The Best Business Grants in Oregon

Clackamas County

The Clackamas County Tourism Business Grant Program provides Clackamas County tourism-related businesses with grants of up to $100,000 to fund projects that help them grow and enhance the visitor experience. Administered by the Clackamas County Office of Economic Development in partnership with the Office of Tourism, the program is a one-time, $1 million initiative structured around two funding tracks of $500,000 each: a Small Business Acceleration Track, which supports capital investments, physical improvements, and workforce development projects for small tourism businesses; and a Technical & Professional Services Track, which supports more established businesses with projects requiring specialized expertise to remove barriers to growth.

Eligible applicants must operate a tourism-related business located in Clackamas County, defined as one whose products, services, or operations contribute to the local travel and tourism economy and that appeals to visitors traveling from 50 or more miles away. The Small Business Acceleration Track is open to either existing small businesses (registered for 2+ years with 10 or fewer employees) or early-stage ventures (registered for less than 3 years with 3 or fewer employees including founders), and requires a minimum 25% match of total project cost. National franchises and chains are not eligible, except for lodging businesses. Funds may be used for capital investment (equipment, software, physical assets), physical improvements (property upgrades, expansion, new locations), or workforce projects (staff training, new permanent hires, converting part-time to full-time roles), with all projects required to demonstrably improve visitor experience or accessibility.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$100,000

City of Salem

The City of Salem offers a matching grant program in the Fairview Urban Renewal Area (URA) to support businesses in constructing new buildings, adding to existing structures, or investing in permanent manufacturing equipment and related building improvements. This program is designed to encourage economic growth and enhance business operations within the district.

By providing financial support, the program helps reduce the cost burden of construction and equipment investments, making it easier for businesses to grow. For property owners and business tenants, this program offers an opportunity to modernize facilities and improve productivity, benefiting both individual businesses and the community as a whole.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$300,000

OR Department of Energy

The Rural and Agriculture Energy Assistance Program offers grants to farms, ranches, and rural small businesses to help cover the costs of energy audits. Audits are performed by approved assessors who review energy use, as well as buildings, processes, and equipment. The goal is to find ways to be more energy efficient. The grant program covers 75% of the audit expense, with applicants paying the remaining 25% of the costs. Energy assessment costs vary depending on size and scope but typically range between $4,000 and $8,500.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$8,500

Prosper Portland

The Building Energy Efficiency (BEE) Grant Program provides Portland small businesses and small commercial building owners with grants of up to $200,000 to fund energy efficient upgrades that reduce energy usage and cost, create health benefits, and increase business resilience. Administered by Prosper Portland and funded through a five-year partnership with the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), the program serves both commercial property owners and small business tenants whose buildings or leased spaces are located within Portland city limits and are 40,000 square feet or smaller.

Commercial property owners can receive up to $200,000 (with a 25 percent owner match) to fund building-wide improvements such as insulation and building envelope upgrades, lighting, HVAC equipment, building-wide controls, and solar electric systems with battery storage. Small business tenants can receive up to $100,000 with no required match to fund energy efficient appliance and equipment upgrades such as refrigeration equipment, washers and dryers, manufacturing equipment, and food service equipment like stoves, ranges, and hoods. All funded projects must generate at least 20 percent energy savings, and the program prioritizes investment in high energy use sectors with strong savings opportunities, including food service, food sales, small manufacturing, lodging, and laundromats.

To qualify, small business applicants must have a current City of Portland and Oregon State business registration, employ 50 or fewer employees, and meet at least one social vulnerability or sector-based criterion (such as displacement by urban renewal, limited access to capital, being a first-generation college graduate, location in a low income census tract, or operating in one of the high-energy-use sectors above). Nonprofits, home-based businesses, mobile businesses (including food carts and trucks), and any building or leased space larger than 40,000 square feet are not eligible.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$200,000

Prosper Portland

The Affordable Commercial Tenanting (ACT) Grant provides Portland property owners and small business owners with reimbursement grants of up to $300,000 to fund tenant improvements, space related soft costs, and permitting support needed to ready a commercial space for opening. Administered by Prosper Portland, the city's economic development agency, the program is designed to facilitate access to affordable commercial space and support inclusive small business growth by helping local entrepreneurs move into ground floor storefronts at a lower cost.

The grant is currently available for properties located within the Interstate Corridor and Gateway Regional Center Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts, though the program may expand to other areas of the city in the future. To qualify, the property owner must agree to provide the small business with a minimum three year lease that includes at least one of the following: a lease rate 10 to 25 percent below market, a period of rent abatement, or capped rent escalations during the affordable rate period. The property must be ground floor and zoned for commercial or mixed use.

Eligible business owners must demonstrate at least two years of business experience and meet criteria related to displacement, limited access to capital, first generation business ownership, or location within a low income census tract. Funds may be used for hard costs to ready the space (such as standard finishes, signage, landscaping, lighting, and security upgrades), up to $25,000 for soft costs like design and permitting fees, and up to $25,000 for predevelopment work. Operating expenses, inventory, and non permanent fixtures are not eligible. Property management companies, mobile businesses, e-commerce businesses, and cannabis businesses are not eligible to apply.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$300,000

Prosper Portland

The Prosperity Investment Program (PIP) provides Portland businesses and commercial property owners with reimbursable matching grants of up to $75,000 to fund tenant improvements and small to large scale building improvements. Administered by Prosper Portland, the program covers up to 75 percent of approved project hard and soft costs, with the grantee responsible for the remaining 25 percent match. PIP is designed to support business competitiveness and property redevelopment in order to increase access to quality employment, foster wealth creation through business ownership, and build healthy, vibrant commercial corridors. Eligible hard costs include signage, lighting, storefront improvements, mechanical systems, tenant improvements, roofs, sidewalks, parking lots, landscaping, and other permanent fixtures. Eligible soft costs (capped at $25,000) include architectural, engineering, environmental, market, or financial analysis services associated with physical construction.

To qualify, properties must be located within one of Portland's eligible Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts (Central Eastside, Gateway Regional Center, Interstate Corridor, Lents Town Center, Old Town, or North Macadam), be zoned for commercial, mixed use, employment, industrial, or multi-dwelling use, and have all property taxes and debt payments current. Each TIF district has its own action plan priorities that guide grant review, ranging from preserving industrial maker space and retail activation in Central Eastside to supporting historic preservation and retail vibrancy in Old Town. National franchises, locally owned franchises with more than three locations, nonprofits (except those located in Old Town), businesses that exclude minors during business hours, and any work completed before a grant agreement is executed are not eligible. A grant recipient or property may only receive one PIP grant every five years.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$75,000

Prosper Portland

The Local Small Business Expanded Repair/Restore Grant Program provides Portland small businesses with reimbursement grants of up to $25,000 to repair damage caused by break-ins and vandalism, install preventive security improvements, and offset rising insurance costs. Administered by Prosper Portland (the city's economic development agency) the program is designed to help affected businesses remain open and operational while contributing to a healthier street environment across the city.

Eligible expenses include exterior repairs such as window and door replacement, graffiti removal, signage repair, gate repair, security system replacement, and exterior lighting; interior repairs (up to $2,500) such as door replacement, counter repair, and furniture/equipment replacement; security and prevention improvements such as cameras, alarm systems, scissor gates, overhead doors, and safes; and increases in business insurance premiums (up to $5,000). To qualify, businesses must hold a current City of Portland business license and Oregon state business registration, operate a customer-facing ground-floor small business or food cart within Portland, have 50 or fewer employees, and maintain consistent hours of operation. Property owners who do not operate the storefront business themselves, businesses in non-commercially-zoned spaces, landlords and property managers, and cannabis-specific businesses are not eligible. Ineligible expenses include inventory replacement, security personnel, mural repainting, lost sales or wages, and any damages already covered by a successful insurance claim. Grants are issued on a reimbursement basis for eligible repairs or improvements completed up to 90 days prior to the application date.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$25,000

Prosper Portland

The Reimagine Oregon Economic Opportunity Investment Fund Grant provides Portland based for-profit businesses, nonprofits, and social service organizations with flexible grant funding ranging from $5,000 to $300,000 for standard projects, or $50,000 to $700,000 for large-scale anchor projects. Administered by Prosper Portland and funded through Recreational Cannabis Tax revenue, the program is focused on supporting economic and business development for communities disproportionately impacted by the historical prohibition of cannabis.

Funding is awarded through two tracks. Track 1 supports for-profit businesses with grants designed to strengthen and grow existing operations, scale new businesses, and promote entrepreneurship, job creation, and economic growth across Portland. Track 2 supports nonprofit organizations and those operating under a fiscal sponsor with grants focused on building community wealth, promoting economic empowerment, and supporting social enterprises. Each track includes both standard grants and anchor project grants, with anchor projects supporting larger initiatives that act as catalysts for economic growth and community development.

Eligible uses of funds are intentionally broad and include strategic investment capital, infrastructure development, business incubators and innovation centers, community-owned business support, job creation and training programs, mixed-use community hubs, employment opportunities, housing development, and property acquisition. To qualify, applicants must be located within the City of Portland, fit one of the eligible organization types (for-profit, nonprofit, or social service org with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor), and demonstrate how their proposal relates to and benefits communities disproportionately affected by cannabis prohibition. Direct political advocacy, personal use, and prior Reimagine Oregon grant recipients are not eligible.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$300,000

City of Salem

The city of Salem offers a matching grant program in the Riverfront Downtown area to businesses that need help financing construction or renovation projects. Companies can get up to 50% of their eligible project costs covered, up to $300,000.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$300,000

City of Salem

This program gives grants to businesses in Salem’s Riverfront Downtown area to improve their building safety and security to address homelessness. Companies can get up to $30,000 to use on security fencing/gates, exterior building lighting or security systems, trash/recycling enclosures, landscaping, interior lighting for storefronts, and building entrance improvements/

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$30,000

City of Salem

Salem offers a matching grant program to help finance the construction of a new building, or building additions, for commercial, industrial, or mixed-uses in West Salem Urban Renewal Area (URA). Manufacturing equipment and related building improvements may also be eligible.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$300,000