6 Small Business Grants You Probably Didn’t Know About

While there are many ways to fund a business, grants are a great way to get money into your business without incurring debt. You can use grants to pay workers, pay rent or mortgage for the business, scale the business and so much more. However, many small business owners are without the capital they need because they aren’t aware of all the grants out there. 

That’s why we’ve found six grants that small business owners probably don’t know about but definitely should!

1. New York State COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program 

If you’re a business owner in New York, you may be eligible for the New York State COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program. 

According to their website, this grant is for:

• Small businesses
• Micro-businesses
• For-profit independent arts and cultural organizations

Specifically, those who have received economic hardship because of COVID 19. You’ll be able to use this grant to cover payroll, rent/mortgage, utility, insurance, and other expenses. 

The maximum grant amount is $50,000 but how you’ll be rewarded depends on your business’ annual gross receipts for 2019. 

For a full list of eligibility requirements, required documents, and everything else you need to know about this grant, visit their website. 

New York State also has many other grants, you check out the list here to see if you’re eligible. 

2. Back to Business Grant 

The Back to Business Grant Program is being offered by the government of Illinois. This grant which has a total of $250 million dollars is geared towards those hit the hardest from COVID-19 in Illinois. 

If your business didn’t qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program, Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and other federal assistance then this may be the grant for you. 

According to their website, the grants will range from $5,000 to $150,000 per business and up to $250,000 for hotels. 

Eligible businesses are those that had revenue of 20 million dollars or less in 2019 and had a reduction in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

To check out other requirements and how to apply please visit the Illinois government website. 

3. California Small Business Relief Grant Program 

If your business is based in California then the California Small Business Relief Grant Program may have your name on it. 

This grant which is funded by the State of California is accepting new applications from now until September 30, 2021. This is the 9th round of applications. 

The grant, which ranges from $5,000 – $25,000,  is for small businesses and small nonprofits who are:

• Currently operating or have a clear plan to reopen in California when the state removes restrictions.
• Operational no later than June 1, 2019

For more information about the grant and the application process, please visit their website. 

4. Louisiana Nonprofit and Small Business Assistance Program

If you have a small business or a non-profit in the state of Louisiana, then this grant may be right for you. This grant is aimed at helping businesses and non-profit recover from COVID-19. 

Some of the eligibility requirements for small businesses are:

• Must be registered as a corporation, LLC, partnership or sole proprietorship.
• Must use funds for workforce development activities
• Have 50 or fewer full-time workers
• Be in compliance with applicable federal and Louisiana tax laws for tax years 2019 and 2020
• Be operational since June 17, 2021

Eligible applicants may receive up to $25,000 in grant money. For further information and application instructions visit the Lousiana Department of Revenue Website. 

5. New Small Business Grant 

If you have a new small business in Ohio, then you may be in luck. The Ohio Department of Development will be administering 10 million dollars for the new small businesses. 

To be more specific, the business would have had to be established between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2020. 

The grant amount for all awardees is $10,000 and some of the requirements are:

• Must be located in Ohio
• Have at least two and no more than 25 Ohio employees paid via W2 wages as of Jan. 1, 2021.
• Not a previous recipient of the Small Business Relief Grant

The grant may be used for expenses such as: 

• PPE to protect workers and clients from COVID-19
• Mortgage or rent payments for business premises
• Business supplies or equipment
• Utility payments 

For more information on this grant and others, you can visit the Ohio government website and access the fact sheet here. 

6. Wisconsin Tomorrow- Main Street Bounceback Grant

This grant is to help businesses move into vacant commercial lots in Wisconsin’s downtowns and commercial corridors.

The grant, which is capped at $10,000 can be used to pay leases or mortgages, operational expenses, and other business costs related to the newly opened location.

Some of the eligibility requirements are:

• You must be moving into a vacant commercial space or has moved into a vacant commercial space as of January 1, 2021
• Your business should have vacated into a vacant property so you can access this grant
• The business is located within the region administered by the regional partner organization to which it applied

You can get more information about this grant and how to apply here. 

 How to Apply for Grants 

You can check out our step-by-step funding application guide to get a basic idea of how to apply for grants. However, if you really want to ensure you stand out from the competition and have a greater chance of securing the grant, check out our Winning Grant Cheatsheet and Checklist. Our ebook has helped many people secure funding for their business so we know it can help you.