Each month, we gather the best in small business resources and grant opportunities that support entrepreneurs.
NATIONAL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
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Women Founders Network Pitch CompetitionGrants up to $25,000 are available for women-led businesses with two tracks: tech/tech-enabled and consumer/consumer packaged goods/non-tech. One finalist company will also receive a $5,000 cash grant. Applicants must attend and pitch in person at the Fast Pitch Event on Oct. 28 in Los Angeles.
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Using AI to Strengthen Grant ApplicationsHello Alice hosts a free webinar to help small business owners use AI tools to find and evaluate grant opportunities. Grants Manager Attayah Douglas will demonstrate practical workflows to clarify eligibility requirements and strengthen application narratives.
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Choosing the Right Accounts for Your Business GoalsHello Alice hosts a free expert panel for small business owners and solopreneurs to optimize their banking infrastructure. Participants learn how to identify hidden fees, automate cash flow systems, and structure accounts to qualify for future loans or investor funding.
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2026 Target Supplier Engagement SymposiumTarget hosts a virtual symposium from 2 – 4 p.m. EDT to help suppliers of indirect goods and services navigate the corporate supply chain ecosystem. The "Building Foundations for Growth" session covers readiness expectations and certification strategies to help emerging businesses maximize their opportunities. Attendees must complete a business profile on the Gainfront discovery platform prior to registration.
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2026 National Small Business Week Virtual Summit
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) hosts a free two-day virtual summit as part of the annual National Small Business Week. Aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners can access educational workshops, networking opportunities, and federal resources designed to help start and grow businesses.
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Grow-NY Pitch CompetitionThe Grow-NY business competition provides up to $1M in funding, mentorship, business development support, and other key resources to food and agriculture start-ups. The Competition is open to all early-stage startups located in any state or country in the world that meet the Grow-NY definition of “Food and Agricultural Field” and have a scalable business model.
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Mona-Kiva Loan Opportunity for Small Business
Mona and Kiva U.S. offer 0% interest, $0 fee, highly accessible loans ranging from $1,000 to $15,000. All U.S. small businesses are eligible, with a focus on immigrant, refugee, and first-generation entrepreneurs.
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Service2CEO for Military-Connected Entrepreneurs
Service2CEO provides resources, networks of people committed to your success, and an actionable curriculum that accelerates your business to the next stage of development.
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2026 Military Founders Lab
The D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families provides a 10-week virtual program to support military-connected entrepreneurs. Eligible participants include veterans, active-duty service members, military spouses, and adult dependents. Applicants must have a registered business active for at least six months that generates under $250,000 in revenue or possesses startup capital. The experience combines practical business coursework with expert mentorship. Participants also join specialized weekly tracks to build a supportive peer network.
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Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Grant
Developed in partnership with founding sponsor FedEx, the Small Business Readiness for Resiliency Program (R4R) is a multi-year initiative to empower small business owners to proactively mitigate the risks posed by disasters with grants up to $5,000.
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EASTERN U.S. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
North Carolina: City of Raleigh's Building Up-Fit GrantThis grant supports small business owners in activating vacant or underutilized commercial spaces in Raleigh, NC, creating new business opportunities and jobs. It provides a 1:1 match reimbursement of up to $25,000, depending on qualified expenses.
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Michigan: 2026 Michigan Celebrates Small Business SummitThe Michigan Business Network hosts a multi-day small business summit, with the primary educational sessions taking place from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at The Lansing Center in Lansing, MI. Attendees engage with meaningful networking and panel discussions to help grow their ventures. The event covers essential operational and long-term growth strategies.
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Georgia: 2026 Access to Capital WorkshopSmall Business Majority and the Business Consortium Fund host a free online workshop at 2 p.m. EDT to help Georgia founders navigate financing options. The session provides direct guidance on how to secure funding and build operational stability.
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New York: 2026 Wayne County Microburst Loan ProgramLoans up to $150,000 are available for the purchase of fixed assets or working capital. This fund is designed to provide small loans to start-up or newly established businesses. The program assists Wayne County, NY, residents who have traditionally had difficulty accessing debt financing for their new business.
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CENTRAL U.S. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Kansas: 2026 Accessing Growth Capital Series
NXTUS and KCSourceLink host a free spring training program to help Kansas founders get investor ready. The hybrid series runs from April 7 – May 26 with weekly workshops and one-on-one coaching to build deal memos and data rooms. The program culminates in live pitch opportunities with regional seed funds and angel investors. |
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Iowa: 2026 Spring Innovation Challenge
The John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Iowa hosts a statewide business model competition to advance early-stage ventures. The challenge offers up to $125,000 in seed funding for startups that demonstrate clear scalability and high growth potential. |
Missouri: 2026 REDI Small Business Grant
Regional Economic Development Inc. awards grants of up to $10,000 to help locally owned businesses in Boone County grow and improve operations. The competitive program prioritizes business owners residing in economically disadvantaged areas and requires applicants to have 10 or fewer employees. |
Texas: United Way’s Free Tax Preparation Program
United Way’s Free Tax Preparation program provides access to free and trusted income tax assistance services to ensure that Dallas area residents receive all their eligible tax credits and refunds. . |
Kansas: 2026 Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship Small Business Grants
The Kansas Department of Commerce offers $7,000 one-time grants to support small businesses hiring new apprentices in high-wage occupations. Businesses must have fewer than 25 full-time employees to qualify. |
Texas: 2026 Small Business Assistance Program
The City of Dallas Office of Economic Development provides reimbursable grants to support local small businesses with 20 or fewer employees. Funding assists with real estate and capital improvements as businesses expand or move into Dallas storefronts. Total project costs cannot exceed $2M. Projects must meet minimum investment thresholds and have 75% of costs committed from outside sources. Maximum awards range from $100,000 up to $400,000 for projects that create or retain living wage jobs. |
Texas: 2026 H-E-B Quest for Texas Best
H-E-B invites local entrepreneurs to submit their Texas-made products for a chance to win up to $25,000 and secure shelf space in stores statewide. The competition welcomes a wide variety of locally manufactured goods ranging from specialty foods to household items. Organizers are hosting several virtual info sessions in April to help founders navigate the submission process.
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Nebraska: 2026 Small Business Financing Webinar
The Nebraska Economic Development Corporation partners with national lending expert Bob Coleman for a free online session on small business financing, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. CT. Early-stage founders and established owners can learn how to navigate their capital options. |
Louisiana: 2026 SBA Lender Match Event
The Louisiana Small Business Development Center hosts a free networking event at the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise (LITE) Theatre in Lafayette, LA, from 10 a.m. – noon. Entrepreneurs can meet directly with SBA-approved lenders to discuss financing options and prepare loan applications for future operational growth. |
Tennessee: 2026 Idea Leap Grant Pitch Competition
The Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union hosts its annual live pitch competition starting at 4:30 p.m. at The Signal in Chattanooga, TN. Local entrepreneurs compete for a share of $225,000 in grant funding. Attendees can network with regional business owners and watch the finalists present their ventures to a panel of judges. |
Illinois: 2026 Chicago Small Biz Expo
The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection hosts this free expo from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Truman College in Chicago, IL. Connect with business licensing consultants, financial advisors, take part in free tax clinics, and more. |
Oklahoma: 2026 Industry Innovation Program
The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology awards grants of up to $500,000 to in-state businesses. Funding supports the development of new technologies that benefit the local economy. At least 51% of the funded project must operate within the state and commit to a $1-for-$1 match. |
Alabama: 2026 Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant
The state provides up to $250,000 in matching funds for local businesses that have received federal Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer awards. The Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program supports ventures operating in fields like technology and advanced manufacturing. |
Mississippi: 2026 Innovate Mississippi Seed Fund
Innovate Mississippi provides proof-of-concept grants and seed funding to high-growth tech startups operating across the state. The program helps local entrepreneurs bridge the gap between initial product development and angel investment by offering up to $10,000 for early-stage operational support. |
Wyoming: 2026 Kickstart Grant Program
The Wyoming Business Council provides $5,000 to $50,000 in non-dilutive funding to growth-oriented startups operating in the state. The program helps founders with 25 or fewer employees overcome initial hurdles through direct financial support and valuable investor networking opportunities. |
WESTERN U.S. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
New Mexico: 2026 Tribal Grant and TEAM Fund
The Regional Development Corporation provides two funding opportunities for Northern New Mexico businesses. The Tribal Grant awards up to $5,000 for technical services and equipment to businesses owned by enrolled members of federally recognized Indian tribes. The TEAM Fund offers no-interest loans of up to $20,000 to growth-oriented manufacturing and proprietary technology companies that have been operating for at least one year. |
FEATURED EVENT
New Mexico: NM CreativeCon
NM CreativeCon is a statewide, multi-city celebration of New Mexico’s creative community, taking place March through June 2026. Hosted by the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Creative Industries Division, CreativeCon brings together creative entrepreneurs, community partners, and support organizations from across the state to connect, learn, and share ideas. $15 tickets (plus processing fee) go back to the NMEDD grant fund to support more creative businesses. Register for the April 25 event at Silver City's WNMU Fine Arts Theater. Register for the May 30 event at the Pueblo of Pojoaque's Buffalo Thunder Casino. |
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Colorado: Cooperative 101s / Cooperativa 101 (Virtual)
Learn how cooperative business can build community wealth and power. Presented online in English with Spanish translation from noon – 1 p.m. MDT by the Center for Community Wealth. |
Washington: 2026 ScaleUp Business Training
The Washington State Department of Commerce offers a training program to help established businesses increase profitability and spur growth. Participants engage in live roundtable discussions alongside weekly mentorship to learn how to create new revenue streams and streamline operations. The program is tailored for those with two or more years of experience operating a small business in Washington state. Classes are available in both English and Spanish. |
Utah: 2026 Rural Employment Development Incentive (REDI)
The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity offers grants of up to $6,000 per newly created position (up to $250,000 annually per business) for companies generating high-paying jobs in rural communities. Eligible positions can be remote or in-person but must be full-time, last at least 12 consecutive months, and pay at least 100% of the county’s average wage. Businesses in construction, retail, staffing, or public utilities are ineligible. You must apply and receive approval before creating the new positions. |
Nevada: 2026 Small Business Resource Fair
The Nevada Department of Business & Industry hosts a free resource fair for entrepreneurs and small business owners at the Sahara West Library in Las Vegas, NV, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.. Attendees can access networking zones, learning sessions, and over 30 government and nonprofit exhibitors providing specialized business support. The event features guest speakers and on-site food trucks to facilitate community connections for new and established ventures. |
Colorado: Together We Thrive: The Journey to Employee Owners Webinar
Join the Center of Community Wealth and explore the strategic advantages of transitioning your business to employee ownership and learn how to do it. Held online at 10 a.m. MDT. |
Utah: 2026 Grand County Special Events Marketing Grant
The Moab Office of Tourism offers a 1:1 cash match reimbursement grant to support local events that bring economic vitality and cultural enrichment to Grand County. The program funds direct advertising expenses to help organizers expand the promotional reach of their events outside of peak tourism periods. |
Arizona: 2026 Microbusiness Loan Program
The State of Arizona's Office of Economic Opportunity, in partnership with local lenders, provides loans ranging from $2,000 to $50,000 to support the state's smallest businesses. Eligible microbusinesses must be owned and operated in Arizona and have five or fewer employees. Funds can be used for working capital, equipment, real estate improvements, or debt refinancing. Loan recipients also receive complementary financial education and business planning support. |
California: 2026 Genesis for Good Catalyst Empowerment Grants
The Genesis for Good Foundation awards grants of up to $10,000 to support small businesses operating in low-to-moderate income areas of Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. Eligible entrepreneurs must have ten or fewer employees, generate $500,000 or less in annual gross revenue, and have been in continuous operation for at least one year. In addition to funding, recipients receive business advisory support and point-of-sale technology to help streamline operations. |
