Government Grants and Programs

Grants are non-dilutive funding you don’t have to repay, but they’re usually competitive and targeted. The U. S.

Small Business Administration notes that thousands of grants exist across federal and local programs. A good starting point is the government’s grants database (e. g.

Grants. gov in the US) which catalogs federal funding opportunities.

Many grants target specific areas:

scientific research (SBIR/STTR grants), clean energy, small business development, or minority-owned enterprises.

Key tips for grants:

• - Match your profile: Look for grants tailored to your business type or industry (tech, women-owned, rural, etc.). - State and Local Grants: Don’t overlook state economic development programs. Often, state agencies and local cities have grant or funding programs for startups (like manufacturing incentives or innovation awards). - Nonprofits and Universities: Some grants flow through intermediaries (e. g. incubators or universities) for research projects. Partnering can help access these. - Application Prep: Grant applications require time and detail – you’ll need a strong [[LINK0]], budget, and project proposal. If you win, they often only cover specific costs (like R&D), so plan accordingly. - Examples: The NIH offers grants for biotech startups; the National Science Foundation funds tech research. Also look for small amounts (e. g. $5k-$50k) meant to jumpstart businesses. An example of government funding is the SBA’s Micro[[LINK1]] Program, which provides up to $50,000 to small businesses through nonprofit lenders. (The average microloan is around $13,000.) Microloans can cover working capital, equipment, and inventory, though they often require some collateral or a personal guarantee.