Only a few grants are available to start or expand a for-profit business unless you have invented a new technology. Most grants are available to non-profits and community organizations to expand their work or to fund special projects and activities.
SBIR/STTR Grants: If you have invented an innovative product that will serve the national interest, you may qualify for an SBIR or an STTR grant to help develop it. Grants are offered by 11 federal agencies through a competitive process. Information is available at SBIR.gov. If you think you may qualify for an SBIR grant, contact your nearest Small Business Development Center or Elevate Idaho for assistance in applying.
NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium and Idaho NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research: Research opportunities and student internships with NASA are available.
Federal Grant Resources: If you own an existing for-profit business that is engaged in the development of new processes or technologies, research activities, or uses natural resources in an innovative way, you may qualify for a grant. To find grant opportunities, see:
- Grants.gov
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grants in Idaho
- U.S. Department of Education
- U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Department of Justice
- U.S. Department of Labor
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- U.S. Economic Development Administration: Economic development assistance – available to communities and tribes
- U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) – grants are made through departments of Commerce to businesses that export.
- National Institutes of Health
- NASA
- Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management – grants are available to universities, non-profits, communities and tribes
- U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Grants Management
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation – WaterSMART water and energy grants
Grants for women business owners:
Amber Grants for Women: Monthly grants of $500 are offered. At the end of the year, one of the monthly winners will receive an additional $25,000. See WomensNet for details.
Cartier Women’s Initiative: Competitive grants up to $100,000 are awarded annually to women business owners.
Lenovo Small Business Grants: Available to women, minority and disabled business owners
Shea Moisture Grants: Available to Black women who own businesses in the beauty and wellness industry.
H&R Block Advisor Fund Her Future Grants: Grants up to $50,000 are available to women business owners.
Grants to Communities:
Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation: available to communities for projects that improve education, health and more
Idaho State Elks Association: Community Charity
Idaho Regional Travel Grant Program: available to chambers, visitors centers, travel councils and other community organizations
Wells Fargo Grants: available to community organizations and nonprofits for community development activities
Other Grants:
Made in America Grants: If you manufacture a product that is made in America and you have problems competing with foreign businesses, you may be eligible for assistance through the Northwest Trade Adjustment Assistance Center.
Idaho Department of Agriculture: grants and loans
Idaho Department of Lands: Forestry and Fire Grants
Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Centers: Business Builder Grants Program
Secretsos™ Small Business Grant: Micro grants available to start-ups who have been denied traditional funding
US Chamber of Commerce CO-100 grants – up to $25,000 available to established businesses, not start-ups
Amazon Business Small Business Grants
American Express Backing Small Businesses grants
HoneyBook Break Through Grant
FedEx Small Business Grants
Ebay Up & Running Grants: Recipients must have an active Ebay seller’s account.
National Association for the Self-Employed micro grants
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grants – Grants of $10,000 are available to small businesses (not non-profits)
KeyBank Foundation
Micron Gives: Available to non-profits
Non-profits: If you are a non-profit organization, these sites will be helpful:
- Idaho Nonprofit Center
- Candid (formerly the Foundation Center)
- Candid Foundation Directory
- Candid Learning – learn skills to help you with your non-profit
Other Programs: Special business assistance programs for women, minorities, veterans, the disabled, and others are available, but they are usually for low interest loans, government contracting opportunities, and other types of assistance, not grants.
Partnerships: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Tax Incentives: Your business may qualify for tax incentives (tax credits) for certain business activities, such as creating new jobs in an economically depressed area, hiring the long-term unemployed, or making workplace accommodations for a disabled employee. Incentives are offered at both the state and federal levels. State programs are listed on the Idaho Department of Commerce website. To find federal tax incentives, visit the Internal Revenue Service website. Also visit the Taxes page on this website to find additional resources.
SCOR/U-7 Finance Program: The Small Company Offering Registration program administered by the Idaho Department of Finance enables established businesses to accept investment funds from qualified Idaho investors without registering with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Challenge.gov: Government agencies having a specific need list it on Challenge.gov. Businesses and individuals can submit a solution. The needs regularly change, as do the requirements to submit a proposal.
Visa Everywhere Initiative: a global competition designed for technology startups that focus on solving commerce and payment issues.
To learn about funding for which your business may qualify, talk with a counselor at the Boise or Spokane Small Business Administration offices, the Idaho Small Business Development Center, or a SCORE counselor. Contact information for each organization is listed in the Assistance Resources section of this site. Counseling services are free.
