WFN Fast Pitch Competition

The Front Door Refresh Grant provides small businesses and commercial property owners along Baton Rouge's Plank Road Corridor with grants of up to $10,000 per storefront to fund exterior façade and site improvements that make storefronts more attractive, accessible, and inviting. Administered by Build East Baton Rouge (Build EBR), the East Baton Rouge Parish Redevelopment Authority, the program was launched through the JPMorgan Chase AdvancingCities initiative and advances the vision of the Reimagine Plank Road Master Plan. Grants may cover up to 100 percent of eligible façade improvement costs, subject to program caps, design approval, and funding availability, with award amounts varying based on corridor priority, project impact, and alignment with redevelopment goals. Shopping centers or multi-tenant buildings may receive multiple awards for improvements to distinct storefronts. To qualify, applicants must be either the owner of a commercial building or a small business owner occupying a storefront within an eligible building (with written authorization from the property owner). Small businesses are defined as independently owned with fewer than 100 employees. Properties must be located within designated Target Areas, with the current initial phase focused on properties between North 22nd Street and Clayton Street along Plank Road, and broader eligibility extending to Build EBR's emphasized redevelopment corridors including Plank Road, Scenic Highway, Florida Boulevard, and the Cortana Corridor Economic Development District (CCEDD). Property taxes must be current, applicants must have no past-due debts to the City-Parish, and buildings must meet applicable City-Parish health and safety standards. Eligible expenses include signage (removal, design, fabrication, installation, or renovation), awnings and canopies, building façade improvements (masonry cleaning, painting, woodwork restoration, window and door replacement, and other exterior repairs), walls, screening, fencing, and landscaping (to soften or conceal storage areas, workspaces, or dumpsters), removal of inappropriate façade coverings (vinyl or aluminum cladding, boarded windows), cladding removal and restoration, permanent site and parking area improvements (landscaping, limited paving repairs, restriping), exterior accessibility improvements (ADA entrances, ramps, door modifications), and reasonable architectural or design fees (contracted after the grant award date). Grantees must agree to a five-year maintenance commitment as a condition of funding, and Build EBR may record a lien or restrictive covenant against the property to secure compliance, with a prorated repayment required if improvements are removed, altered, or neglected within the five-year period. Grant funds are typically issued directly to qualified contractors, and applicants must submit three cost estimates from separate qualified construction companies as part of the application process. Labor performed by the business or property owner themselves is not eligible for reimbursement.

The Business Security Camera Program encourages businesses to purchase and install exterior cameras on commercial properties. The program seeks to increase safety for shoppers, residents, and employees. Businesses citywide can receive up to 75% of the total eligible costs, as much as $3,000 for a single commercial property.

This program will provide a state match to companies that have received a Phase I award through a federal SBIR or STTR grant program. The maximum award under this program may not exceed $50,000. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the total grant shall be remitted to the business upon receipt of the SBIR/STTR Phase I award and application for funds. The remaining twenty-five percent (25%) of the total grant shall be remitted to the business upon submission by the business of the Phase II application to the federal funding agency and acceptance of the Phase I report by the federal funding agency. This program is utilizing state funds appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The Hey Helen Grant is a privately funded initiative by Visionaries that invests in women entrepreneurs building impact-driven, for-profit businesses in the U.S. Each grant cycle, one founder will receive a $10,000 unrestricted cash award — designed to fuel whatever moves your business forward, whether that’s operations, growth, marketing, hiring, or infrastructure. Grant cycles close at the end of April, August, and December. This grant is open to businesses that are 100% women-owned, generate less than $1M in annual revenue, and are legally registered in the United States. Nonbinary applicants assigned female at birth or who feel aligned with the intent of the grant are also welcome to apply. If you’re building something with purpose, grit, and integrity — and just need a little extra backing to take the next leap — you’re in the right place.

The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant provides small businesses across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands with $10,000 grants distributed monthly, with 10 businesses selected each month. Administered by LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), a national nonprofit that serves as the program's independent grant administrator, the grant is part of Verizon's broader commitment to equip one million small businesses with the tools and resources they need to thrive in today's digital economy. Since 2021, the program has funded more than 1,500 unique small businesses. What makes this grant distinctive is its education-first structure: applicants must first register on the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform (a free resource hub offering business courses, virtual events, and in-person workshops on topics such as marketing, AI, intellectual property, and social media) and complete any combination of two eligible courses or events to unlock the grant application. Once submitted, a single application remains under consideration for every monthly selection cycle throughout the year, meaning applicants only need to apply once to be considered across all remaining rounds. To be eligible, applicants must operate a for-profit small business (nonprofits are not eligible) based in the U.S., Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, be at least 18 years of age, and be able to provide business and financial verification documentation if selected as a finalist. LISC uses a multi-step selection process that combines an anonymous drawing (to ensure every applicant has an equal chance), an algorithm that balances awards across industries and geographies, an in-depth review of community impact and proposed use of funds, and financial and legal verification of finalists. Priority is given to first-time applicants and to businesses located in under-resourced, low-to-moderate income communities that may not have access to flexible, affordable capital. The application is available in both English and Spanish, and grant funds do not need to be repaid.