North Carolina Business and Commerce Grants

The One North Carolina Small Business Program offers two grant opportunities for small businesses in the state. The Incentive Funds initiative provides reimbursement to qualified businesses for a portion of the costs incurred in preparing and submitting Phase I SBIR or STTR proposals to federal agencies. A pool of $400,000 is available for these preparation grants in the 2023-24 fiscal year. The Matching Funds portion of the program awards matching funds to businesses who have already received a federal Phase I SBIR or STTR award. In the current fiscal year, a pool of more than $2.4 million is available to support this class of grants. To apply for either the Incentive or Matching grant solicitations, interested organizations can visit commerce.nc.gov/grants-incentives/technology-funds/one-north-carolina-small-business-program. Applications will be accepted until June 30, 2024, or until funds have been exhausted for the program’s 2023-24 fiscal year funding cycle.

This initiative provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations, local governments, and Tribal governments in coal-impacted communities to develop and scale innovative economic projects that create job opportunities and foster local economic transformation.

The purpose of the Rowan Chamber’s Small Business Assistance Grant pilot program is to strengthen and grow established businesses within the City of Salisbury. By making these grants available, the Chamber is fulfilling its mission of driving economic stability, diversity, and growth in our community. Accessibility to funding contributes to the strength and effectiveness of the entrepreneurial ecosystem which in turn supports and nurtures small businesses. The Chamber recognizes the value of entrepreneurism/small businesses who bring innovation, quality of life, jobs, and investment to the community. Businesses who receive funding through this program will be those who bring innovation and therefore have a unique competitive edge. They must be good corporate citizens and are encouraged to support their employees and other locally owned businesses. Applicants are not required to be Rowan Chamber investors (members) in order to participate. Since the funding is coming from the City of Salisbury, applicants must operate their business within the City of Salisbury limits. Since there are already a number of downtown business grants, this small business grant is designed to focus on priority corridors outside of downtown, for example: West End, South Main St. & West Innes St. Small business grant overview: Businesses located in City of Salisbury limits with 10 or fewer employees (or full time equivalent). They must be a legal entity and registered with the NC Secretary of State and have appropriate permits to operate. They must submit a quality business plan (FREE assistance available from RCCC Small Business Center) Grant funds may be used for a fixed asset utilized for the business or permanent improvements to physical space (examples: manufacturing equipment, lawnmower, vacuum cleaner, building signage, lighting, awnings, flooring) Grant funds may NOT be used for ongoing operational expenses (examples: rent, utilities, salaries, financing debt, inventory, memberships, legal fees) Grant requests may range from $5,000 – $10,000.

This program provides matching funds to small businesses in North Carolina that have received federal SBIR or STTR awards, helping them develop and commercialize innovative technologies.

This funding program provides financial support to Black- and Latinx-owned small businesses in Forsyth County, North Carolina, to help them succeed, retain jobs, and create new employment opportunities.

This grant provides financial support and mentorship to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs in the Midwest who are developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.

This program provides $50,000 grants to early-stage North Carolina startups with innovative concepts and a strong market potential, along with mentorship and resources to accelerate their growth.

This grant provides funding to public entities, nonprofits, academic institutions, and tribal governments for projects that support the conservation and recovery of at-risk wildlife species in Washington State.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in the Appalachian region for projects that promote economic diversification and workforce development in communities impacted by coal industry job losses.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to licensed dairy farms in the southeastern U.S. to improve their infrastructure and operational efficiency, enhancing profitability and sustainability in the dairy industry.

This program provides financial assistance to production companies organizing esports events in North Carolina, promoting economic growth through local spending and job creation.

This program provides financial support to small business owners in Raleigh, North Carolina, for interior improvements to underutilized commercial properties, promoting local economic growth and job creation.

This grant provides financial support to Black entrepreneurs who are positively impacting their communities, helping them grow and sustain their businesses.

This program provides matching reimbursement funds to small business owners and property owners in Raleigh for improving the exteriors of their commercial buildings, fostering community enhancement and economic growth.

This grant provides financial support for property owners and business tenants in Kinston's Downtown Historic Commercial District to improve building façades and preserve historical architecture, enhancing the area's visual appeal and attracting more businesses.

The Artist Support Grant, funded by Dare Arts in North Carolina, offers $500 to $1,000 to individual artists and small artist groups for professional development, completion of new work, career promotion, training, travel, and artist fees, with eligibility limited to residents of selected counties who are not full-time students or recipients of other FY 2024-2025 N.C. Arts Council funding.

This grant provides $10,000 in funding to early-stage startups in North Carolina that are validating their business models and developing innovative products, along with mentorship and resources to support their growth.

This funding opportunity supports collaborative research projects that combine local knowledge and scientific expertise to address coastal and water resource challenges in North Carolina.

This funding opportunity provides up to $8,000 for community projects in Charlotte that focus on litter prevention, waste reduction, beautification, and enhancing green spaces.

This program provides financial support to individual family farmers and community organizations in North Carolina for projects that enhance agricultural operations and promote local farming initiatives.