Waukesha Storefront and Facade Grant

The Alachua County Small Grant Initiative (SGI) provides Alachua County, Florida nonprofit grassroots organizations and emerging small businesses with grants of up to $5,000 to fund one-time capacity-building or infrastructure improvement projects that serve residents living at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Administered by the Alachua County Commission, the program funds projects that address one or more of four priority areas: safe and affordable housing, adequate food, quality health care, and quality childcare and education. Grants are awarded annually with a project period running from October through the following September, contingent on funding appropriation by the County Commission. Eligibility for emerging small businesses is defined as organizations with 25 or fewer permanent, full-time employees and a net worth of no more than $1 million. All applicants (nonprofits and small businesses alike) must demonstrate that their proposed project directly serves Alachua County residents living at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level in one or more of the four priority areas. Each organization may submit only one application per funding cycle. Applications are submitted electronically through the county's OpenGov portal, and complete Request for Applications (RFA) materials, application instructions, and eligibility requirements are posted there each cycle. Late applications are not accepted, and applications that do not meet grant requirements are rejected. An optional pre-application workshop is typically held before each funding round to cover the application process, navigating the OpenGov portal, and tips for preparing a successful proposal (with both in-person and virtual attendance options available).

The Grant for Revitalizing Office Workspaces (GROW) provides Baltimore County businesses signing their first commercial lease in the county with a one-time grant of $8 per square foot, up to a maximum of $80,000, to help offset initial leasing expenses. Administered by Baltimore County's Department of Economic and Workforce Development, the program is designed to encourage businesses to occupy and revitalize office workspaces across the county. To be eligible, businesses must execute a direct lease with a landlord for a minimum 36-month term on at least 500 square feet of Class A or Class B office space (Class A and Class B Flex space is also considered for businesses with a demonstrated need for laboratory space). Applicants must apply within 180 days of lease execution, have a minimum personal credit score of 625, and have signed their lease after February 14, 2025. Retail, restaurant, independent financial, and insurance agent or broker establishments are not eligible for this program. Awards are issued on a first-come, first-served basis subject to available funding approved by the County Executive and Baltimore County Council.

The Building Energy Efficiency (BEE) Grant Program provides Portland small businesses and small commercial building owners with grants of up to $200,000 to fund energy efficient upgrades that reduce energy usage and cost, create health benefits, and increase business resilience. Administered by Prosper Portland and funded through a five-year partnership with the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), the program serves both commercial property owners and small business tenants whose buildings or leased spaces are located within Portland city limits and are 40,000 square feet or smaller. Commercial property owners can receive up to $200,000 (with a 25 percent owner match) to fund building-wide improvements such as insulation and building envelope upgrades, lighting, HVAC equipment, building-wide controls, and solar electric systems with battery storage. Small business tenants can receive up to $100,000 with no required match to fund energy efficient appliance and equipment upgrades such as refrigeration equipment, washers and dryers, manufacturing equipment, and food service equipment like stoves, ranges, and hoods. All funded projects must generate at least 20 percent energy savings, and the program prioritizes investment in high energy use sectors with strong savings opportunities, including food service, food sales, small manufacturing, lodging, and laundromats. To qualify, small business applicants must have a current City of Portland and Oregon State business registration, employ 50 or fewer employees, and meet at least one social vulnerability or sector-based criterion (such as displacement by urban renewal, limited access to capital, being a first-generation college graduate, location in a low income census tract, or operating in one of the high-energy-use sectors above). Nonprofits, home-based businesses, mobile businesses (including food carts and trucks), and any building or leased space larger than 40,000 square feet are not eligible.

The Technical Skills Training grant was first developed in 2020 in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program supported new and expanding accelerated skilled workforce training programs for displaced workers. The Technical Skills Training grant program aims to offset the cost for program providers and employers in their effort to support the development of highly trained skilled workers to meet the demands of our labor market.

The Guaranteed Work Force Program provides funds for West Virginia employers to cover the costs of training, retraining, and upgrading worker skills at all levels of an organization. Both new and tenured employee training is eligible. Awards are limited to $2,000 per trainee, and overall funding is based on average starting wages, location, number of employees, and the number of trainees.