Grants to Start a Business
America is a country powered by small business. In fact, 89% of businesses in the USA have less than 20 employees, and 98% have less than 100.
Small business spreads across every industry – from baking bread to writing security software. Despite their many differences, one factor unites them all; they all need money to sustain, improve and grow. Whether you’re a small business, a tech startup or even in the medical research field, there are many small business grants available to help your business thrive.
How to get free money from the government to start a business? Unlike business loans, business grants don’t need to be repaid. If you have an innovative goal and a strong vision, government grants can help lift your new or expanding business to a new level.
Government grants are easier to obtain than ever before. And most grants can be applied for directly through the relevant department’s website.
We’ve compiled 7 grants to start a business, with links directly to their funding pages.
1. US Department of Education (DoED)
There is a range of grants available to fund innovation and develop commercial products within the US education system.
The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program provides funding of up to $1.1 million over a 2 year period. These grants help to develop products which address problems within the general and special education fields.
The scheme funds the development of new educational technologies such as games, assessments, virtual reality software, and artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring.
Previous recipients of the federal grant have gone on to win industry awards for technology and innovation.
2. US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
USDA is the national body that supports research and development in the areas of farming, forestry and food.
Through their Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, grants of up to $700,000 are available over a 2 year period. USDA offers grants to businesses making technological advances which lead to significant public and environmental benefits.
Areas of business that meet funding requirements include forestry, animal protection, aqua-culture, biofuels, small-to-mid size farms as well as food science.
In addition, the SBIR grant scheme specifically aims to encourage female-owned as well as socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses.
3. National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST)
NIST promotes innovation and global competitiveness in measurement science, standards and technology. It is especially involved in areas regarding economic security.
NIST provides federally funded grants for small businesses developing technology in areas including software, energy, manufacturing, healthcare and cyber-security. The aim of the grants to foster the growth of these technologies into the commercial space.
Funding of up to $400,000 is available over a 2-phase period. In 2018, 80% of grants were awarded to companies with less than 20 employees.
I need a grant. Iam a In Home supportive services provider and live in caregiver for my 2 beautiful elderly parents 85+ years old. And make 24,000 dollers a year. Which is very hard to live on. I want to work to make extra money,but in 2015 all providers that lived in the home signed a waver to the IRS. And I signed a paper that this is my only job. I want to go back 2 school. I want to start a small business saleing something. But I don’t make inof money. Iam smart, talented, bilingual, w excelente customer service skills. I just need some extra money.
I need a grant to invent a weed eater on the deck of a riding mower it would be very nice to ride the mower and weed eat at the same time and not have to carry or push a weed eater it would cut your time down cutting your yard and make it so much easier and you could put a Saw blade on for cutting small trees along fence rows I am very motivated to invent it or sell my idia i believe it’s a great idia
I’m a Disabled woman, who has no income to live from. I’m living in a homeless shelter with my Son and Daughter. I eat out trash cans for food to feed me and my Family. I had a life once upon a time but I went to prison for murder that I didn’t commit. My husband Michael committed suicide 5 years after my sentence. After the court found me guilty he went down and never got back up. When finally came up for parole and decided that it wasn’t me who killed my Father they gave me my walking papers. But when I returned they said my husband Michael was dead. My kids was in a homeless shelter and my other was in a mental state hospital. Now I’m in a shelter with my Family . I gained a Business license, Nursing home license, Rental license / Brooker license, Minister license, Dental insurance coverage license, Heart disease specialist, interior designer license, physical therapy license, Counselors license, IT technicians, catering licenses and Lawyer. I been in jail 30 years but have all these degrees and can’t find a job because of my pass. Please help a Humbled young lady. ??
My husband & I are retirees, that still want to be productive and work. Our dream, Antique Booth at a Antique Mall has kept busy and we have grown substantially. But on a retirement income, we have quickly exhausted the means to grow. If we had a small business grant, the possibilities would be endless. We want to open a Antique & Vintage Store.
I need a grant to fix up my house.
Hello, My name is Eugene Smith my wife passed away a few months ago. I was on SSDI which turned to SS last Oct., turned 65. Can’t get any help paying bills, lost ins., phone, cable. Car reposs. this month, can’t make CC consolation payments, being sued by bank on car. Don’t know where to turn, tried everything. Please Help! Please.
To start a landscapeing buissness or painting buissness.Or Framing buissness.
I have exhausted all the loan remedies and still no approval.. I have decent credit scores of 662, 693,738 with the big three, TransUnion Experian, Equifax, but still no approvals. I was forced into homelessness due to my dual-diagnosis bi polar , schizophrenia, and PTSD.. I didn’t serve enough time in the Marine Corps to be eligible for healthcare and do not qualify for VA connected benefits.. I’ve been homeless since 2006.. Please, if you are compelled to help me I need 25,000 for debt consolidation and down payment for purchase of a home.. Once my debt is clear ,the VA will afford me a loan for a home with the down payment as leverage. My name is Gregory D’shawn Ford. My number is 818-857-0409.. please contact me ASAP If you will help me. Thank you and God bless your generosity.
I need a grant to help buy me a home and pay some bills off please help me
I presently live in a homeless shelter in Lyons NJ I’m hoping to gain some independence and financial stability so that I might become an asset to society. Anyway that I can obtain assistance would be greatly appreciated.
I presently live in a homeless shelter in Lyons NJ I’m hoping to gain some independence and financial stability so that I might become an asset to society. Anyway that I can obtain assistance would be greatly appreciated.
I need help in a big way I am homeless, fix credit score and go back to school
I was invited over the phone several times last thing that was sad is that the check is in the mail are you home on Monday because it will be delivered unweighted around several days turn the holidays expect one help that never came what a disappointment please help
Hello,
I am a widow, my husband died of lung cancer October 6 , 2005. He left me enough to take care of my son. When my son turned 18 I lost two thirds of my monthly income. This left me in a bad way, I couldn’t pay all my Bill’s so I had to go bankrupt. I also went for a remodification on my house. I’m still having a hard time paying Bill’s and my house needs some repairs. I need new floors because all the tiles are breaking. I also need about another 800 dollars per. month until I can get my disability or my monthly income from my husband’s work. Thank you for reading this and hope I might be able to get a grant to help me out until about June or July.
Need grants to improve the up keep of my house I live in a history CO area and I would like to place my roof get paint work done on my home replace my windows but I can Not afford the prices that’s Given to me to me
Money to t buy
i feel so sorry for this man. i feel like i am kinda in the same sort of problem he is in only my problem is all the debt inam in because of student loans. Then to make matters worse i got diagnosed with Hiv last year and i had to go on Socal Security and medical and social security cut into my monthly payment by $300 because i owed money to a bank i borrows money from to run my business but it was fedrally insured so SS attached my monthly wage atbattachedn$300/ mo to pay it. That made it very hard to pay mynmonthly living expenses. its a good thing my Medical covered my HIV medications. The mainnHIV medication costs $3500 per month.
Hi my name is homer swann me and my wife had been on SSI since we was babies small Social Security Administration in Fayetteville North Carolina have taken our first of the month money we are no longer able to pay our light bills and I am looking for a lawyer right now to sue Social Security Administration in Fayetteville North Carolina so I’m trying to get a grant to start off my business and to getting more money to be able to live a life with my wife we also have to go down to the courthouse and try to get papers so we can get a divorce because we did not have the money to be able to take care of each other we was homeless twice we had our lights cut off twice and we have to go to Salvation Army for them to pay for our like this I am a type of man that does not like to go to Salvation Army and ask for help but the Bible says we have not because we ask not I asked the Lord to help me. Did not come through I start the crying and falling down on my knees wondering where can my help come from so now I’m asking for a grant money to start off my business to see where that will go again my name is mr. Homer Swann North Carolina don’t come here Social Security Administration in Fayetteville North Carolina they have people working there that will steal your money.P pray.
Need grant to pay bills and fix home
I so great full just for the opportunity to see if qualifier for a grand.