The Best Business Grants in North Dakota
July 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 North Dakota.
North Dakota's business grant ecosystem is unusually focused on solving one of the state's defining economic challenges: attracting and developing workers in a tight labor market. Three of North Dakota's five state grant programs explicitly address workforce needs, including the Technical Skills Training Grant offering up to $200,000 for employer-led workforce development, the ND Relocation Grant reimbursing employers up to $100,000 for new employee moving costs, and Operation Intern subsidizing internship programs that help North Dakota businesses connect with student talent. Beyond workforce programs, North Dakota supports entrepreneurship through Innovate ND, a voucher-based program funding customer and market research for early-stage founders, and agricultural innovation through the Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) grant. Award sizes range from $25,000 internship subsidies up to $200,000 for major workforce training projects, with all programs operating on rolling deadlines. Outside of these state programs, North Dakota's grant activity is almost entirely centralized at the state level, with limited city-level or nonprofit funding available.
North Dakota businesses with international expansion goals should also explore STEP ND, the state-administered version of the federal State Trade Expansion Program. Administered by the North Dakota Trade Office, STEP ND supports export development activities like trade missions, international marketing, and translation services for North Dakota-based small businesses pursuing overseas markets. STEP ND is one of the more meaningful funding options available to North Dakota businesses outside the state's dedicated workforce and entrepreneurship programs, particularly given the significant international trade activity in North Dakota's agriculture and energy sectors. For more information and details on where to apply, check out our grant page for the State Trade Expansion Program.
While North Dakota's state and local grant landscape is more limited than some larger states, North Dakota businesses are eligible for hundreds of national grant programs from federal agencies, corporations, and foundations that often offer larger award sizes and broader eligibility. 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 North Dakota grants delivered to your inbox as soon as they open.
NORTH DAKOTA GRANTS
Innovate ND
North Dakota Commerce
Innovate ND is a voucher-based reimbursement program designed to help North Dakota entrepreneurs advance their businesses by supporting customer and market research. Each participant may receive up to $50,000 in reimbursable expenses, administered through the Entrepreneur Centers. The program is divided into two phases, each offering up to $25,000 in reimbursements. Participants have six months per phase, with a maximum of 12 months to complete the full program.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$50,000
ND Operation Intern
North Dakota Commerce
Attracting workers to North Dakota is essential in helping to meet the state’s current and future workforce needs. Internships provide a valuable way for students to make connections with businesses and identify career options in North Dakota. Operation Intern is designed to expand the number of internships, work experience and apprenticeship positions with North Dakota employers.
The program’s primary focus is employers in the state’s targeted industries: energy, advanced manufacturing, value-added agriculture, tourism and technology-based businesses, and autonomous systems.
North Dakota businesses receive up to $5,000 in matching funds for the internships/apprenticeships. Funding can be used for items needed for the intern/apprentice to perform their internships, like wages, tools and equipment, essential training or tuition reimbursement. The funding is a one-to-one match.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$25,000
ND Relocation Grants
North Dakota Commerce
The cost of moving can be a significant barrier to relocating for work, often deterring individuals from pursuing new job opportunities. Expenses associated with relocation, such as hiring movers, transportation, temporary housing, and even utility connection fees, can add up quickly. Employers that offer relocation assistance can provide it either in advance or upon arrival, depending on company policies and the nature of the relocation package. Some employers offer upfront assistance, covering expenses like moving services, travel costs, and temporary housing directly, or providing a lump sum payment to help cover costs before the move. This approach is particularly helpful for employees who need financial support to manage the immediate expenses of relocation.
Relocation assistance can be a highly effective tool for employers to fill in-demand jobs, especially in industries facing talent shortages. By offering financial support to cover moving expenses, companies can widen their candidate pool to include qualified workers who may otherwise be unable or unwilling to relocate due to the high costs associated with moving.
Under this program, Employers can access up to $5,000 of matching funds for each candidate the business is eligible for. A 1:1 match is required. An additional $500 per candidate is available if the applicant is identified in the Find the Good Life Candidate Marketplace. The additional $500 for candidates identified through the Marketplace is not subject to match.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$100,000
APUC Grant
ND Dept. of Agriculture
The Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) creates new wealth through the development of new and expanded uses of North Dakota's agricultural products through a grant program.
The first 15 qualifying applicants are invited to present funding proposals on a quarterly basis for the following grant categories:
-Basic and Applied Research
-Marketing and Utilization
-Farm Diversification
-Technical Assistance
-Nature Based Agri-Tourism
-Prototype Development and Technology
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$150,000
ND Technical Skills Training Grant
North Dakota Commerce
The Technical Skills Training grant was first developed in 2020 in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program supported new and expanding accelerated skilled workforce training programs for displaced workers. The Technical Skills Training grant program aims to offset the cost for program providers and employers in their effort to support the development of highly trained skilled workers to meet the demands of our labor market.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$200,000
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.