The Best Business Grants in Alabama
July 8, 2026
Updated:
Securing capital is often the biggest hurdle for any founder. While loans and credit cards are common, they come with the weight of repayment and interest. Grants are the ideal alternative because they generally don't have to be paid back. However, there is a catch: grants are highly competitive and can be very difficult to find. We've built this guide to help you understand the grant landscape in Alabama.
Alabama's business grant ecosystem is heavily city-driven, with substantial activity in Montgomery and a network of smaller Alabama cities running their own local business improvement programs. Montgomery anchors the local landscape with two significant programs: the MOVE Grant Program, which awards up to $150,000 for businesses signing or expanding commercial leases in Montgomery County, and the Montgomery Thriving Small Business Grant, part of a $2.5 million city investment supporting local small business growth. Beyond Montgomery, smaller cities including Oxford, Jacksonville, and Athens run their own facade improvement, signage, and property enhancement grants, reflecting a statewide emphasis on Main Street economic development. Award sizes range from $1,000 signage grants in Oxford up to $250,000 for the state's flagship SBIR matching program, with most programs operating on rolling deadlines.
State-level grant activity is limited, anchored by the Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program, which provides up to $250,000 in supplemental funding for Alabama-based small businesses that have received active federal SBIR Phase I or Phase II awards. Most other grant activity flows through Alabama cities and the county-level economic development authorities discussed above.
Alabama businesses are also eligible for hundreds of national grant programs from federal agencies, corporations, and foundations. Those programs aren't covered on this page, but you can search our complete grant database to see every state and national grant your business qualifies for. You can also join our free weekly newsletter to get new Alabama grants delivered to your inbox as soon as they open.
ALABAMA GRANTS
City of Oxford
Signage Improvement Grant
City of Oxford
The Signage Improvement Program is a grant available to developers, business, and commercial building owners in Oxford, AL that wish to improve their signage. The program is divided into two types of funding for either a “brick and mortar” business or a mobile unit. The “brick and mortar” fund has a total pool of $7,000 and the mobile unit has a total pool of $3,000. The program is a 70/30 grant that may not exceed the amount of $1,000 per address, per year for the “brick and mortar” category and mobile units may not exceed the amount of $500 per unit, per year for the “mobile unit” category. Applicants may not apply for both, but only one category.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$1,000
City of Oxford Facade Improvement Grant
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City of Oxford
The Façade Improvement Program offers a 50/50 reimbursement grant to developers, business owners, and tax-generating, income-producing commercial property owners in Oxford, AL seeking to enhance the exterior appearance of their buildings. Structured into three tiers, the program provides funding on a per-address, per-year basis. Eligible improvements include work on the front, rear, and sides of a building, as well as exterior doors, windows, shutters, gates, and other architectural or decorative elements that contribute to the overall façade. The program’s mission is to stimulate revitalization and attract private-sector investment by proactively addressing deteriorating property conditions and encouraging enhancements that boost the economic vitality of the area.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$25,000
Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program
Innovate Alabama
The Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program provides additional resources for small businesses whose proven business models and technologies are helping accelerate innovation in the state.
Small businesses who have an active Phase I or Phase II Federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant are eligible for non-dilutive funding from the Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program.
This unique grant program provides support for recipients who do not need to exchange shares of their company for the grant. These businesses have proven through scientific review that their technologies are viable, valuable and scalable.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$250,000
Jacksonville Business Development Grant
City of Jacksonville
The Commercial Development Authority (CDA) of the City of Jacksonville, Alabama, in its continuing effort to support the development of commercial business in Jacksonville, has created a Business Development Grant Program for business owners and tenants. The Business Development Grant Program will continue the process of creating an atmosphere conducive to conducting business in Jacksonville while attracting new commercial development. The following outlines the details of Jacksonville’s Business Development Grant Program. Business Development Grants are awarded by the CDA to encourage entrepreneurship, investment, and business success in the City of Jacksonville for new, expanding, and transitioning businesses. Grants are contingent on the availability of funding. Businesses must be located within the City of Jacksonville and meet the eligibility requirements.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000
Jacksonville Façade Grant
City of Jacksonville
In order to encourage economic development and maintain the traditional small town character of Jacksonville’s city square, the Jacksonville Commercial Development Authority (CDA) is announcing a Facade Improvement Grant Program for buildings within the Public Square Overlay District. Limited funding is available and an application process is required.
The purpose of the Grant Program is to rehabilitate and/or restore commercial buildings to historically compatible exterior design and encourage new investment and commercial development in Jacksonville.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000
MOVE Grant Program
Montgomery County
The updated MOVE grant program helps businesses that are signing their first commercial lease or expanding their existing lease by at least 500 square feet in office space in Montgomery County. All MOVE grant awards will be funded on a first-come, first-served basis based on the date of receipt of submitting all required documentation and subject to the availability of funding.
This grant is restricted to businesses located in Montgomery County, Alabama.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$150,000
Athens, AL Opportunity Council Districts Program
City of Athens, AL
The Opportunity Council Districts Program, an incentive-based initiative focused on encouraging growth in retail-stagnant areas within City Council Districts 3 and 5. The program will provide funding for property improvements to help businesses expand and attract new investment in Athenas, Alabama.
Eligible small businesses can apply for incentive awards of up to $20,000 for one-time, permanent upgrades. The funding is split evenly, with $100,000 allocated to each district.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$20,000
Montgomery Thriving Small Business Grant
Montgomery County
Montgomery, Alabama is investing $2.5 million into small businesses. This new grant program is designed to help small local businesses expand, stabilize, and elevate their operations. Funding will be available to support growth, enhance daytoday functions, and open new pathways to longterm success.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$75,000
Don't stop at state-level funding
Most business grants aren't geographic, they're tied to your industry, your stage, or your team. Our database tracks 500+ programs across every category, and our free newsletter delivers new grants to your inbox each week.