesses grow stronger, more sustainable companies. The $1,000 micro-grant can be applied flexibly to the needs that matter most to the business, including equipment, operations, staffing, or growth. In addition to the funding, each finalist chooses a single business program to join at no cost (participants pick one program and cannot enroll in both). Passport Community offers weekly expert-led sessions covering marketing, sales, operations, and finance, designed to help founders scale faster and smarter (a $1,499 value for a three-month subscription). Zebra Leadership is a six-session program that equips founders to step fully into the CEO role, build strong teams, and scale with confidence (a $1,699 value). To qualify, applicants must be a U.S. military veteran or military spouse serving as the CEO, President, or Business Owner of an active U.S.-based business that has been in operation for at least one year, generates no more than $5 million in annual revenue, and employs between 2 and 100 people. The application process includes a pre-registration period followed by a full application window, with semifinalists announced shortly after the application closes and finalists announced at a virtual press event.

The FCHI program provides financial incentives to Philadelphia employers who hire local residents returning from incarceration within the last seven years. Eligible employers who hire qualifying employees can receive a $6 per hour wage reimbursement for compensable hours worked up to 960 hours within 180 days of employment and a one-time $500 employment retention grant for each FCHI employee who completes the new hire period.

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.

The Nebraska Innovation Fund (NIF) Prototype Grant is a grant-matching program that provides up to $150,000 to support early-stage product development. Eligible businesses include Nebraska-based companies engaged in non-retail industries with fewer than 500 employees. Grant winners can use the funds for costs related to developing products, such as wages, prototype materials, and equipment.