The Best Business Grants in Texas
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 Texas.
Texas runs one of the most ambitious state-level grant ecosystems in the country, with multiple programs designed to attract major capital investment and shape the state's industrial strategy. The Texas Enterprise Fund offers up to $5 million in deal-closing grants for companies considering Texas for relocation or expansion, while the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund provides similar awards specifically for semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing. Beyond these large-scale programs, Texas runs several workforce development grants and several programs supporting women-owned businesses through Texas Woman's University. Award sizes range from $1,500 small business matching grants up to $5 million for major corporate relocations and semiconductor projects.
State-level activity runs through several agencies, including the Texas Workforce Commission (which administers the ASCEND and Skills for Small Business workforce grants), Texas Economic Development (which runs the Enterprise Fund and Semiconductor Innovation Fund), and the Texas Department of Agriculture (which runs the GO TEXAN MEGA program for agricultural marketing). Beyond the state agencies, Texas has some large city-administered programs, with Houston offering the great network through its Economic Development Grants, Downtown Houston+ Property Improvement Grants, and the Houston Texans Amergy Small Business Boost. Dallas, Harris County, Waco, Lake Dallas, and several smaller cities run additional programs across the state.
Texas 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 Texas grants delivered to your inbox as soon as they open.
TEXAS GRANTS
Amergy Small Business Boost
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans Small Business Boost provides selected Greater Houston small businesses with a $5,000 grant along with marketing and promotional support designed to raise the winner's visibility across the city. Created in 2020 as a partnership between the Houston Texans and Amegy Bank, the program recognizes independently owned, for-profit businesses based primarily in the Greater Houston area. In addition to the cash grant, winners receive a feature on HoustonTexans.com (including a dedicated web article and a social media post announcing the win), access to event opportunities through Amegy Bank, and a commemorative plaque presented by the Texans and Amegy. Businesses are nominated for the award, and multiple winners are selected each year.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000
Dallas Small Business Assistance Program
City of Dallas
The Dallas Small Business Assistance Program provides reimbursable grants to Dallas small businesses to help cover the cost of real estate and capital improvements as they grow or move into storefronts and offices within the city. Administered by the City of Dallas Office of Economic Development, the program is structured to incentivize investment in designated Target Areas and projects that create or retain living wage jobs. Maximum award amounts vary by location and job creation commitments: projects outside Target Areas are capped at $100,000, while projects within Target Areas can receive up to $300,000 without a job creation commitment or up to $400,000 with one. Importantly, improvements made before a grant agreement is executed do not count toward the project, so applicants should secure approval before beginning any work.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$400,000
Downtown Houston+ Property Improvement Grants
Downtown Houston+
The Downtown Houston+ Property Improvement Grants offer property owners, businesses, and developers in Downtown Houston multiple funding opportunities to revitalize buildings, activate storefronts, and enhance street-level vibrancy. Administered by Downtown Houston+ in partnership with the Houston Downtown Management District and the Downtown Redevelopment Authority, the program currently includes four grant pathways tailored to different types of improvements: the Thrive Storefront Grant Program, which offers 1:2 matching grants of up to $50,000 to fund ground-level storefront improvements that increase retail activity and street-level vibrancy; the Facade Improvement Grant, which provides up to $250,000 to help property owners and tenants within the TIRZ #3 boundaries revitalize building facades; the Alfresco Grant, which provides up to $10,000 for non-permanent outdoor furnishings such as seating, umbrellas, and planters, with an additional $5,000 available for permanent fixtures like awnings and lighting; and the Fresh Start Market Grant, which works with existing grocery-offering businesses to enhance fresh food offerings, staff training, and physical improvements to their space. All grant applications are evaluated against the Downtown Houston+ Design Standards, and awards are subject to available budget and organizational priorities.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$250,000
Harris Hub Grant
Harris County
The Harris County Harris Hub program is a targeted investment in the recovery and development of Harris County’s small businesses. Harris Hub provides funding to Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to increase their capacity to provide in-depth and culturally competent technical assistance to small and microenterprises affected by the COVID19 pandemic. Harris County is working with vendors BakerRipley, ROADS Consulting, and FORWARD Platform to provide small business owners with individualized, tailored technical assistance in the areas of marketing, financial management, hiring, and more. This program is designed to target underserved small businesses, including those owned by women, veterans and persons of color. Each eligible small business can receive up to 30 hours of technical assistance. Small businesses that complete 15 hours of technical assistance in the program are eligible for a $5,000 grant (depending on available grant funding).
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000
Houston Economic Development Grants
City of Houston
The City of Houston Economic Development Grants program provides flexible grant funding to qualifying organizations whose projects help stimulate business and commercial activity within Houston. Administered by the Mayor's Office of Economic Development, the program is intentionally adaptable. Rather than a standardized application with fixed award amounts and deadlines, each grant is individually negotiated and structured to align with the city's broader economic priorities and initiatives. This flexibility allows funding to be tailored to a project's unique scope and impact, but it also means there is no single application form or set timeline. Instead, applicants move through a multi-stage process: an initial outreach to the Economic Development Division, a project presentation and scoring against the city's priorities, cross-departmental discussions about layering the project with other city plans, a formal application including a financial pro-forma, and ultimately approval by City Council.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$1,000,000
Texas ASCEND Grant
Texas Workforce Commission
The Advancing Skills, Capabilities, and Expertise for New Development (ASCEND) grant will reimburse Texas employers for training that addresses demand for rapidly evolving skills and local workforce conditions. Each grantee may receive up to $500,000 or a maximum reimbursement of $4,000 per trainee. Funds can be used for work-based learning programs, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and classroom or virtual instruction.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$500,000
Texas Rural Woman Grant
Texas Women's University
This grant fosters greater economic development activity in Rural Texas by encouraging and enabling rural woman-owned, small businesses to undertake new and innovative projects. A total of ten grants for $10,000, totaling $100,000, will be given.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$10,000
Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund
Texas Economic Development
The Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) is a new incentive program to encourage the continued leadership of Texas in semiconductor research, design and manufacturing.
The TSIF will provide grants to state entities and institutions of higher education for semiconductor manufacturing and design projects; and award grants to business entities with an established presence within the state of Texas to encourage economic development related to semiconductor manufacturing and design. The TSIF will provide grants and matching funds to eligible entities for semiconductor research, manufacturing and design projects.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000,000
Alamo Small Bsuiness Grant
City of Alamo
The Alamo Small Business Grant Program is available to businesses located in the city of Alamo. It provides 50% reimbursement, up to $2,500, for projects such as storefront improvements, signage, repairs, renovations and equipment purchases.
For a business to qualify for the Alamo Small Business Grant, it must have been in operation for a minimum of 24 consecutive months. Also, the business owner must have a yearly lease. In addition to completing an application, owners will need to describe their business, their project and the project budget. Tax returns for the past two years and documented leases from the business's landlord agreeing to the project are also required.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$2,500
Boost Harlingen Grant
Harlingen Economic Development Corporation
Boost Harlingen is a small business matching grant program offered by the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) which is designed to assist businesses in expanding their production capabilities through strategic marketing efforts. Eligible businesses may receive up to $1,500 in matching funds per year, subject to fund availability. No funds are provided upfront.
Eligible pre-approved marketing efforts must be completed by August 31, 2026. The matching reimbursement payment is provided when the project is completed, subject to the terms of the grant and final approval from the HEDC Board of Directors. Program eligibility is discretionary and may be discontinued by the HEDC Board of Directors or Harlingen City Commission at any time.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$1,500
Copperas Cove Business Improvement Grant
City of Copperas Cove
The Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) is proud to offer the Business Improvement Grant Program to help strengthen and revitalize our local business community.
This matching reimbursement grant provides up to 50% of eligible improvement costs (maximum $5,000) to support upgrades that improve the appearance, safety, and functionality of local brick-and-mortar businesses.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000
Dayton Community Development Grants
City of Dayton
Dayton Community Development Corporation offers grants for small businesses that focus on the Downtown District of Dayton. To qualify for these programs, businesses must be within designated locations in the city.
The Dayton Downtown Improvement Grant provides up to $25,000, as a 50% match for activities such as interior renovations, signage, landscaping and improvement to the building and parking lot. Along the same lines, the Dayton Small Business Grant offers funding up to $7,500 for exterior projects and also $7,500 for interior projects — on a 50% match basis.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$25,000
Lake Dallas BIG Program
Lake Dallas
The Lake Dallas Business Improvement Grant (BIG) Program offers commercial property owners in Lake Dallas a 1:1 matching grant of up to $10,000 to fund exterior improvements that enhance the appearance of their storefronts and premises. Administered by the Lake Dallas Community Development Corporation (LDCDC), the program is designed to strengthen the city's commercial corridors by helping property owners renovate, restore, or add features such as building facades, signage, lighting, windows, doors, awnings, and landscaping. Eligible improvements also include cleaning, repainting, re-bricking, accessibility upgrades, and the construction of new appropriately-scaled storefronts on existing buildings. In addition to financial assistance, city staff provide free technical guidance during the conceptual stage to help applicants plan improvements that align with the city's design standards. Grants are issued as reimbursements after the project is completed and receipts have been reviewed.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$10,000
Revitalize Harilngen Grant
Harlingen Economic Development Corporation
Revitalize Harlingen is a small business facade improvement matching grant program offered by the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) to enhance storefronts, attract more customers, retain and expand jobs, and stimulate economic activity in Harlingen. The program provides up to $10,000 in matching funds for each pre-approved project. No funds are provided upfront.
Eligible pre-approved projects must be completed by August 31, 2026. The matching reimbursement payment is provided when the project is completed, subject to the terms of the grant and final approval from the HEDC Board of Directors. Program eligibility is discretionary and may be discontinued by the HEDC Board of Directors or Harlingen City Commission at any time.
The HEDC is now accepting Pre-Approval Applications for Round Four of Revitalize Harlingen. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis until all funds have been encumbered or spent.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$10,000
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
StartHER Grant
Texas Women's University
Offered by Texas Woman's University's Center for Women Entrepreneurs, the StartHER grant awards $5,000 to 10 Texas-based businesses. Businesses must be at least 51% women-owned to be eligible. Applications for this year's cycle will run from Aug. 26, 2025 through Sept. 26, 2025.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000
Texas Enterprise Fund
State of Texas
The Texas Enterprise Fund awards “deal-closing” grants to companies considering a new project for which one Texas site is competing with other out-of-state sites. The fund serves as a performance-based financial incentive for those companies whose projects would contribute significant capital investment and new employment opportunities to the state’s economy.
Eligible applicants include all companies planning a new project including a facility opening or expansion, with significant projected job creation and capital investment, where a single site in Texas is actively competing with at least one viable out-of-state option.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000,000
Texas Skills for Small Business
Texas Workforce Commission
The Skills for Small Business grant supports businesses with fewer than 100 employees. The program focuses on training new and incumbent workers. Up to $2 million is available for supporting our state's small employers. With over 433,000 small businesses in Texas, small employers are a key part of the business community.
Small businesses can apply to Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) for training provided by a local community college. TWC will process the application and work with colleges to fund the courses. The business is then able to select the courses to customize training to their needs.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$2,000
Veteran Woman Grant
Texas Women's University
The purpose of this program is to foster greater economic development activity in Texas by encouraging and enabling veteran woman-owned small businesses to undertake new and innovative projects. Five – $5,000 grants for a total of $25,000 are available for this round of funding.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$5,000
Waco Corridor Beautification Incentive Grants
City of Waco
The City of Waco is investing in the community with the new Corridor Beautification Incentive Program! This matching grant offers up to $15,000 to help owners and tenants of retail, commercial, and multi-family properties to enhance the visual appeal of key corridors.
Eligible improvements include landscaping, building facades, parking areas, signage, sidewalks, and public art.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$15,000
Go Texan MEGA Grants
TX department of Agriculture
The GO TEXAN Marketing Enhancement Grant Assistance (MEGA) Program is designed to provide grant funds to GO TEXAN partners to assist with the marketing and promotion of certified Texas agricultural products, including those that have been produced, processed, or otherwise had value added to the product in Texas; certified Texas non-agricultural products; Associate GO TEXAN Registrants; and the GO TEXAN Program.
Applicants may request up to $40,000 for promotional activities, such as direct mailing campaigns, newspaper advertisements, tradeshow fees, and website creation. Qualifying products must be products produced, processed, or value added in Texas. Selected grant projects will receive funding via cost reimbursement.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$40,000
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.