Grants Loans And Programs To Benefit Your Small Business
When you know where to look, help for your small business is there for the taking.
There are many grant programs available to small businesses, depending on a variety of qualifying factors.
Times are tough for small business, but help is available, from both the governmentfederal, state or localand the private sector. It may be in the form of a grant, a loan or a leg up competing in a difficult business environment. Heres a breakdown to help you sort through whats available.
Where Can I Find Small Business Grants In The Uk
Other financial help available to your small business will depend on where in the country youre located, the size of your business, the industry youre in and whether youre looking for business startup grants or funding to grow your business.
You can use the governments Finance and support for your business online tool by selecting the grants tick box. You can also filter by how long youve been trading , industry, number of employees, and region of the UK.
Theres also more information on the grants available in the different nations of the UK on the following portals.
Growth Deal Funding Black Country
The Growth Deal aims to drive business growth, give people new skills, test new innovations, invest in transport infrastructure and regenerate key sites for employment in the Black Country. It wants to maximise the economic impact of growth opportunities from the automotive, aerospace and construction sectors which prominent manufacturing areas in the Black Country. Funding is awarded on a case-by-case basis.
The only grant available is the Site Investigation Fund, aimed at private sector landowners seeking to de-risk and address uncertainty on their sites.
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Cumbria Business Startup Support Programme
For people starting a business or in their first three years of trading, this programme can include training, help developing your business plan and access to a £2,000 subsidy. Youll also get free basic membership of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce for one year when you start trading .
The Department for International Trade has launched a European Structural and Investment Fund for eligible East Midlands businesses. Match-funded grants of between £1,000 and £9,000 will be available for future activity.
Your company must be a small or medium sized enterprise with up to 250 employees No more than 25 per cent of the business is owned by an enterprise which is not a SME Annual turnover does not exceed 50m or annual balance sheet does not exceed 43m
The funding can be used to support areas including :
Market research
- Culture and Leisure
- Education
Apprenticeship Support Grant is available to SMEs identified by Tees Valley Combined Authority as being in one of the above priority sectors:
- Apprentices Aged 16-18 grant of £3,000 is available
- Apprentices Aged 19+ grant of £2,000 is available
For any employers who do not fall into one of the above Priority Sectors, the following Grant is available:
- Apprentices Aged 19+ grant of £500 is available
How To Start A Childcare Business With Government Grants
One of the most important factors in starting a childcare business is having the finances that are required to start a new business. Expenses can add up quickly when you are starting a daycare, so it is common for new business owners to first investigate where they will find the funding. If you dont have the finances yourself to start a business, applying for government grants is an option you may want to consider. We have all the details you need to know about starting a childcare business with government grants.
You can start a daycare business with government grants by finding the best grants for your specific business through grants.gov. The process of applying for government grants includes determining your startup costs, putting together a list of the grants you want to apply for, putting together your business plan, gathering other required documents, submitting your information and then tracking the status of your grants.
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South African Women In Construction
Sawic is a national association of women enterprises or professionals and technical staff in all areas of construction, from the skilled trades to business ownership, with international affiliation to the National association of Women in Construction . Sawic administers, facilitates, advocates and lobbies all the Departments of Public Works for the empowerment of its members.
Contact Sawic: 012 337-2400/2174
Who Can Get A Grant
The federal government awards grants to organizations including:
-
State and local governments
-
Non-profit organizations
-
Businesses
The intent of most grants is to fund projects that will benefit specific parts of the population or the community as a whole. What you might see about grants online or in the media may not be true. The federal government does not offer grants or free money to individuals to start a business or cover personal expenses. For personal financial assistance, the government offers federal benefit programs. These programs help individuals and families become financially self-sufficient or lower their expenses.
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Chicago Small Business Improvement Fund
The SBIF supports small businesses repairing or remodeling their location, whether by updating windows and floors, replacing signage, or purchasing nearby property to expand into. Note that youâd receive this matching grant after completing and paying for your remodeling, so be cautiousâplenty of other businesses are likely competing for small business grants like these.
Gender And Women Empowerment Unit
The Gender and Women Empowerment Unit of the Department of Trade and Industry manages the South African Women Entrepreneurs Network . SAWEN helps women overcome the obstacles that they still experience in business.
It compiles a database of women-owned enterprises, in order to help women help one another. It organises networking forums, facilitates capacity-building programmes, and lobbies and advocates for policies that support women entrepreneurs.
Contact the Department of Trade and Industry: 012 394-1606
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Small Business Grants For Young People
The Princes Trust supports young people aged 18 to 30 to start and run their own business. Besides funding and resources, they also provide training and mentoring.
Last year, in response to Covid-19, the Princes Trust set up a £5 million Enterprise Relief Fund, offering grants to self-employed people and business owners aged between 18 and 30 in the UK.
While this is now closed for applications, the Princes Trust runs an Enterprise Course, which involves info sessions and workshops to help you launch your business. You can apply for low-interest business loans between £500 and £5,000, and the Princes Trust says small business grants may be available in special circumstances.
If youre an entrepreneur whos building a solution to social problems in the UK, check out UnLtd. If youre 16 or over, willing to participate in learning, and working for the benefit of others, UnLtd could help you start out. They offer awards from £500 to £15,000 across three separate startup packages.
Good For: R& d Companies
The DoD offers grants to small businesses through the STTR program and a number of other initiatives, like the Defense Enterprise Science Initiative. The Office of Naval Research, the Air Force Office, and the U.S. Army Research Institute are all looking for research and development of technology that will help them reach their goals.
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Big House Elevator Grant
SMEs in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire can apply for Elevator grants to support business growth. They must be in creative or digital industries , though.
Theyll put 30 per cent towards the project spend, between £1,050 and £2,250. You must be able to stump up the cash for your side of the deal and you cant use any additional loans or grants to pay for your project.
Dos And Donts How To Get Approved For A Government Business Grant
- Tailor your application for a specific grant. Each has different criteria that you must meet and is designed for a specific purpose. Your application needs to be specific to all of these.
- Address all eligibility criteria and answer every application question. Be succinct yet thorough and answer all questions. If you are unable to answer a question on the grant application then it usually means youre not ready. Rather than guessing or leaving it blank, make sure you get informed.
- Have a grant strategy. It helps to know which grants you are eligible for ahead of time. This means you can map out an application timeline and systematically address each grant.
- Consider specific projects instead of the business as a whole. Most grants are awarded for specific business activities such as product development, making import/export agreements and recruiting or training staff. For example, a technology startup is most likely eligible for grants, but only because its products or services meet certain criteria, not simply because its a technology startup.
You can also use a professional grant writers services to potentially improve your chances, to save time or help you enact a complex grant strategy with many applications. Ask about their experience, fees and success rate before hiring and dont be afraid to shop around. It can be helpful to find a grant writer who specialises in your industry or with the type of grant you want.
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Free Grants For Businesses
Among todays economic struggles and high unemployment rates, the best way to create positive change and economic improvement is by building businesses. For you, this could mean starting a new business, expanding an existing business, or taking your business in a different direction.
Business grants are like financial gifts to businesses. The sources of grants include corporations, foundations, government organizations, venture capitalist, etc. who donate millions in capital in the form of business grants, loans, contracts, sponsorships, etc.
Blaenau Gwent Kick Start Plus
A joint initiative funded by UK Steel Enterprise and administered by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council. The grant is aimed at supporting new businesses trading from six months up to three years old, to develop and expand. The maximum grant award for business is £1,000 and applicants must be able to fund 50 per cent of the total funding required.
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Shuttered Venue Operators Grant
The SBA introduced this COVID-19 grant as part of the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act. Shuttered Venue Operators Grants are available to individuals such as movie theater operators, talent representatives, and others who were affected by having their venue closed due to the pandemic.
Eligible applicants can receive a grant worth up to 45% of their gross earned revenue. The maximum grant amount is $10 million. To be eligible, applicants or venues must have been in operation as of February 29, 2020, and have not applied for or received a PPP loan on or after December 27, 2020.
As of August 2021, applications for Shuttered Venue Operators Grants are closed. The SBA intends to open the program for supplemental grants worth 50% of the original award amount, capped at a total of $10 million, but has not yet announced additional details. Visit the SBA website for updates on this timing.
Ben Franklin Technology Partners
Ben Franklin Technology Partners has been investing in startups in central and northern Pennsylvania for more than 30 years. Tech startups can potentially receive up to four yearly infusions of cash totaling around $500,000. Small manufacturers may be eligible for a one-time investment of up to $250,000. To learn more about eligibility, check out their website.
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How To Find A Grant For A Small Business
A quick Google search will pull up millions of results for business grants. So many possibilities are out there that it can seem impossible to narrow down the prospects. But there are a few resources that can not only help you find the right grants for your business, but even assist in the application process, and help you identify grant opportunities that cant be missed.
Shuttered Venue Operators Grants
The Shuttered Venue Operator Grant program has closed, but the SBA says that it will open the program for supplemental SVOGs for 50% of the original award amount, capped at a total of $10 million.
Those eligible businesses include:
- Live performing arts organization operators
- Relevant museum operators, zoos and aquariums who meet specific criteria
- Motion picture theater operators, or
- Talent representatives
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Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme
Youll have heard of this scheme. It helps start-ups to raise money for their business. You get a maximum of £150,000 including state aid awarded in the three years running up to the date of investment.
Make sure you meet the conditions so investors can claim and keep SEIS tax reliefs relating to their shares. Said tax reliefs will be withheld or withdrawn if you dont meet these conditions for three years after the investment. The money must be spent within three years of the share issue.
Which Businesses Can Get Grants
Many different funding sources offer grants to businesses as well as loans and contracts of all kinds: online or brick-and-mortar, big or small, local or international, service- or product-based whatever your business, there may be government business grants, loans, venture capital, or other types of funding available to you. Additionally, government grants to start or expand a business may be available to minorities, women, and other groups.You just need to be sure you qualify for the different programs.Dont be afraid to pursue a grant or a funding source because of a bad credit rating or lack of capital. Many grants are designed to provide disadvantaged entrepreneurs with the capital they need to start or improve their business.
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What Is A Grant In Business And Can My Company Get One
A grant is a sum of money given by the government or a public or private sector organisation either for a general purpose or something more specific .
To apply for a small business grant, normally you or your business must satisfy strict qualification criteria. Sometimes grants are only available to startups, in other cases more established firms can apply. You may have to operate in a certain sector or location. A grant might only be available to those who sell or want to sell overseas or to a business owner from a specific group, whether thats linked to gender, ethnicity, age or other criteria.
You do not have to pay back a grant, of course, but you are required to repay a loan. Sometimes relatively modest sums are available via grants, but others offer UK SMEs up to £100,000 or more in grant funding.
Free Startup Money: Where & How To Get A Grant To Start A Business
Does your startup need funding? Grants offer free money to good applicants, but they’re not as easy to apply for as you might think.
- Shannon VissersThe former editor-in-chief of SteelOrbis, Shannon has been researching and writing about small business software and financing since 2015. Her shopping and retail expertise has been cited in numerous publications, including Reader’s Digest, MSN, Yahoo Finance, and GOBankingRates . She has also published articles for LIVESTRONG.COM, eHow, Life’d, and other websites. Shannon attended San Diego State University, graduating in 2005 with a BA in English.
Expert Analyst & Reviewer
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Premises Improvement Grants Pendle
At present, theres only one grant available through Pendle Borough Council: Premises Improvement Grants.
These grants provide assistance of up to 50 per cent of eligible costs, up to a maximum of £3,000 . It applies to eligible buildings which are occupied by commercial users and are located within Pendle and town centre boundaries. It also covers redundant commercial properties within and immediately adjacent to the town centre planning boundaries.
Louisiana Community Development Block Grant
The Office of Community Development aims to improve the living environments and economic opportunities for Louisianaâs low-income residents. Although small businesses canât apply directly, you can contact the state or local government branches that are most relevant to your businessâs function and see if you can receive funding to do community work. There are also disaster recovery grants that are issued to businesses affected by hurricanes.
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State And Regional Small
Economic Development Administration: This U.S. Department of Commerce agency provides grants, resources and technical assistance to communities to support economic growth and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.
Each states agency helps businesses find financing , secure locations and recruit employees. You can search the economic development directory for regional offices and local resources.
Small Business Development Centers: Your local SBDC provides support for small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Theyre often associated with local universities or the states economic development agency, and many can help connect business owners with financing opportunities, as well as counseling, training and technical assistance.
Grants For Particular People And Places
You can access grants to small business program northwest territories. These grants are ideal for small businesses, sole proprietorships, partnerships, and cooperatives that have less than $500,000 in gross sales.
All Northwest businesses qualify for up to $15,000 a year under the SEED entrepreneur support program. The money can assist with the cost of startup, operational support, product promotion, market development, and capital assistance.
Aspiring farmers in Quebec are eligible for startup grant of up to $25000. The only catch is that they need to be between the ages of 18 and 40, and the projects need to steer sustainable development.
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