WI SBIR Advance

The Las Cruces Small Business Safety Improvement Grant Program provides Las Cruces small businesses, qualifying nonprofits, and commercial property owners with reimbursement grants of up to $5,000 to fund security improvements designed to enhance business safety and deter crime. Administered by the City of Las Cruces Economic Development Department in partnership with the Las Cruces Police Department, the program is geographically targeted to two Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas (MRAs): the El Paseo/South Solano MRA and the W. Picacho and Motel Boulevard MRA. Eligible security improvements include security cameras, locks, doors, door and window sensors, outdoor lighting, and fencing. To qualify, businesses and nonprofits must be independently owned, have 40 or fewer full-time employees, and be located within the eligible MRA boundaries. Commercial property owners located within the MRAs are also eligible to apply. Grants are issued on a first-come, first-served basis as a reimbursement, meaning applicants must complete their improvements and pay upfront before submitting for reimbursement. In addition to grant funding, participating businesses can access free Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessments through the Las Cruces Police Community Outreach Unit, which include on-site safety evaluations, crime prevention recommendations such as landscaping changes and Neighborhood Watch coordination, and connections to community safety training resources.

The Micro Enterprise Fund strives to increase access to Micro Enterprise and self-employment opportunities for persons with disabilities who are Alaska Mental Health Trust Beneficiaries. Grant funds may be used for costs associated with starting a new business, expanding a current business or acquiring an existing business. The business must meet the definition of a micro enterprise, which is a business with total capital needs of not more than $35,000 and fewer than 5 employees.

The New Jersey Catalyst Research and Development (R&D) Voucher Program provides early-stage New Jersey based companies with vouchers of up to $40,000 to subsidize access to research and development equipment, facilities, and makerspaces at participating "core facilities" across the state. Administered by the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology (CSIT) in collaboration with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the program is designed to support early-stage companies in transforming new discoveries from the research stage into commercially viable technologies that attract industry and investor interest. Eligible target areas include advanced manufacturing, advanced transportation and logistics, film and digital media, life sciences (both therapeutic drug development and other applications), non-retail food and beverage, professional and financial services, and technology. Funds are paid directly to participating core facilities (which include New Jersey based two-year and four-year colleges and universities, federal labs, and approved nonprofit organizations) rather than to the business itself, and may be used for the use of facility equipment and technicians for testing and development, as well as training to prepare for independent use of facility equipment. Applicants can apply for multiple vouchers up to a combined cap of $40,000 in any 12-month period. To qualify, applicants must be authorized and in good standing to conduct business in New Jersey (with a current NJ Tax Clearance Certificate listing CSIT), have no more than 50 full-time-equivalent workers, have at least one full-time worker, conduct 50 percent or more of cumulative work hours in New Jersey, generate less than or equal to $5 million in prior calendar year sales revenue (excluding grant revenue), and have received fewer than three total vouchers over the life of the company across all rounds of the Catalyst R&D Voucher Pilot Program and the Clean Tech R&D Voucher Pilot Program combined. Applications are accepted as long as program funds remain available, and applicants must secure a written letter of support, agreed scope of work, and agreed budget from a participating core facility as part of the application process.

SFPUC customers can qualify to receive a rebate of up to $1,000 for the purchase of eligible water-efficient commercial grade clothes washers installed in laundromats, commercial properties, or common area laundry rooms of multi-family properties.

North Carolina’s Customized Training Program is the state’s premier workforce development initiative, helping businesses build and sustain a highly skilled, competitive workforce. The program, now branded as NCEdge, offers businesses workforce development strategies that align with a company’s unique needs and goals. NCEdge supports new, expanding, and existing businesses, providing flexible, up-to-date training solutions valid for up to three years. The cost of the training is covered by the state of North Carolina through the North Carolina Community College System. With 58 community colleges across North Carolina, NCEdge ensures businesses in all 100 counties have access to high-quality training resources.