The Best Business Grants in Florida
May 9, 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 Florida.
Florida runs one of the most city-driven business grant ecosystems in the country, with the majority of available funding administered by individual cities and counties rather than statewide programs. Most grants focus on commercial property improvements, storefront renovations, and small business expansion within specific city boundaries, reflecting Florida's emphasis on neighborhood-level economic development. Award sizes range from $5,000 micro-grants for downtown Miami small businesses up to $200,000 for major facade renovations in Orlando, with most programs offering rolling deadlines and matching-grant structures.
State-level activity is limited to a small number of programs, including SelectFlorida's trade grants for export-focused businesses and the Florida High Tech Corridor R&D grants. The bulk of available funding comes from city and county sources, with particularly active programs in Orlando (which runs three distinct grant programs) and the Miami metro area, where Miami-Dade County, North Miami, and the City of Miami each offer their own programs. Tampa, Coral Springs, and the Tampa Bay region round out the local grant landscape.
Florida 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 Florida grants delivered to your inbox as soon as they open.
FLORIDA GRANTS
2026 Glazer Family Small Business Fund
The Glazer Family
The North Tampa Bay Chamber is proud to partner with the Glazer Family—owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—to deliver critical relief funding to small businesses across Tampa Bay and West Central Florida.
In response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Glazer Family committed $2 million in recovery funding, including $1 million dedicated specifically to small businesses. Through multiple funding rounds, hundreds of local businesses have already received support to help them rebuild, recover, and move forward.
This program is administered in partnership with regional chambers, including the North Tampa Bay Chamber and seven other Tampa Bay–area chambers.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000
Coral Springs Economic Development Program
City of Coral Springs
The Incentive Program is designed to significantly improve the appearance of the exterior of commercial properties within the City of Coral Springs. Local businesses can receive up to $50,000 for physical improvements to their business, with specific restrictions varying based on the program selected.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$50,000
Enterprise Florida Trade Grant
SelectFlorida
SelectFlorida offers a variety of trade grants through the Florida Export Diversification & Expansion program to help qualified companies start exporting for the first time or diversify into new overseas markets. Grants are offered for marketing plans, website localization, market development and trade shows.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$10,000
Florida High Tech Corridor Grants
State of Florida
If your Florida startup is a high-tech company, you might be eligible for a Florida High Tech Corridor grant. These grants are designed for research and development projects and partner businesses with researchers at the University of Central Florida and the University of South Florida. Opportunities are available in 23 Florida counties.
Eligible businesses work with university researchers to create a project plan and budget, as well as to submit the application. Applications are accepted throughout the year. If approved, funds of up to $150,000 are distributed directly to the university research team.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$150,000
Miami-Dade Small Business Grant
Miami-Dade County
The Miami-Dade County Small Business Grant Program provides funding to small for-profit businesses located within the county to help cover the cost of equipment, supplies, inventory, advertising and marketing, building liability insurance, security systems, and minor renovations. Administered by Miami-Dade County's Office of Management and Budget, the program is structured around the county's 13 commission districts, with each district running its own version of the grant. Core program eligibility is consistent countywide — applicants must operate a for-profit, non-chain business with a physical address in the relevant district, and home-based businesses are welcome to apply — but specific funding amounts, application windows, and additional eligibility criteria vary by district. Applicants should review the guidelines for their specific commission district to confirm program details.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000
North Miami CRA Grants
North Miami CRA
North Miami CRA, an independent government agency, offers a number of commercial grant programs, including the Business Attraction Grant, Beautification and Enhancement Grant, Rehabilitation Grant and Capacity Building/Retention Grant. Grant maximum amounts range from $7,500 to $150,000, depending on the program.
Each program has specific requirements, but general eligibility requirements include that the business be within (or moving to a building within) the designated North Miami geographic boundary and the projects must show benefits to the community. The Business Attraction Grant and the Rehabilitation Grant require a 50% match by the business.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$200,000
North Miami Economic Development Small Business Grant
North Miami EDD
The Economic Development Small Business Grant provides North Miami small businesses with reimbursement of up to $7,500 to fund expenses that help them grow and operate more effectively. Administered by the City of North Miami's Economic Development Department and funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the grant is open to both for-profit and nonprofit businesses with a physical commercial location within the city. Funds may be applied to a range of approved uses, including equipment and tools, training and certifications, supplies and inventory, marketing and branding, energy-efficient upgrades, commercial liability insurance, and professional services such as CPAs and attorneys. The program operates as a reimbursement: businesses must spend a minimum of 20% of the approved award upfront, and reimbursement is issued in a single payment once eligible receipts have been verified by the department. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis subject to available funding.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$7,500
Orlando Business Assistance Program
City of Orlando
The Business Assistance Program (BAP) is a matching grant program designed to encourage small businesses to locate, expand or redevelop in the City of Orlando.
BAP provides matching funds to new and expanding businesses in the city to assist in off-setting development fees, including sewer and transportation impact fees, building permit fees, and all elements of public right-of-way infrastructure within the city’s jurisdiction that may require new installation, repair, replacement or relocation.
Eligible improvements include, but are not limited to, street lighting and fire hydrant installation/relocation, sidewalk repairs; traffic signalization; water and sewer line construction, removal or relocation; curb, gutter, street improvements and landscaping or installation of publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
The Economic Development Department administers and monitors the program, as well as determines eligibility of applicants.
The program requires eligible business owners to pay 50 percent of the fees assessed against the business, while the program fund pays the remaining 50 percent up to $20,000.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$20,000
Orlando Facade Program
City of Orlando
The purpose of the DTO Facade Program is to encourage building owners, businesses, and owners of certain residential properties to invest in properties by financially assisting with renovations to rehabilitate their buildings and residences. Commercial Buildings located within the "Focus Areas" shall be eligible for funding for facade improvements, roof repairs and/or roof replacements of up to $200,000 or 80% of the total facade improvements, whichever is less.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$200,000
Orlando Retail Stimulus Program
City of Orlando
The intent of the DTO Retail Program is to activate spaces within the downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Area and establish the area within Downtown Orlando as a retail destination, to attract locals and visitors to visit downtown Orlando as well as attract new retail and encourage expansion of existing retail by reimbursing costs associated with interior buildout and rent of a newly leased property.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$150,000
Overtown Small Business Grant
City of Miami
The Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency’s (SEOPW CRA) Small Business Grant Program is a targeted financial assistance initiative designed to support the growth and stability of small businesses operating within the designated redevelopment area.
With a focus on economic revitalization, job creation, and neighborhood development, the program offers direct funding to eligible local businesses to help offset operational costs, invest in infrastructure, and foster long-term sustainability.
Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis and must be submitted by email or hand-delivered to the Overtown Business Resource Center located at 1490 NW 3rd Ave, Suite 106, Miami, FL 33136, or the SEOPW CRA Office located at 819 NW 2nd Ave, Third Floor, Miami, FL 33136, Tuesday–Thursday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000
Small Business, Big Dreams: Women in Business Challenge
BankUnited
October is National Women’s Small Business Month and BankUnited would like to recognize women-owned small businesses in our communities. If you’re a woman business owner in Florida, New York or Texas, we invite you to enter the contest by completing the online application form and submitting a 3-minute video telling us about your business and how your business would benefit from $15,000. Ten semi-finalists will be selected from all eligible entries and will have the opportunity to present their business during the first round of judging at a live event in Fort Lauderdale, FL
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$15,000
Tampa CRA Grant
City of Tampa
Businesses in Tampa, Florida can apply for the CRA Commercial grant to improve their properties, including performing internal or external expansions and renovations. To qualify for one of these grants, your business must be located in a designated CRA area.
To apply for one of these Florida business grants, you must schedule a pre-application meeting with CRA staff. You can request an appointment by calling the Tampa CRA or submitting an online request.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$50,000
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.