The Best Business Grants in Washington
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 Washington.
Washington's business grant ecosystem is more concentrated than in many comparable states, with the majority of available funding administered by Seattle and King County rather than spread across multiple state-level programs. For Seattle-area businesses, this concentration translates into real depth: the Seattle Office of Economic Development runs three distinct programs supporting small business capital access, tenant improvements, and recovery from vandalism, with King County adding workforce-focused grants for small businesses across the broader metro. At the state level, Washington runs a distinctive program reimbursing small employers for costs associated with employees taking approved Paid Family and Medical Leave, but statewide programs are otherwise limited. Award sizes range from $1,500 micro-grants for Seattle arts and culture projects up to $50,000 for tenant improvement projects, with most programs offering rolling deadlines.
Washington businesses with international expansion goals should also explore the STEP Export Voucher Program, Washington's branded version of the federal State Trade Expansion Program (STEP). Administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce, the STEP Export Voucher Program supports export development activities like trade missions, international marketing, and translation services for Washington-based small businesses pursuing overseas markets. The program is one of the more meaningful funding options available to Washington businesses outside the dedicated state and local programs, particularly given Washington's strong Pacific Rim trade orientation and the Port of Seattle's role as a major U.S. gateway to Asian markets. For more information and details on where to apply, check out our grant page for the State Trade Expansion Program.
While Washington's state and local grant landscape is more limited than some larger states, Washington 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 Washington grants delivered to your inbox as soon as they open.
WASHINGTON GRANTS
King County Community Reinvestment Grant
Seattle-King County
The King County Community Reinvestment Small Business Grant provides King County small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs with workforce-focused grants ranging from $3,500 to $10,000 to support business startup, recovery, or growth. Funded by the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) through Washington State's Community Reinvestment Program and administered locally by the Seattle Latino Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (SLMCC) and Tabor 100, the program offers three tiers tailored to a business's current stage: Tier 1 — Start Up ($3,500) for businesses just beginning or working toward their first hire, Tier 2 — Recovery ($6,500) for businesses with employees that have faced challenges and need to stabilize their workforce, and Tier 3 — Growth ($10,000) for established businesses ready to create new jobs, increase wages, or build advancement pathways.
Approximately 28 grants are distributed across the tiers from a total pool of $200,000. Funds may be used for training, equipment, inventory, marketing, licensing, wages for new hires, software, and capital improvements, with all approved uses required to connect to workforce outcomes such as hiring, retention, wage improvement, or workforce capacity-building. Working capital, land or building acquisition, and debt repayment are not eligible uses. Eligible applicants must either be a small business with 50 employees or fewer holding an active business license in King County (nonprofits included), or an individual living in King County who plans to start a business there during the grant period. Funding is prioritized for businesses owned and operated by Black, Latine, Native American, Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander individuals, as well as Economic Security for All (EcSA) participants and businesses that employ or plan to hire EcSA participants.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$10,000
Seattle Back to Business Program
Seattle OED
The Seattle Back to Business Program provides Seattle small businesses with reimbursement grants to recover from vandalism and property damage and to invest in preventive security measures. Administered by the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) , the program builds on the original Storefront Repair Fund (which ran from 2022 to 2024) and consolidates two.
The first grant pathway is the Storefront Repair Fund, which reimburses up to $3,000 per incident for the cost of repairing storefront property damage such as broken doors, locks, fences, gates, signs, and windows; businesses may apply for up to three separate incidents that occurred on or after July 1, 2024. The second is the Storefront Security Fund, which provides a one-time reimbursement of up to $6,000 to fund preventive security improvements such as window or door reinforcement, locks, signs, security window film, and shatterproof glass; applicants must first complete a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) security assessment with a certified expert, and only purchases made after that assessment qualify.
Both grants operate as reimbursements, meaning eligible expenses must be paid before applying. To qualify, businesses must be independently owned and non-chain, located within Seattle city limits, have no more than 50 full-time equivalent employees and no more than three locations, generate between $1,000 and $7 million in annual net revenue, and have been in operation for at least 12 months. Priority is given to small businesses owned by people of color, women-owned businesses, and businesses located in highly distressed census tracts. Graffiti removal, security cameras, and loss of stolen goods are not eligible expenses under either fund.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$6,000
Seattle Small Business Capital Access Program
Seattle OED
The Seattle Small Business Capital Access Program (CAP) pays down up to $30,000 (or 20% of the loan principal, whichever is less) on qualifying small business loans for Seattle-based businesses. Administered by the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED), the program is designed to lower the cost of borrowing for small businesses, particularly those that have historically lacked equitable access to financial services.
CAP is not a standalone grant application and businesses do not apply directly. Instead, eligibility is evaluated by a participating community lender at the time of loan approval, and qualifying borrowers receive the principal paydown automatically as part of their financing. Because of this, the most important step for interested business owners is knowing to work with one of CAP's participating community lenders when seeking a small business loan; loans from non-participating lenders are not eligible. Participating lenders include Business Impact NW, Rainier Valley Community Development Fund, Seattle Credit Union, MoFi, Grow America Community Impact Loan Fund, Pursuit, Evergreen Business Capital and Community Finance, and Denkyem Co-Op. Paydowns are issued in two installments — one after the borrower makes 12 on-time monthly payments, and a second after 24 on-time monthly payments — and are applied directly to the loan account rather than disbursed to the borrower, effectively reducing the principal owed. To be eligible, businesses must be for-profit, independently owned, located within Seattle city limits, in operation for at least 12 months, have an active City of Seattle Business License, employ no more than 50 full-time equivalent employees, generate annual gross revenue of $2 million or less, and be current on loan payments at the time of the paydown award.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$30,000
Seattle Tenant Improvement Program
Seattle OED
The Seattle Tenant Improvement Program provides Seattle small businesses with forgivable loans of up to $50,000 to fund exterior signage upgrades or commercial equipment purchases. Administered by the Seattle Office of Economic Development (OED) in partnership with Grow America, the program offers two award packages: a Signage Package of up to $15,000 for the purchase of new exterior signage, and an Equipment Package of up to $50,000 for commercial equipment purchases. Awards are issued as 0% interest forgivable loans that convert to grants after the business remains in operation for one year following the final draw and meets its public benefit commitment, effectively functioning as a grant for qualifying businesses. To be eligible, businesses must be for-profit and independently owned (no franchises or chains), located within Seattle city limits, have been operating for at least two years, employ fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees, operate no more than two locations, generate annual gross revenue below $2 million, and demonstrate a clear public benefit to the community such as job creation, supporting events, or donating meals. Applicants must also have a signed commercial lease with at least three years remaining. Applications are evaluated on equity, viability, project readiness, and community impact, with priority given to projects serving high-displacement-risk neighborhoods and to businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, people of color, or women. Nonprofits, home-based businesses, and adult entertainment businesses are not eligible.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$50,000
Washington Small Business Assistance Grants
State of Washington
Small business assistance grants provide up to $3,000 to help cover costs associated with employees who take approved Paid Family and Medical Leave.
Grants are available for employers with 150 or fewer employees. You may apply for up to 10 grants each year, one per employee on leave.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$30,000
smART Ventures grant
City of Seattle
A grant program for artistic and cultural projects in the city of Seattle.
As a small awards program, smART Ventures encourages innovation and widens cultural participation, particularly by individuals, organizations, and communities that may not qualify for other funding programs.
Accepting applications year-round, smART Ventures is flexible, inclusive and simple. It provides support ranging from $500 to $1,500, proving that small investments can have big impacts.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$1,500
Verity Microbusiness Grant
Verity Creditu Union
Grants for Growth is Verity Credit’s Union’s new community investment program designed to help small businesses across Washington State create meaningful, lasting change in their communities. This grant provides flexible capital to small businesses often shut out of traditional funding—especially those led by BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQIA+, women, low-income, or veteran entrepreneurs.
Flexible funding gives small business owners the freedom to decide where funds will make the greatest impact. Rather than being tied to a specific program or expense, these grants allow entrepreneurs to invest in what their business needs most—whether it’s stabilizing operations, purchasing equipment, expanding marketing efforts or preparing for growth.
$ GRANT AMOUNT
$10,000
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.