The pandemic has had a significant impact on many small enterprises. It is, without a doubt, the hardest challenge small business entrepreneurs have ever encountered. Our government has stepped in to help by offering several grants.

What is a business grant?

A grant is a financial gift from the federal, state, county and local governments, companies, or private firms to a person, business, corporation, or organization. The funds are used to help firms in growing their businesses. The best part about grants is that the organizations don’t have to pay them back. Each grant may have its own eligibility requirements, causing them to differ from one grant to another.

Here are some grants available to small companies to help during the pandemic.

Government grants

Name of grant: Community Navigator Pilot Program

Eligibility criteria: Non-profits who provide outreach, education, and training to small businesses in underserved areas.

Grant amount: $1 million – $5 million

Deadline of the grant: Ended on July 12, 2021

 

Name of grant: COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan

Eligibility criteria: Businesses located in low-income communities and experience a loss due to the pandemic.

Grant amount: Up to $10,000 in targeted EIDL Advances through SBA.

 

Name of grant: National Institute of Health (NIH) Grants

Eligibility criteria: Small businesses that develop and research biomedical technology. Multiple grants are available.

Deadline of the grant: Throughout 2021 and beyond

 

Name of grant: Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG)

Eligibility criteria: Live venues that were in operation as of Feb 29, 2020, and have been impacted by the pandemic.

Grant amount: Equal to 45% of 2019 gross earned revenue or $10 million, whichever is smaller.

 

Name of grant: Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

Eligibility criteria: Small businesses that are a for-profit company. Need to satisfy other requirements too.

Grant amount: $225,000 over 6 to 12 months (the period to be decided by the applicant).

Useful information: Highly competitive awards-based program.

 

Name of grant: Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR)

Eligibility criteria: Small businesses that have formal collaboration with a research institution. Should operate a for-profit company. Need to satisfy other requirements.

Grant amount: $225,000 over of 6 to 12 months (the period to be decided by the applicant).

Useful information: Smaller requests get higher priority.

 

Name of grant: USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program

Eligibility criteria: Technical assistance and training to small businesses, located in rural areas, with less than 50 workers, and with less than $1 million in gross revenue.

Grant amount: Generally, it ranges from $10,000 up to $500,000

Useful information: Grant money is intended for projects benefiting rural public entities, including towns, state agencies, nonprofits, higher education institutions, rural cooperatives, and federally recognized tribes.

 

Name of grant: U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

Eligibility criteria: Minority-owned businesses.

Grant amount: One grant of $300 K

Deadline of the grant: Offered throughout the year. One grant of $300K has been given by June 30, 2021.

 

Name of grant: U.S. Small Business Administration State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)

Eligibility criteria: Small businesses wanting to export products.

Grant amount: Recipients may receive up to $15,000 for various eligible international business activities for the award year. Average awards are between $2,000 – $3,000 per activity.

Deadline of the grant: Ended for 2021. This year’s deadline is not finalized yet.

 

Name of grant: U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)

Eligibility criteria: Projects that support regional and national economic development. Can apply for various rolling-basis EDA investments that fund projects in construction, non-construction, planning, technical assistance, research and evaluation, higher education, and more.

Grant amount: Economic Adjustment Assistance program offers grants from $100,000 to $1,250,000. The Public Works and Economic Development Facilities program offers grants from $200,000 to $3,000,000.

Deadline of the grant: Ended for 2021. The next deadline has not been announced yet.

General small business grants

Name of grant: GoFundMe Small Business Relief Fund

Eligibility criteria: Small business owners with existing campaigns.

Grant amount: $500 grants

 

Name of grant: KKR Small Business Builders

Eligibility criteria: Small businesses between 5 and 50 employees, less than $7 million in annual revenue, demonstrated a need for support, a strong plan for moving forward, and in good standing with the IRS or their local regulatory body.

Grant amount: Up to $10,000

Government contract assistance

Name of grant: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Program

Eligibility criteria: Small businesses must be over 50% owned/controlled by one or more service-disabled veterans, have day-to-day operations and long-term goals managed by at least one service-disabled veteran and have a service-connected disability.

 

Name of grant: Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contracting Program

Eligibility criteria: At least 51 percent owned and controlled by women who are U.S. citizens. Have women manage day-to-day operations and also make long-term decisions.

 

Name of grant: 8(a) Business Development Program

Eligibility criteria: Business with a certified 8(a) entity.

 

Name of grant: HUBZone Program

Eligibility criteria: Be at least 51 percent owned and controlled by U.S. citizens, a Community Development Corporation, an agricultural cooperative, an Alaska Native corporation, a Native Hawaiian organization, or an Indian tribe.

Industry-specific small business grants

Name of grant: Amber Grant Foundation

Eligibility criteria: Women entrepreneurs with a compelling story.

Grant amount: $10,000 grant each month and an additional $25,000 grant each December.

 

Name of grant: National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Growth Grants

Eligibility criteria: Need to be a member for at least 90 days.

Grant amount: Up to $4,000 to assist with training, marketing, and more.

 

Name of grant: Artwork Archive’s Art Business Accelerator Grant

Eligibility criteria: Visual artists.

Grant amount: 10 cash grants of $2,500 each.

 

Name of grant: Black Founder Startup Grant

Eligibility criteria: Black and multiracial women and nonbinary entrepreneurs.

Grant amount: Up to $10,000.

 

Name of grant: The Galaxy Grant by Hidden Star

Eligibility criteria: Minority and women-owned businesses.

Grant amount: $2,750

 

Name of grant: IFundWomen COVID-19 Relief Fund

Eligibility criteria: Women entrepreneurs must start a campaign on IFW.

Grant amount: Grants distributed on a rolling basis.

 

Name of grant: Patagonia Corporate Grant Program

Eligibility criteria: Nonprofits with missions to protect and preserve the environment.

Grant amount: Between $10,000 and $20,000.

 

Name of grant: PepsiCo Foundation Hispanic Business Program

Eligibility criteria: Hispanic-owned food and beverage businesses in major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Chicago, Miami, Denver, New York City, El Paso, Orlando, Phoenix, Albuquerque and Las Vegas.

Grant amount: $10,000

Deadline of the grant: Ended on June 25, 2021

 

Name of grant: Stacy’s Rise Project

Eligibility criteria: Women founded small businesses.

Grant amount: $10,000 grants to 10 women-founded small businesses.

Deadline of the grant: Ended on July 9, 2021

 

Name of grant: StreetShares Foundation Veteran Small Business Award

Eligibility criteria: Veterans, active-duty members and spouses or children of military veterans/active-duty members who lack the financial means to fund their business.

Grant amount: $10,000 each month.

 

Name of grant: SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund

Eligibility criteria: Restaurants and food establishments that have lost revenue due to the pandemic.

Grant amount: Minimum $1,000; up to $5 million per location.

Source: uschamber.com

 

The federal government’s support programs do not all flow directly to small enterprises. They provide some of the money to state and municipal governments and agencies, which then use the money to offer technical or educational aid on a local level.

The state-level business grants are typically aimed at the social or economic concerns of that state. They are relatively more accessible due to lower competition. Private grants from corporations and charitable organizations are also available with a typically less stringent application process. However, they often result in a higher competition.

As a small business owner or partner, you should search for business grants in your state to get the funding you need to run your business during such a tough time. To do so, browse through your state’s department of commerce website or the grants portal. From there, you can check your eligibility and apply for a grant suitable to you.

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About the Author: Lyle Solomon has considerable litigation experience as well as substantial hands-on knowledge and expertise in legal analysis and writing. Since 2003, he has been a member of the State Bar of California. In 1998, he graduated from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California, and now serves as a principal attorney for the Oak View Law Group in California.