If you are looking for potential grant opportunities for your business, check out our list below. Grants are categorized by type, offering a high-level overview of details such as eligibility requirements, designated purposes, and more. Please click on the grant name to find out more information about the grant or to apply.
Please note: The list provided is not exhaustive and there may be additional grant opportunities available for businesses. It is essential for business owners to conduct further research to determine their eligibility for any specific grants.
For small businesses that intend to train and upskill low-wage workers age 50+, this grant program will reimburse employers up to $2,000-$2,500 per employee for training.
Applicant is a small business with qualifying employee(s) 50+ years of age. Applicant intends to train qualifying employee(s) to improve or add to their job skills. Qualifying employee(s) currently earn $16/hour or less on average, and work at least 30 hours per week, and are W-2 employees. Training to be completed and reported by November 30, 2023. Applicant must demonstrate evidence increasing wage at least $2/hour once training is completed ($2.50/hour min. increase to earn the maximum grant award).
Etsy sellers may be eligible for relief funding thanks to CERF+, a nonprofit organization that provides support and preparation resources to artists during emergencies and disasters. This program grants up to $2,500 to Etsy sellers who have been through a natural disaster.
Businesses must be at least 51% WOC owned; Revenue generating (Minimum annual revenue of $100,000 strongly preferred); One to five years in business preferred; Formed under United States law and operating in the United States.
The HerRise Micro-Grant provides financial assistance, with the help of our corporate sponsors and donors, to Women of Color creating innovative solutions that impact their community and that are often unable to secure funding for their small business. Each month a $1,000 micro-grant will be awarded to a small business owner. Small business grants are useful for financing a particular small business need. Past recipients used their growth grants for computers, equipment, marketing materials, software purchase, website creation and more.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
$1,000
The HerRise Micro-Grant provides financial assistance, with the help of our corporate sponsors and donors, to women of color creating innovative solutions that impact their community and that are often unable to secure funding for their small business.
As an angel investment group, Hivers and Strivers works to provide capital to qualifying businesses. Specifically, the investment group funds projects submitted by veteran-owned and veteran-led businesses.
Rolling applications
Veteran Owned/Led Business in the early stage with opportunities for significant growth seeking initial investment of $200-$500K. Not investing in lifestyle businesses, franchises, trucking companies, or companies reliant on government contracts, etc.
Grant money can be used in whatever way Founders need to use it - like seeking professional assistance with preparing documents to qualify for funding. Complete full application which includes information about your business and a short pitch video. All completed applications will be reviewed and 50 grant semi-finalists will be selected for our final judging round. All 25 grant finalists are announced during a live press event.
2024 Kitty Fund applications open in March 2024. You may pre-register for the funding opportunity beginning now.
$25,000
Must be a CEO, President, or Business Owner. The founder identifies as a mother. Business must be located in the United States. Business annual revenue does not exceed $5M. Must have between 2 to 50 employees.
Applicants must be at least 21 years of age at the time of application. Applicants must be a veteran, Reservist, National Guardsman, or transitioning active-duty Military Member of any of the United States Armed Forces, the spouse of a Military Member, or the surviving spouse or child of a Military Member who died on active duty (i.e., a “Gold Star” family member). Applicants must be low-income and otherwise lack the financial means to start, or grow, an early-stage business or nonprofit. Applicants must own at least 51% of the business entity described in the application. Business entities, as defined in these rules, include sole proprietorships, legally incorporated LLCs, S-Corps or C-Corps (or formal partnerships) created under the laws of any U.S. jurisdiction. If the Applicant is applying in conjunction with a nonprofit organization, the Applicant must be the organization’s senior executive director or equivalent in order to be eligible for the grant. The nonprofit or business entity will also be evaluated on its positive social, community, educational, military-transition, veterans’ employment, health and wellness, or veterans’ mental health/spiritual impact on the American military and veteran community in addition to or in conjunction with the business or nonprofit functions.
The $25,000 fund will make investments to 25 LGBTQIA+ led businesses in the United States. Based on stage of growth and need, explore options for developing and acquiring a brick-and-mortar property to expand your business.
5/1/2024 Pride Fund Applications Open. May preregister for the funding opportunity now.
Identify as a LGBTQIA+ business owner. 2 to 50 employees. Business Annual Revenue does not exceed $5M. Must be a CEO, President, or Business Owner. Minimum of 1 year in business. Have an active U.S. based business.
There are no specific requirements on how to allocate the funds. However, it is encouraged that you put the money toward keeping your workforce employed, pay rent, operation, and inventory costs, connect to other customers, and provide opportunities to your community.
$500 - $2,000
Black-owned business, with 20 or fewer employees, and brick - and mortar shop in the US. Store must earn an average revenue of under $1 million dollars.
Grant awards may be used to defray the cost a grantee incurs to acquire, construct, rehabilitate, install, improve or equip an eligible innovation infrastructure project. Grants may be used for eligible innovation infrastructure projects designed to transform and accelerate growth in the following eligible technology sectors.
October 16, 2023 -November 17, 2023
A single entity may not be awarded more than $2,000,000 in grant funds in a fiscal year.
The Build Our Future Grant Pilot Program and Fund (Fund) is a financing resource operated by the Maryland Department of Commerce (Commerce), to provide grants for innovation infrastructure projects intended to support innovation in an eligible technology sector. In FY24 $10 million is available for grants to transformative projects that accelerate the growth of the state’s strategic industry sectors. Grants may be awarded to private companies, nonprofit entities, local governments, or colleges and universities in the State.
The Cannabis Business Assistance Loan/Grant Fund (CBAF) is a financing resource operated by the Maryland Department of Commerce (Commerce), to provide grants and loans for small businesses, including small, minority-owned and small women-owned businesses entering the adult-use cannabis industry. CBAF also provides grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for cannabis-related programs and to business development organizations, including incubators, to train and assist small businesses, including minority and women business owners and entrepreneurs, seeking to become licensed to participate in the adult-use cannabis industry.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Grants will be provided to qualifying businesses as follows: Existing Dispensary License Holders - $25,000 per license Existing Processor License Holders - $50,000 per license Existing Grower License Holders - $50,000 per license
Applicants must be a small business, defined as an existing license holder with 0-50 employees per license as of May 1, 2023; and Personal Net Worth Qualification – The business must be at least 51% owned by individuals whose personal net worth does not exceed $1.7 million. For the purposes of this program, net worth is defined as: the value of the assets of an individual remaining after total liabilities are deducted including the individual’s assets held jointly or as community property with the individual’s spouse. Net worth does not include The individuals’ ownership interest in the applicant. The individual’s equity in the individual’s primary place of residence; or The cash value of any qualified retirement savings plans or individual retirement accounts.
The ExportMD Program helps to offset some of the costs of marketing internationally for Maryland's small and mid-sized companies.
$5,000 reimbursement
Must have business operations in Maryland and be in good standing with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation
Applicants must be a small business planning an international business initiative to commence and conclude within six months of the application deadline.
There is a $4,500 training cap funding level that may be awarded to a specific trainee for a project or series of projects during a program year running from July 1 through June 30 each year with a $40,000 funding cap for awards to a specific employer for a project or series of projects during the program year. Training funds can be used to upgrade the skills of current employees while also creating opportunities for new hires in in-demand occupations and skills. Participants completing the program will gain transferable skills or industry-recognized certifications or credentials, leading to potential career growth and increased wages. Projects will be industry-focused and employer-based, targeting small business, particularly at the local level.
Open
With a substantial initial investment of $500,000 in business engagement funds, the Maryland Department of Labor is eager to partner with Maryland’s businesses to support employer strategies for retention, growth and, expansion. This project requires a dollar-for-dollar match by the employer, which allows for an overall investment of $2 million in incumbent worker training. For-profit and non-profit private sector businesses headquartered in (or with at least one permanent physical location in) the State are eligible to participate in the Maryland Business Works program. Funds will be primarily targeted to the following: Small businesses with 500 employees or fewer, and
The Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 grant program provides grants to small and mid-sized Maryland manufacturers to invest in Industry 4.0-related technologies, machinery and robotics, and digital business practices in order to remain competitive and drive growth. 20% of the funds will be reserved for small manufacturers with 3-50 employees.
Applications are due by Wednesday, October 18, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
Grants of $25,000-$500,000 will be made available to manufacturers to adopt new technologies, machinery and robotics, and digital business practices in order to remain competitive and drive growth.
Companies with 3-50 Employees Require 25% Match. Companies with 51-250 Employees Require 50% Match.
Administered by UMBC and funded by the State of Maryland, the program offers financial assistance to technology-based businesses, as well as state and local agencies, to hire more interns.
The Maryland Technology Internship Program can reimburse employers for up to 50% of an intern’s wage and up to $3,000 annually per intern ($1,800 for the first semester and $1,200 for subsequent semesters).
Internship funding is available to Maryland technology-based businesses and state and local agencies offering paid internships.
PWQ provides matching training grants and support services targeted to improve the competitive position of small and mid-sized manufacturing and technology companies. Grants are used to increase the skills of existing workers for new technologies and production processes, improve employee productivity and increase employment stability.
Applicants should have a minimum of ten full-time employees. At least 60% of available funds must be awarded to employers with 150 or fewer employees in the State. The Program encourages the participation of small and minority-owned businesses.
Priority will be given to manufacturing and technology companies. In regions of the State where regionally important industries have been identified beyond manufacturing and technology, justification should be provided to approve PWQ funding.
Seed Funds are invested in companies that show promise of becoming venture-fundable companies or are companies that, through a seed investment, will be sustainable through customer revenue, follow-on funding, or other forms of the corporate venture.
Rolling applications
Specific Seed Investment Funds are available- Technology Commercialization Fund, Technology Fund, Life Science Fund, and Gap Fund
Early Stage MD Technology companies - For companies applying for their first investment from Builder, all companies must have started operations within five years from the date of the application and investment.
Pre-seed technology start-ups from all industries. However, to be applicable, a company must meet all of the following qualifications: Principal place of business is in Maryland, At least one full-time employee, No less than 50% of founders demonstrate economic disadvantage
The Perdue School of Business Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery is a bi-annual Mid-Atlantic business competition. The Shore Hatchery is open to any Mid-Atlantic business startups. It is a ten-year $2 million initiative, which began in 2013. The program assists entrepreneurs in creating new businesses and jobs in the region. Startups apply for a share of $200,000 annually. The goal of the Shore Hatchery is to reward individuals for their entrepreneurial efforts in the creation and growth of businesses with the potential of positively impacting regional employment within three years. Businesses are required to report back to the Shore Hatchery board annually on their progress.
