The Best Business Grants in Utah
June 12, 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 Utah.
Utah's grant landscape reflects the state's economic priorities, with significant support for rural job creation and tourism marketing alongside a handful of targeted city programs. The Utah Office of Economic Opportunity leads state-level activity through the Rural Employment Development Incentive, which awards up to $250,000 to businesses creating new jobs in rural Utah counties, and the Economic Assistance Grant for project-based investments in industry, education, community development, and infrastructure. The Utah Office of Tourism complements these with a substantial Cooperative Marketing Grant of up to $225,000 in matching funds for organizations promoting Utah destinations. Award sizes range from $3,000 construction mitigation grants in Salt Lake City up to $250,000 for major rural job creation projects, with both rolling and fixed deadlines depending on the program.
The Utah Office of Economic Opportunity administers the state's largest economic development programs, while the Utah Office of Tourism runs the Cooperative Marketing Grant for Utah-focused promotional projects. Beyond the state agencies, the City of Provo runs a Facade Improvement Grant for older commercial buildings, and Salt Lake City offers a small but distinctive Construction Mitigation Grant supporting restaurants, retailers, and bars negatively impacted by nearby construction projects.
Utah 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 Utah grants delivered to your inbox as soon as they open.
UTAH GRANTS
Provo Facade Improvement Grant
City of Provo
The primary purpose of the Commercial Facade Improvement Program is to assist Provo businesses in improving the appearance of their buildings which are at least 30 years old and to help revitalize Provo.
Businesses can get grants of up to $50,000 to use on painting, ADA accessibility, signage, gutters, and more.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$50,000
Salt Lake City Business Stabilization Grant
Salt Lake City
The Salt Lake City Business Stabilization Grant provides Salt Lake City small businesses with reimbursement grants of up to $3,500 per property per year to help pay for repairs to physical damage on the exterior of their business property. Administered by the Salt Lake City Housing Stability Division and funded through federal grant dollars, the program is designed to help small businesses stabilize after property damage and remain operational in their commercial locations. Awards are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, with the full application-to-payment process typically taking one to two months.
Eligible damages include repairs to broken windows, exterior lights, fencing, power lines, and other physical damage to the exterior of the business property. Insurance deductibles also qualify. The damage must have occurred no more than 120 days before the application date, repairs must already be completed at the time of application, and applicants must provide photographic proof of the damage and repairs alongside receipts or invoices demonstrating payment. Costs already covered by insurance are not eligible for reimbursement (the grant covers only remaining out-of-pocket costs). Graffiti removal, interior damages, vehicle damages, stolen goods costs, new security features, home-based businesses, and short-term or long-term rental properties are not eligible.
To qualify, businesses must be located within the program's designated annual target area (both sides of border streets qualify), hold an active Salt Lake City business license, and meet the program's definition of a small business (three locations or fewer, no more than 50 full-time equivalent employees, and independently owned rather than a franchise or chain). Tenant businesses must provide a letter of support from the property owner. Applicants must submit their application through the city's Neighborly online portal along with required documents including photographs, receipts, insurance policy and claim information, a completed W-9, and proof of business or property ownership. Applications are reviewed for eligibility within about two weeks. Approved recipients are set up as contractors in the city's financial system and receive their reimbursement check by mail, typically within another two to three weeks.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$3,500
Salt Lake City Construction Mitigation Grant
Salt Lake City
The Small Business Construction Mitigation Grant supports businesses in Salt Lake City that have been negatively impacted by nearby construction sites. Eligible independent merchants in the restaurant, retail, and bar spaces can get grants of $3,000 to put toward rent/mortgage, marketing, business improvements, and more.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$3,000
UT Economic Assistance Grant
UT Office of Economic Opportunity
The Economic Assistance Grant program promotes economic development in Utah through business grants focused on industry, education, community development, and infrastructure. This grant is for one-time, project-based awards up to $200,000.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$200,000
UT Rural Employment Development Incentive
UT Office of Economic Opportunity
The Rural Employment Development Incentive grant is designed to promote job creation in rural Utah. A business entity can receive up to $250,000 per year, and up to $6,000 per job created. New roles can be online or in a satellite or hub office, but must be physically located in the same county as the business. Eligible sites are either rural towns or cities with populations under 10,000 in Webster, Davis, Utah, or Washington counties.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$250,000
UT Cooperative Marketing Grant
UT Office of Tourism
Partner with the Utah Office of Tourism to enhance your out-of-state marketing with up to $225,000 in matching funds. Eligible organizations can allocate a portion of these funds to in-state marketing, promoting your project while strengthening Utah's brand.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$225,000
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.