Workbar’s Small Business Grant Contest

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) encourages applications for investigator-initiated mid-phase clinical trials of natural products(i.e., botanicals, dietary supplements, and probiotics), which have a strong scientific premise to justify further clinical testing. For this NOFO, natural products include promising nutritional regimens that standardize the amount of a specific naturally occurring nutritional compound (e.g., omega-3 fatty acids, anthocyanidins, or polyphenols) and have compelling preliminary evidence. All applications submitted under this NOFO must be supported by sufficient preliminary data demonstrating bioavailability (if applicable) and documentation that the natural product produces a reproducible and measurable impact on target engagement (i.e., measure of the mechanism of action). Only in cases when it is not possible/practical to measure target engagement in the patient population of interest or when there is a fundamental understanding of the products mechanism of action will this preliminary data requirement be waived. Applications submitted to this NOFO should propose a mid-phase clinical trial to do the following: determine the optimal dose or formulation of a given natural product for use in a future multi-site efficacy trial; or determine which patient phenotypes will be responders versus non-responders to the natural product to inform inclusion/exclusion criteria of a future efficacy trial. Clinical trials submitted under this NOFO are expected to be hypothesis based, milestone-driven, and directly related to the research priorities and mission of NCCIH. This NOFO will not support single-site or multi-site efficacy or effectiveness trials, nor will it support trials to test natural products for the treatment or prevention of cancer. Applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate NCCIH Scientific/Research contact for the area of science for which they are planning to develop an application prior to submitting to this NO

The City of Brentwood sets aside 20% of its business operating tax revenue for “economic development, with the explicit purpose of business promotion and institutional advertisement for the City of Brentwood.” As part of this effort, each year, the City offers reimbursement grants for local marketing; events; and business development projectsthrough the Economic Development Grant Program. Any organization or business can apply, if they have a current Brentwood Business License or are exempt from the Business License Requirement. Non‐profit and/or tax‐exempt organizations are also eligible, provided they submit proof of active status from the Secretary of State.

The Wish Local Empowerment Program, funded by the e-commerce brand Wish, is designed to support Black-owned small businesses. With a $2 million fund, the program offers financial assistance between $500 and $2,000 to around 4,000 Wish Local partners. To qualify, businesses must be Black-owned, have 20 or fewer employees, and earn under $1 million annually. Recipients will also gain access to Wish Local's consumer base through various partnership opportunities.

The goal of this program is to support collaborative translational research projects aligned with NIH efforts to enhance the translation of basic biological discoveries into clinical applications that improve health. It encourages high quality science demonstrating the potential to result in understanding an important disease process or lead to new therapeutic interventions, diagnostics, or prevention strategies within the research interests and priorities of the participating NIH Institutes/Centers (ICs).Specifically, the program seeks to broaden and strengthen translational research collaborations between basic and clinical researchers both within and outside NIH to accelerate and enhance translational science by promoting partnerships between NIH intramural investigators (e.g., those conducting research within the labs and clinics of the NIH) and extramural investigators (e.g., those conducting research in labs outside the NIH), and by providing support for extramural investigators to take advantage of the unique research opportunities available at the NIH Clinical Center by conducting clinical research projects in collaboration with NIH intramural investigators.

The Batavia Microenterprise Assistance Program (MAP) provides Batavia, New York microenterprises with grants ranging from $5,000 to $35,000 to support the creation or expansion of small businesses with five or fewer employees. Administered by the Batavia Development Corporation (BDC) on behalf of the City of Batavia and funded through New York State Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars, the program is designed to help small business owners invest in their operations while creating employment opportunities for low-to-moderate income individuals in the city. Grant funds may be used for machinery, equipment, furnishings, fixtures, inventory, operating costs, and other working capital expenses, but cannot be used for construction, renovations, leasehold improvements, or demolition. Eligible applicants must operate or plan to operate within the City of Batavia, have five or fewer employees (including the owner), and may be structured as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, LLC, or other legal business form. Because the program is funded with federal CDBG dollars, all grants must meet a national objective: applicants must either be owned by a low-to-moderate income individual or create at least one full-time-equivalent job available to low-to-moderate income persons. Additional program requirements include a 10% equity contribution by the business, completion of an entrepreneurial training course through Brockport SBDC or Niagara SBDC before receiving funds, submission of a complete business plan, and a commitment to continue operating in Batavia for at least 12 months following grant closing. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible.