Small-business grants you can apply for in 2024 — and where to find them. (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) — Small-business owners in 2024 are facing a number of big obstacles, but there are a number of grants, loans and other business assistance programs to help them navigate those challenges.
Those challenges include high interest rates on business loans, the rising cost of lawsuits and litigation and inflation, among many others.
The Playbook has compiled a list of small-business grants that business owners can apply for in 2024. We have also included subsidized loans, government programs and other resources for small-business owners.
This page will be updated regularly with additional business grant opportunities in 2024.
Hello Alice offers $1,000 in “American Dream” grants
Hello Alice has set up a new small-business recognition and grant program in an effort to push back against a lawsuit filed by America First Legal challenging one of its grant programs. Visitors can nominate a small business, making it eligible for $1,000 grants and additional publicity and support in the form of a small-business accelerator. Applications are due April 30, 2024.
Women-owned businesses can apply for a $10,000 grant
This grant, sponsored by sustainable paper towel brand Papaya Reusables, is offering its own grant in support of Women’s History month. Women-owned small businesses can apply for the grant until March 31, 2024.
Applicants will need to talk about their company’s greater mission and how they would use the grant. Applicants are also asked to send in a short video message.
$10,000 small-business grants for food industry and culinary professionals
The Feed the Soul Foundation’s Restaurant Business Development Grant Program is offering $10,000 grants and six months of business development consulting and training services — a $5,000 value — to marginalized professionals in the culinary industry. The training and consulting includes financial education, marketing and advertising training and business development consulting.
The business must be at least 51% owned by a person who identifies as part of a marginalized community, must be located within the United States and must have been open for at least 24 consecutive months. Recipients must commit to attending two-hour virtual classes with industry experts from May to August 2024 and virtual or in-person meetings with consultants for a set amount of time each week.
Business must be able to provide three years of financial statements, including balance sheet, profit and loss statements, taxes and general ledgers. Applications for this business grant are due by Jan. 31, 2024 with winners notified April 15, 2024.
Small-business grants in 2024 with a rolling deadline
- Business owners that sign up for the free Verizon Small Business Digital Ready online community will be eligible to apply for grants throughout the year. Here’s how it works: Business owners can sign up for the free online resource, which aims to provide technical assistance, mentoring and other resources to underserved small businesses, and complete either courses, coaching or participation in community events to be eligible. The company provides up to $1M in grant funding a year.
- The National Science Foundation’s America’s Seed Fund provides millions in grant funding to small businesses and startups with big ideas. Applicants submit project pitches any time during the year, and if invited to submit a proposal, could end up getting funded. The grant program gives out roughly $200 million per year to eligible businesses.
- The National Association for the Self-Employed has its own $4,000 growth grant that it offers on a rolling basis. The catch? You have to be a member. The group has awarded nearly $1M in grants to members since 2006.
Cash and gift cards for jewelry makers
Business owners that work with silver jewelry or want to jumpstart their silver jewelry business may want to apply for the 2024 Halstead Grant that offers $7,500 in cash and a $1,000 gift card to a grand prize winner and $1,000 in cash and $250 gift cards to finalists. The goal is to help promote new talent and creativity in the jewelry industry. Applications must be postmarked by May 1st.
Small-business grant websites and resources
- Hello Alice offers small business grants, often in partnership with big names such as FedEx or DoorDash.
- Hello Skip, which showcases grant opportunities but also offers one-on-one consulting, business plan assistance and other paid-for services and memberships.
- Grants.gov, a federal government website that collects and lists various grant opportunities for businesses, non-profits and local governments. Often the grants are in niche areas or targeted to specific places or technologies.
Small-business loans and potential funding programs
- The CHIPS Act, which aims to boost domestic manufacturing of semiconductors and other high-tech products, has a number of funding programs and tax credits. While these are often for larger companies, the federal government is requiring companies to find small-business partners and suppliers.
- The Small Business Administration offers its 7a lending program for small-business capital needs, along with other loan types and services. The agency has spent the last few years boosting eligibility, expanding loan limits and streamlining its processes to encourage more small businesses to apply.
- Small-business owners in rural areas might want to check into the USDA’s Business and industry Loan Guarantee program, which offers loan guarantees of up to 80%, helping subsidize the risk of loans and keep the interest rate lower. Businesses can use the loans to purchase a building, modernize equipment or to acquire another company.