Business & Economic Development Grant Programs
Small business, entrepreneurship, economic development, and trade programs.
Category overview. The Business & Economic Development category groups 42 active federal assistance programs from the SAM.gov Assistance Listings catalog. These programs run across 6 distinct federal agencies, with the heaviest concentration at U.S. Department of Commerce (19 programs), U.S. Small Business Administration (13 programs), U.S. Department of Labor (5 programs). Every listing feeds into the Grants.gov announcement system, where agencies publish their Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) with specific deadlines, forms, and evaluation criteria. Categories exist to help applicants find relevant programs quickly, but each program has its own authorizing legislation and rules.
Funding scale. SAM.gov publishes funding range data for 40 of the 42 business & economic development programs. The largest listed award ceiling in this category is $500.0 million, and the median ceiling across programs with published ranges is $5.0 million. Published award ranges reflect the envelope across all awards a program may issue in a year, not the amount any single applicant should expect. Appropriations, applicant pool size, and scoring all shape the final allocation. First-time applicants are wise to read several historical award announcements in a category to calibrate realistic project budgets.
Who applies. Across the 42 business & economic development programs, the most frequently listed eligibility categories are nonprofit (20 programs), state local gov (17 programs), for profit small business (16 programs). Every applicant must hold an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID (UEI), regardless of entity type. Nonprofits should keep their IRS determination letter on file; state and local governments route submissions through an authorizing official; tribal organizations apply under set-aside rules; educational institutions typically work through an institutional pre-award office. The PlainGrants business & economic development listings link directly to each program's CFDA page, where you can check current eligibility, funding range, open Grants.gov opportunities, and the administering agency.
42 active business & economic development programs:
8(a) Business Development Program
Developmental assistance for small disadvantaged businesses to compete in the mainstream economy.
Eligible: for profit small business
AmeriCorps VISTA
Grants providing volunteers to build capacity of nonprofits and government agencies serving low-income communities.
Eligible: nonprofit · state local gov
Up to $200K
Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
Grants to expand broadband access and adoption in unserved and underserved areas.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $100M
Capital Magnet Fund
Competitive grants and loans to CDFIs and nonprofits to attract private capital to affordable housing.
Eligible: nonprofit · for profit small business
Up to $15M
Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Reserve
Grants to support coastal zone management programs and national estuarine research reserves.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $5M
Community Advantage Loans
Loans through mission-based lenders for small businesses in underserved markets including low-income areas.
Eligible: nonprofit
Up to $5M
Community Economic Adjustment Assistance
Grants for communities impacted by base realignments and closures to develop economic revitalization plans.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $5M
Disaster Assistance Loans for Non-Farm Businesses
Low-interest SBA loans to businesses of all sizes to repair or replace disaster-damaged property.
Eligible: for profit small business
Up to $2M
Distressed Areas Program
Regional economic development grants for distressed communities experiencing significant economic dislocation.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $20M
Economic Adjustment Assistance
Grants to help communities experiencing severe economic distress adjust to economic changes.
Eligible: state local gov · tribal gov · nonprofit
Up to $5M
Economic Adjustment for Coal Communities
Economic development support for coal-impacted communities transitioning to diversified economies.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $5M
Economic Development Assistance Programs
Comprehensive economic development grants for planning, public works, and technical assistance in distressed areas.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit · tribal gov
Up to $5M
Economic Development Technical Assistance Program
Technical assistance grants for economic development planning and implementation in distressed areas.
Eligible: state local gov · educational institution · nonprofit
Up to $1M
Economic Development — Technical Assistance
Planning and technical assistance for university centers supporting economic development in distressed areas.
Eligible: educational institution · nonprofit
Up to $500K
Entrepreneurship Education and Training
Grants to develop and deliver entrepreneurship education programs for potential and existing entrepreneurs.
Eligible: educational institution · nonprofit
Up to $1M
Financial Assistance to Fisheries Affected by Disasters
Direct financial assistance to fishermen and fishing communities affected by fishing disasters.
Eligible: for profit small business
Up to $200K
Fisheries Development and Utilization Research
Research and development to improve commercial fishing industry productivity and sustainability.
Eligible: educational institution · for profit small business
Up to $1M
Fisheries Finance Program
Loan guarantees for fisheries and aquaculture businesses for vessel construction, equipment, and working capital.
Eligible: for profit small business
Up to $10M
Global Connect Initiative
Technical assistance and grants to help U.S. businesses expand globally and access international markets.
Eligible: for profit small business · nonprofit
Up to $500K
HUBZone Program
Federal contracting assistance for small businesses in historically underutilized business zones to stimulate community development.
Eligible: for profit small business
Investments for Public Works and Economic Development
Public works grants to help distressed communities build infrastructure and create jobs.
Eligible: state local gov · tribal gov · nonprofit
Up to $10M
Microloan Program
Grants to intermediaries to provide microloans and technical assistance to small businesses and startups.
Eligible: nonprofit
Up to $5M
Minority Business Development
Business development services for minority-owned businesses through the Minority Business Development Agency.
Eligible: nonprofit · educational institution
Up to $2M
Minority Serving Institutions Digital and Technology Opportunity Program
Grants to MSIs to increase access to technology education and prepare students for technology careers.
Eligible: educational institution
Up to $3M
Native American CDFI Assistance Program
Financial and technical assistance to Native CDFIs to build capacity for serving Native communities.
Eligible: nonprofit
Up to $2M
New Markets Tax Credit Program
Tax credits to attract private investment into low-income communities through CDFIs and community development entities.
Eligible: for profit small business · nonprofit
Up to $50M
Recompete Pilot Program
Grants to distressed communities to create good jobs and equitable economic development through local strategies.
Eligible: state local gov · nonprofit
Up to $200M
Registered Apprenticeship
Grants to expand registered apprenticeship programs connecting employers to qualified workers.
Eligible: state local gov · for profit small business
Up to $5M
SBIR Fast Track
Accelerated commercialization pathway for small businesses moving from Phase I to Phase II SBIR.
Eligible: for profit small business
Up to $2M
Small Business Administration Disaster Loans
Low-interest disaster loans for businesses and homeowners to repair or replace property damaged by disasters.
Eligible: for profit small business · individual
Up to $2M
Small Business Development Center Grants
Grants to host organizations providing business counseling, training, and technical assistance to small businesses.
Eligible: educational institution · nonprofit
Up to $5M
Small Business Innovation Research (SBA)
Competitive grants to small businesses to engage in federally funded R&D with commercialization potential.
Eligible: for profit small business
Up to $2M
Small Business Investment Companies
SBA-licensed investment funds that provide equity capital, long-term debt, and management assistance to small businesses.
Eligible: for profit small business
Up to $50M
Small Business Technology Transfer (SBA)
Cooperative R&D grants for small businesses partnering with nonprofit research institutions.
Eligible: for profit small business
Up to $1M
State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
Grants to increase export of products and services by small businesses through state-level trade programs.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $2M
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms
Technical assistance to manufacturers injured by import competition to help them improve competitiveness.
Eligible: for profit small business
Up to $150K
Trade Adjustment Assistance Workers
Re-employment services for workers who lose jobs due to international trade including training and income support.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $30M
Unemployment Insurance
Grants to states for the administration of the federal-state unemployment insurance system.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $500M
USAID International Development Grants
Grants supporting economic growth, democracy, health, and humanitarian assistance in developing countries.
Eligible: nonprofit
Up to $10M
Women's Business Center Grants
Grants for women's business centers providing business training and counseling to women entrepreneurs.
Eligible: nonprofit
Up to $250K
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Grants to states to administer the federal tax credit program encouraging employers to hire targeted groups.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $2M
Workforce Data Quality Initiative
Grants to improve state workforce longitudinal data systems tracking outcomes for employment programs.
Eligible: state local gov
Up to $3M
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
| Publisher | Kiznis Studio |
| Sources | Public official public datasets |