Top Colorado Small Business Grants

Colorado small businesses may be able to access funding through business grants. This “free money” doesn't have to be paid back, but it does require some effort and time away from your day-to-day business operations. And while some grants are only available to Colorado small businesses through local and state government agencies, you can broaden your search to include national grants that are open to businesses across the United States.

Here are some small business grants available to Colorado businesses and tips on how to navigate the grant process.

There are local and statewide small business grants available specifically for Colorado small businesses.

Business owners in 24 states, including Colorado, may be eligible for this grant program, a collaboration between BMO and Deloitte. To apply, businesses must be at least 51% owned by women. Fifteen businesses will be awarded $10,000 grants through the program. application It will run until May 14, 2024.

• Advanced Industry Export Subsidy (Prize up to $15,000).

• State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grants (Prize up to $10,000).

• Community Business Preservation Program (Prize up to $50,000).

• Skills Enhancement Colorado Job Training Grants (The prize amount is not disclosed).

• Early Stage Capital and Sustainment Grants for Advanced Industries (Maximum prize is $250,000).

• Innovative Housing Incentive Program (Maximum prize is $350,000).

Depending on available funds, Customized Job Training Grants For Colorado-based entrepreneurs, this could be a good place to start looking for funding. These grants, jointly offered by the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), come in two types.

• Colorado First Provides funding for training of new hires to businesses relocating or expanding to Colorado.

• Existing Industry It provides funding to existing Colorado businesses to help them remain competitive in their industries, adapt to new technologies, and prevent layoffs.

of Colorado Department of Agriculture It provides grants to support small food retailers and small family farms with the goal of lowering the cost of healthy food and increasing access to healthy food across the state. The Small Food Business Recovery and Resilience Grant provides awards of up to $50,000 per business per year. There will be three grant rounds in the final year of the program. Funds can be used for eligible equipment, point-of-sale equipment, operating expenses, and accounting and bookkeeping support.

Through partnerships First Southwest Community Fund The Colorado Startup Loan Fund offers grants of up to $15,000 to small businesses with 10 or fewer employees. These grants are designed to help underserved businesses in rural Colorado and can be used for operating expenses, business plans, human resources and other business purposes.

There are many grants available to small businesses through nonprofit organizations Downtown Development Authority Located in Colorado Springs. Small businesses located in the city's downtown may be interested in the following grants:

• Building Improvement Subsidy (Prizes range from $10,000 to $50,000).

• Retail Incentives (Prizes range from $10,000 to $50,000).

• Tree canopy grant (Prizes range from $2,000 to $12,000).

The Denver Foundation TDF is a Colorado-based nonprofit focused on the seven counties of the Denver metropolitan area. The organization offers several grants focused on reducing racial, ethnic, and economic disparities. Grant awards typically range from $20,000 to $50,000. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) designation located in the Denver metropolitan area can apply for grant cycles each spring and fall.

While not exclusive to Colorado-based entrepreneurs, the grant programs below are open to businesses across the United States.

Interested in Federal Grants? Grants.govis a great site to find and apply for grants. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains this website, but you can find grant opportunities from all kinds of federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, the Agency for International Development, the Department of Energy, and the Department of the Interior.

Nonprofit Organizations National Association of the Self-Employed (NASE) offers growth grants of up to $4,000 to small businesses. Grants can be used for specific business needs, such as expanding facilities, hiring employees, advertising, and marketing. NASE requires organizations to provide detailed information about their membership, need for funds, how they would like to use the proceeds, and the impact on business growth. Applications are accepted quarterly.

American seed fund Coordinated by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), funding is provided through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Grants ranging from $50,000 to $1.8 million are designed to support small business innovation and technology. The grant process is lengthy, taking companies from proof of concept to technology development and the final stages of commercialization.

For female managers, Women'sNet Award We award numerous grants throughout the year. The Amber Grant, Startup Grant, and Business Category Grant are awarded $10,000 each month and $25,000 annually. These grants are available to businesses in the U.S. and Canada that are at least 50% owned by women. You can apply for all three grants with one application.

Administered through the SBA Small Entrepreneur Investor Program (PRIME) It provides funding to organizations such as nonprofits and tribal governments that support disadvantaged small entrepreneurs, including access to capital, training, and technical assistance.

If you have fewer than 99 employees and use FedEx for shipping, Corporate Grant Program The contest awards cash and prizes each year. Ten winners will be selected in 2024, with one Grand Prize winner receiving a $50,000 grant and the other winners receiving $20,000 each. Entries will be accepted from March 1 to April 1, 2024. To be eligible, you must have an active FedEx Business Shipping account that has been open for at least six months.

Here are some actions you can take to manage your grant application process:

Also, focusing on grants for which you are well qualified will help the evaluation process.

The grant application process takes time, especially the first time you apply. You may get more efficient with each application, but you still need to be diligent in your day-to-day work and put time and effort into the process.

It helps to determine how much time you can realistically devote to grant-related activities (daily, weekly, monthly) and schedule that time on your calendar. Keeping an eye on application deadlines can help you avoid missing them or wasting time on grants with submission deadlines that are not feasible.

Many of Colorado's small business grants have eligibility requirements. Some grants may base their eligibility on factors such as:

• Owner characteristics (such as gender, race, ethnicity, etc.).

• The industry in which the business operates (e.g. agriculture, manufacturing, biotechnology, etc.).

• For-profit or non-profit enterprise.

• How the money is spent.

• Business goals and missions.

• Projection of the number of jobs that will be created as a result of funding.

Before applying, you need to make sure that you meet the grant requirements, and the more relevant the grant is to your business' activities, the higher your chances of winning it.

Grants are highly competitive, and winning a grant is not always guaranteed.

A key part of the grant application process is making a compelling case for funding. Talk to trusted mentors and take advantage of pro bono business consultants in your area to help you make that case. Colorado Small Business Development Center or Score A representative from the office can help you create a needs statement and explain how the funds will benefit your business, your customers, and the surrounding community.

Also, be realistic about your chances of winning a grant. Grants are competitive, so you should also consider the following: Small Business Loans Program etc. SBA Loans traditional Bank loansIt’s a good idea to have a backup plan, especially if you need money immediately for your business or it’s essential for expansion.

Finally, understand that if a grant sounds too good to be true, it probably isn't. If a grant program is advertised in an unsolicited email or ad and requires a fee, you should investigate it thoroughly.