The Best Business Grants in New York
May 3, 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 New York.
New York has a diverse suite of business grants across multiple sectors. Rather than concentrating in any single industry, the state's grant programs reflect the diversity of its economy. Programs supporting NYC's garment district sit alongside grants for upstate dairy farmers, large-scale agricultural processors, technology startups, and small businesses across the state. Award sizes range from $2,500 micro-grants up to $2.5 million for major agricultural processing projects, with both rolling and fixed deadlines depending on the program.
Most state-level funding flows through Empire State Development (ESD) and the New York Department of Agriculture, which together administer the largest programs available. Beyond the state agencies, New York benefits from a deep bench of regional, county, and corporate-funded grants, with significant programs in NYC, Long Island, and upstate cities including Buffalo and Rochester.
New York 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 New York grants delivered to your inbox as soon as they open.
NEW YORK GRANTS
CFDA x NY Forward Grant Fund
Council of Fashion Designers of America
The CFDA x NY Forward Grant Fund, created in partnership with the New York State Department of State, is dedicated to sustaining the New York City Garment District, the historic heart of American fashion production. The program will provide grants to New York City Garment District-based fashion manufacturers as well as designers producing in-house. Two rounds of funding will be distributed, one in 2026 and another in 2027, empowering businesses to invest in innovation, expand production capacity, and preserve local jobs, contributing to the revitalization of this commercial hub. In each round, one manufacturer recipient will also receive the Ralph Lauren Manufacturing Award, providing the full grant amount in recognition of the most innovative approach to advancing their business.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$50,000
Grow-NY Food & Agriculture Startup Competition
Empire State Development
Grow-NY is an unprecedented food and agriculture business competition funded by Empire State Development that identifies, supports, and funds the top food, beverage, and agriculture innovations across the globe. Finalists receive dedicated mentorship and business development support and compete for a $1 million top prize.
Winning companies commit to making a positive impact in the growing startup hub located in New York state’s Finger Lakes, Central NY, and Southern Tier regions.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$1,000,000
NY Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant
New York Farm Viability Institute
$1.7 million in grant funding will be made available for beginning farmers who are building financially sustainable, for-profit agricultural enterprises throughout New York State. Projects can receive up to $200,000 and require a 5% match, regardless of funding amount.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$200,000
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grants
Verizon
The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant awards $10,000 grants to small businesses across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Run by Verizon in partnership with LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation), a national nonprofit that serves as the program's grant administrator, the program selects 10 small businesses each month from June through December to receive funding. To unlock the grant application, applicants must first register on the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform — a free resource hub that offers business courses, virtual events, and in-person workshops — and complete any combination of two eligible courses or events. Once submitted, an application remains under consideration for the rest of the year, so applicants only need to apply once to be considered for every monthly selection cycle.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$10,000
Erie County Mini Grant
Erie County
The Mini-Grant is designed to support business and nonprofit programs that serve the Erie County BIPOC community and are experiencing a need for an influx of capital to enable them to continue to serve the BIPOC community. Successful applicants will be able to show that either they or their project, is not eligible for traditional bank financing. The minimum grant offered is $5,000, and the maximum grant is $25,000. Applicants must be for-profit businesses located in Erie County, NY and at least 51% of the ownership is Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color (BIPOC).
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$25,000
Global NY Grant Program
Empire State Development
The Global NY Fund provides grants and loans to help New York State’s small- and medium-sized businesses go global and create new jobs. The Global NY Fund Grant Program is open to New York State companies and not-for-profit economic development organizations seeking to create or expand direct exports. All export grants are awarded on a reimbursable basis.
ESD is providing grants of up to $25,000 to help companies start exporting or increase their global exports. Grants of up to $100,000 are available to not-for-profit organizations that provide export assistance and trade education to New York State companies. The grant will reimburse up to 50% of total project costs for companies and up to 75% of total project costs for not-for-profit economic development organizations.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$25,000
Kenmore Small Business Grant
Joe DeCecco Memorial Foundation
The Joe DeCecco Memorial Foundation Small Business Improvement Grant is designed to support small businesses in the Village of Kenmore by helping offset the cost of physical improvements that strengthen business operations, enhance commercial corridors, and contribute to the overall vitality of the community. Grants are intended to encourage reinvestment in local businesses and promote long-term economic sustainability.
The program will award up to $10,000 to one eligible small business during the 2026 grant cycle, helping offset the cost of physical improvements that enhance operations, improve storefronts, and contribute to long-term economic sustainability.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$10,000
NY Supplier Innovative Finance Program
Empire State Development
The Empire State Development's Supplier Innovative Finance Program offers up to $5,000 in unrestricted grants to help socially and economically disadvantaged businesses in New York grow and access capital. In addition to funding, businesses can access educational resources designed to help founders improve their funding readiness and connect them with funders in matchmaking sessions. To be eligible, companies must be headquartered in New York with annual revenues between $250,000 and $10 million and certified as minority, women, veteran, or LGBTQ+ owned.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000
PSEG Long Island Main Street Grant
PSEG Long Island
The Main Street Revitalization Program is designed to encourage economic vitality and growth of a business district within Long Island. This program offers financial incentive awards for customers undertaking renovation or expansion projects to startup or grow their business.
Applicants may qualify for maximum award ranging from $5000 to $100,000 based on construction investment.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$100,000
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
Suffolk County Delivery Grant
Suffolk County, NY
The Suffolk County Delivery Grant provides a grant in the amount of $2500.00 to eligible businesses located in Suffolk County. This grant initiative designed to help small businesses strengthen their delivery capabilities and expand their marketing reach in an increasingly digital marketplace, and stimulate economic activity in Suffolk County.
The grant program will provide eligible Suffolk County businesses with financial assistance to offset costs associated with delivery services. County officials say the initiative is aimed at helping local businesses remain competitive while meeting evolving consumer expectations.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$2,500
Food and Fiber Processing Grant
NY Dept. of Agriculture
The Food and Fiber Processing Grant Program, administered by the Farm and Food Growth Fund (FFGF) on behalf of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, supports the scaling of existing and new products produced and harvested in New York State. Funding is available for the construction and renovation of facilities, as well as the purchase and installation of equipment. Priority will be given to projects that expand processing for fruits, vegetables, grains and beans for human consumption; plant and animal fibers.
Eligible applicants may apply for awards ranging from $250,000 to $2.5 million. Of the $8.5 million available, $1 million is reserved for projects that use plant and animal fiber. Processed products developed through the grant must contain a minimum of 51% raw agricultural ingredients grown or raised in New York State.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$2,500,000
Long Island L.O.C.A.L. Grants
The Long Island Association
Now in its third year, this grant program will award 40 small businesses $5,000 each and two Grand Prize winners $20,000, fueling expansion, innovation, and long-term success across Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Small businesses with locations in Nassau or Suffolk Counties and 10 or fewer employees can apply.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$20,000
NYSTAR Innovation Matching Grants
Empire State Development
Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation (“NYSTAR”), Innovation Matching Grants (IMG) Program aims to grow small businesses and support the development of new technologies in New York State by providing matching funds for federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants.
The New York State Innovation Matching Grants Program will match:
-The award for Phase I applicants, not to exceed $100,000
-The award for Phase II applicants, not to exceed $200,000
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$200,000
Rochester Small Business Fund
KeyBanc
The KeyBank Foundation is investing $300,000 to support small businesses and commercial property owners located in the city of Rochester’s EMMA and Beechwood neighborhoods. The program will provide grants ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 for capital improvements such as façade upgrades, lighting, signage, interior repairs, accessibility enhancements and safety improvements—projects designed to immediately improve the appearance, functionality and walkability of neighborhood business corridors.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$10,000
Utica Small Business Grant
City of Utica
Grant funding is now available for woman- and minority-owned businesses with five or fewer employees located in the City of Utica. A total of $150,000 from the City’s 2025-2026 federal Community Development Block Grant funds will support this program. Grants will range from $5,000 to $15,000 and can be used for capital assets like machinery, equipment inventory, working capital or soft costs.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$15,000
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.