Connecticut Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program (CAP) Grant

Connecticut Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Program (CAP) Grant is sponsored by State of Connecticut. This program provides a dollar-for-dollar matching grant to assist businesses with Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) expenses.

The Best Business Grants in Connecticut | FundingTrail The Best Business Grants in Connecticut Securing capital is often the biggest hurdle for any founder. While loans and credit cards are common, they come with the weight of repayment and interest. Grants are the ideal alternative because they generally don't have to be paid back.

However, there is a catch: grants are highly competitive and can be very difficult to find. We've built this guide to help you understand the grant landscape in Connecticut. Connecticut's grant ecosystem is one of the most focused in the country.

There are grants for all businesses, but the state has two priority areas where it targets grant investment: advanced manufacturing and women-owned businesses. Award sizes range from $500 micro-grants for early-stage food businesses up to $100,000 for manufacturing modernization projects, with most programs offering rolling deadlines and matching-grant structures.

The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) anchors the manufacturing side of the state's grant landscape, administering seven distinct programs covering equipment modernization, additive manufacturing technology, apprenticeship and internship funding, cybersecurity certification, and incumbent worker training.

The Women's Business Development Council (WBDC) offers a comparable suite of grants supporting women-owned businesses at every stage, from early-stage launch funding through accelerator grants for established recipients.

Beyond these two anchor programs, Connecticut businesses can access geographic grants from southeastern Connecticut (seCTer), Middlesex County, the City of Middletown, and food-business grants in the Greater Hartford region. Connecticut businesses are also eligible for hundreds of national grant programs from federal agencies, corporations, and foundations.

Those programs aren't covered on this page, but you can search our complete grant database to see every state and national grant your business qualifies for. You can also join our free weekly newsletter to get new Connecticut grants delivered to your inbox as soon as they open.

BBB Breakthrough Accelerator The BBB Breakthrough Accelerator provides emerging small business owners with a 12-week accelerator program valued at over $5,000, culminating in a microgrant (typically $1,000 to $1,500) awarded to every graduate at the end of the program.

Administered by the BBB Foundation for Education and Entrepreneurial Leadership (FEEL), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliated with the Better Business Bureau, the accelerator is delivered in person at BBB campuses across the country, including Cromwell (CT), Fresno (CA), Phoenix and Prescott (AZ), Richmond (VA), and San Diego (CA).

The program equips small business owners with the strategies, mentorship, and tools needed to grow with intention, resilience, and integrity, with particular focus on those building without consistent access to traditional resources or support systems.

Participants pay a $99 program and materials fee to attend, and the curriculum covers core business topics including branding and digital presence, financial and legal foundations, sales, marketing, AI strategies, operations and leadership, and entrepreneurial resilience.

To qualify, applicants must be actively running a registered, revenue-generating business with at least six months of operation, be early in their growth journey, and be ready to strengthen operations and scale with intention.

In addition to the microgrant and educational programming, graduates receive one-on-one mentorship and strategy calls, on-site childcare during sessions, complimentary professional headshots, business tools to strengthen their online presence, curated networking with industry leaders and peers, and (at the San Diego location only) six months of coworking, podcast studio, and meeting room access.

CT Additive Voucher Program Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology The Additive Voucher Program (AVP) provides companies with a matching grant to assist with the acquisition of Additive Manufacturing technology. Eligible companies can apply for a grant up to $20,000 for Additive Manufacturing Hardware, Software, and related third-party integration services.

Funding is awarded on a first-come The program is administered by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology with funding provided through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development's Manufacturing Innovation Fund.

CT Apprenticeship Funding Program Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology The Apprenticeship Funding Program was created for the purpose of providing financial assistance to Connecticut manufacturing companies to support the addition and utilization of Registered Apprenticeships to train and fill critical positions required for stability, continuity, and growth of manufacturing companies.

Registered Manufacturing Employers may seek a wage subsidy for their registered apprentices and pre-apprentices. A single Employer Sponsor can apply for reimbursement for up to four (4) apprentices per year and (3) pre-apprentices per year (7 total per year). Reimbursement may be requested as often as every 6-months.

An employer who has at least four registered apprentices and three registered pre-apprentices may request a maximum of $26,250 every six months ( 7 x $3,750) or a maximum of $52,500/year (7 x $7,500). The maximum reimbursement that will be made for any one-named apprentice or pre-apprentice is $15,000 over the course of their entire apprenticeship program regardless of the number of years that they remain in an "apprenticeship" status.

There is presently no lifetime maximum that any one registered employer may receive from this program, only an annual maximum of $52,500. CT Child Care Business Opportunity Fund CT Women's Business Development Council WBDC, in partnership with the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC), offers grants of up to $25,000 to qualified child care businesses in Connecticut through its Child Care Business Opportunity Fund.

Designed to help licensed and aspiring child care businesses grow, the Opportunity Fund has grant programs targeting different stages of business, from start-ups to those ready to expand. CT Cybersecurity Adoption Program Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology The Cybersecurity Adoption Program (CAP) is designed to support Connecticut manufacturing companies seeking Cyber Security assessments and CMMC Certification.

The goal is to help companies striving to meet federal cybersecurity requirements. Up to $10K can used for a Cyber Assessment with the balance allocated to remediation. Eligible companies can apply for grant funding up to $35,000 in total to assist with cyber security assessments and CMMC adoption.

Participating companies must pay half the cost. The program is administered by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology with funding provided through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development's Manufacturing Innovation Fund. CT Sustainable Business Council GreenGain provides small Connecticut manufacturing companies with training, funding and mentoring support.

We help you identify simple ways to incorporate sustainability practices while improving economic gains, ensuring your business stays competitive in a rapidly evolving market and changing climate. Apply for matching funds up to $25,000 through our voucher program to support energy efficiency equipment upgrades, renewable energy projects, carbon accounting software, energy audits, Ecovadis certification and more.

CT Incumbent Worker Training Program Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology The IWT program is a matching grant program that offers financial reimbursement to manufacturing companies for providing up-skill training to their employees. The goals are: - To support advanced manufacturing and innovative companies in their efforts to train incumbent workers in the appropriate skills to meet current and emerging market needs.

- To bring technological innovation to the market and help manufacturing companies leap ahead in productivity and efficiency by enhancing the skills of their current workforce. - To grow sales revenue and increase profitability. The program will reimburse up to $50,000 of training costs annually.

Companies may submit multiple reimbursement applications so long as the aggregate amount does not exceed $50,000 in any given calendar year. There is no minimum grant amount that will be awarded to qualified applicants. The maximum amount of lifetime assistance provided to any one company by this program is limited to $100,000.

In order for a company to apply for reimbursement, they must meet all of eligibility criteria for the program. As an example, an applicant who can evidence having spent a total of $30,000 in training costs over the course of one year will be eligible for a potential grant of $15,000 ($15,000 grant + $15,000 company match).

CT Innovation Voucher Program Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology This grant program is intended to help Connecticut supply chain companies with the adoption and integration of IoT solutions. The program will provide matching grants up to $25,000 for digital hardware, sensors, platforms, and related third-party integration services. Project proposals that fall under any of the Industrial 4.

0 technology groups: Industrial IoT, Model-Based Definition, Extended Reality, and Adaptive Automation will be considered for funding. The goal of this program is to ensure that the Connecticut supply chain is positioned to implement modern digital manufacturing tools so that they can continue to compete favorably against any manufacturing sector in the world!

CT Manufacturing Internship Program Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Connecticut manufacturers of all sizes and industries can leverage our internship program to strengthen their teams and build a pipeline of future talent. Companies with fewer than 300 employees can apply for a matching wage subsidy grant, covering up to $14,000 for four qualified interns during the summer of 2026.

CT Manufacturing Voucher Program Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology The Manufacturing Innovation Fund Voucher Program (MVP) provides CT companies with access to capital to help them obtain new equipment and the expertise they need to become more efficient, productive, and competitive. Eligible companies can apply for a grant up to $100,000 to conduct a new project.

First-time applicants are required to provide a cash match of 2:1 and repeat applicants 3:1. That means, First time applicants provide 67% of the total proposed project cost and repeat applicants provide 75% of the proposed project cost.

The program is administered by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology with funding provided through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development's Manufacturing Innovation Fund. Greater Hartford Food Grants A grant and technical assistance program with different components for new and existing small retail and food related businesses located primarily in the greater Hartford region.

Grant awardees must have participated in a corresponding technical assistance program. ReSET is prioritizing businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, and those located in distressed municipalities in the greater Hartford region, as well as entrepreneurs living in or serving the greater Hartford area who are interested in developing and scaling a food business, including food products and services.

Between 36 and 45 grants will be awarded each year over the five-year span of the program. Grants range from $500 to $2,000.

WBDC Launch Pad Grant Program CT Women's Business Development Council The Women’s Business Development Council is offering grants of up to $2,500 to qualified start-up businesses The WBDC Launch Pad Grant Program offers newly established businesses the opportunity to receive a $2,500 grant to put toward start-up costs.

The grant funds cannot be used towards payroll/to pay yourself, real estate improvements (e.g. construction costs), reimbursement for past purchases or debt repayment. Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region The Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region has a $10,000 grant program for small businesses in southeastern Connecticut that need help with professional business services, equipment purchases, and inventory.

Eligible businesses must have been in business for at least one year, have an annual revenue between $35,000 and $1. 5 million, and be in good standing with the CT Department of Revenue Services. Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region The Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region has a $25,000 grant program for small businesses in southeastern Connecticut that need help with professional business services and equipment purchases.

Eligible businesses must have been in business for at least four years, have an annual revenue between $1. 5 million and $5 million, have at least five full-time employees, and be in good standing with the CT Department of Revenue Services. CT Women's Business Development Council The Accelerate Grant Program is designed to take your business to the next level!

This grant program is open to women-owned businesses that received a WBDC Equity Match Grant, Ignite Grant or Municipal Grant at least 12 months ago and have demonstrated revenue growth as a direct impact of receiving WBDC grant funding. A select number of applicants will be given the opportunity to participate in a Pitch Event, where an external review committee will select the grant recipients.

The grant funds cannot be used towards operating expenses (e.g. inventory, on-going marketing expenses, salaries), or for past purchases or debt repayment. Middlesex Business Operating Grants The Middlesex County Revitalization Commission offers grants to qualified small businesses in Middlesex County, Connecticut. The grants are designed to provide operating assistance for small businesses to continue and grow their operations.

This is a five-year grant program. The MCRC Business Operating Grants Program will distribute $200,000 in grants annually from 2023 to 2027. Small businesses (up to 50 employees and under $8 million in revenue) that have been in business for at least two years in a Middlesex County town may be eligible to apply.

Businesses may apply for up to $25,000 to help fund projects that spur business growth or mitigate a hardship. Middletown Business Operating Grant Businesses based in Middletown, Connecticut, and that have been in operation for a minimum of 24 months (among other qualifications) may be eligible for this operating assistance grant.

The maximum grant amount will not exceed $5,000 and can be used toward rent, utilities, and other ongoing fixed expenses and operating costs. CT Women's Business Development Council The Women’s Business Development Council offers grants of up to $10,000 to qualified women-owned small businesses in Connecticut. Ignite is designed to help women-owned businesses grow!

Grants between $2,500 and $10,000 will be awarded for clearly defined projects that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth and profitability. The grant funds cannot be used towards operating expenses (e.g. inventory, marketing expenses, salaries), real estate improvements (e.g. construction costs), reimbursement for past purchases or debt repayment.

Applicants are required to have invested at least $2,500 into their business in the last 12 months, unless located in a distressed municipality. Don't stop at state-level funding Most business grants aren't geographic, they're tied to your industry, your stage, or your team. Our database tracks 500+ programs across every category, and our free newsletter delivers new grants to your inbox each week.

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