WY Market Expansion Grant

Provides funds to businesses through the four Ben Franklin Technology Partners for access to capital, business expertise, technology commercialization services to advance the development of new technologies and for the generation, conservation, and transportation of alternative and clean energy.

The New Mexico Healthy Food Financing Fund (HFFF) provides grants of $50,000, $100,000, or $150,000 (with a smaller $20,000 grant plus technical assistance available to applicants not selected for a primary award) to food retailers, food processors, food hubs and distributors, cooperatives, farmers, ranchers, Tribal nations, and nonprofit organizations across New Mexico to strengthen the state's food and agricultural supply chain and expand food security for New Mexicans. Administered by the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) through its Food, Hunger, and Agriculture Program, the fund awards competitive grants each fiscal year across five project categories: Food Retail (grocery stores, cooperatives, mobile grocery projects, farmers' markets), Processing and Value-Added Products (staple foods including meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy, and grain), Aggregation, Distribution, and Transportation (food hubs, cold and dry storage), New Mexico Grown Production (farmers, ranchers, cooperatives, nonprofit production, hydroponic and aquaponic operations), and Climate-Smart Pre-Production (regenerative soil inputs such as compost, biochar, or microbial inoculants, innovative water irrigation systems, and solar systems). Eligible applicants include political subdivisions of the state, Indian nations, Tribes, and pueblos, for-profit business enterprises (including corporations, LLCs, sole proprietorships, public benefit corporations, and social enterprises), cooperatively owned businesses, tax-exempt nonprofit corporations, and small farmers and ranchers with gross cash farm income under $250,000 (production applicants must be NM Grown Approved Suppliers or in the process of obtaining that certification). Priority is given to projects that increase food access for historically under-resourced communities, address workforce development through job creation and retention in the food and agricultural supply chain, strengthen and diversify in-state market channel access for small and mid-scale food and agricultural operations, advance food safe storage, distribution, and transportation in regional food supply chain networks, or support the implementation of regenerative agricultural practices. Eligible costs include predevelopment work (business plans, market analysis, site plans, architectural and engineering designs, feasibility studies), brick-and-mortar facility development (construction, renovations, property improvements), capital needs (equipment, supplies, furnishings, technology), and other costs such as marketing, websites, business process upgrades, and training or certifications, with research and development eligible only for climate-smart pre-production projects. Staffing and payroll costs, real estate transactions and land acquisitions, non-durable goods, charitable food projects such as food banks and food pantries, purely experiential or educational projects, restaurants primarily focused on selling prepared hot foods, and entities seeking to lend or regrant the award funds are not eligible.

Innovation Grants can fund projects that address local workforce development needs. Projects may provide skills training to individuals and/or assist individuals with connecting to careers. Applications are reviewed quarterly by the WDC Grant Review Committee.

The IHCC Small Business Microgrant provides Illinois small businesses affected by federal immigration enforcement activities with grants of $5,000 to help cover essential business expenses such as rent, employee wages, and inventory. Administered by the IHCC Foundation, the 501(c)(3) arm of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and supported by the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust, the program is part of the IHCC's broader Resilient Communities Initiative, which is focused on helping small businesses in immigrant-heavy communities across Chicago and the suburbs weather reduced foot traffic, staff shortages, and other operational disruptions. A total of 52 grants of $5,000 each are being distributed across three phases of funding, with each phase focused on specific communities throughout Chicagoland to equitably disperse funds across affected areas. Recent and upcoming phases have prioritized businesses located in Pilsen, Brighton Park, McKinley Park, Archer Heights, Back of the Yards, Little Village, Chicago Lawn, West Lawn, Berwyn, and Cicero. To qualify, businesses must have been in operation for at least two years, be registered with the State of Illinois (either as an LLC in good standing or as a sole proprietor registered with the city or municipality), have 10 or fewer employees, and submit a copy of their business license. Only one business or location per owner is eligible. As part of the application, businesses must submit a written explanation (100 to 250 words) describing how the actions of immigration authorities have affected their business, including any documented loss of income and specific timelines (reduced foot traffic, drop in sales, reduced hours, event cancellations, or similar impacts). The strongest applications are those that clearly describe how the business was directly affected via loss of revenue.

The Green Bay Microenterprise Grant provides Green Bay, Wisconsin microenterprises with grants of up to $7,500 to expand access to capital for new and growing small businesses within the city. Administered by the City of Green Bay’s Community & Economic Development Department and funded through federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars, the program is designed for microenterprises (defined as small businesses with five or fewer employees, including the owner) and is part of the city’s broader work supporting local entrepreneurs as a founding city in the national “America the Entrepreneurial” campaign launched by Right to Start. To qualify, applicants must operate a for-profit business with five or fewer employees including the business owner, have a brick-and-mortar location (or definite plans for one), and be in good standing with City zoning, permits, licensing, and taxes. Because the program is funded with federal CDBG dollars, applicants must also meet CDBG low-to-moderate-income (LMI) eligibility: the business owner must reside in an LMI household, with current income limits displayed on the application each cycle. Grant funds may be used for a wide range of business investments, including equipment, machinery, interior and exterior improvements, technology, software, signage, marketing, and lease expenses. Applications are submitted online through the City’s grant portal.