1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) Program is a program from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that funds geographically focused clusters of businesses, entrepreneurs, and research institutions working together to commercialize technologies and drive regional economic growth.
The program supports cluster organizations with technical assistance, capacity building, and access to federal resources to strengthen innovation ecosystems. Eligible recipients are cluster management organizations, economic development entities, and regional innovation hubs. Funding amounts vary by competition and cluster maturity.
Get a weekly digest of new grants like this
A free weekly digest of new foundation and federal funding opportunities as they're added to Granted. Unsubscribe anytime.
Or search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Regional Innovation Clusters | U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Innovation Clusters RICs support technology-focused small businesses in regions across the country. SBA's Regional Innovation Clusters (RICs) deliver direct support to innovative small businesses and startups across the country. RICs provide services like accelerators, market research, customer discovery, and government and commercial contracting assistance.
Want to work with an RIC? Look below to see if there is an RIC that focuses on your industry or technology.
Region served: Upper Midwest (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) Technologies/Industries supported: Defense, aerospace, high-technology for both federal and commercial markets Lithium Regional Innovation Cluster, StartUp Junkie Consulting, LLC Regions served: Northeast Texas, Southern Arkansas, Northern Louisiana, and West Mississippi Technologies/Industries supported: Lithium for the clean energy and electric vehicle transition Ozark Regional Innovation Cluster, Startup Junkie Consulting, LLC Regions served: Ozark region (counties in Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma) Technologies/Industries supported: Supply chain/supply chain technology Artificial intelligence/machine learning Region served: Southwest Montana Technologies/ Industries supported: Advanced engineering and critical materials Learn the latest news about RICs or look through their most recent awards .
If you have any questions about RICs or about accessing services from a RIC, please email RICs@sba. gov . RICs are managed by SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation (OII).
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Organizations seeking to start new Regional Innovation Clusters, especially those with strong partnerships and proven experience supporting critical industries. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) Program is funded by U.S. Small Business Administration. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
On September 2, 2026, SBA published an updated commercialization benchmark: firms with more than 25 Phase II awards in five years must derive at least 33 percent of total revenue from non-SBIR sources in FY2027, and 50 percent from FY2028 onward. It takes effect November 15, 2026. Because the measurement window looks backward three completed fiscal years, the first test is already decided — and the second is two-thirds decided. Here is the arithmetic, the history, and what firms near the line should do.
Read articleOn August 24, 2026, DOE and SBA signed a memorandum of agreement creating the Small Business Investment Company-Energy Initiative, pointing a $58 billion SBA-leveraged investment program at DOE's technology priorities. No application, no NOFO, no deadline. Here is how SBIC capital actually works, why a January 2026 rule change made this possible, and what a company sitting on a DOE Phase II award should do about it.
Read articleThe Small Business Administration's Manufacturing in America Empower to Grow initiative funds up to ten technical-assistance organizations with $5M each to deliver hands-on training to small manufacturers in aerospace, shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing, and seven other priority sectors. Applications close June 15, 2026 — and the three-year continuous-operation requirement is the rule that ends most LOIs before they start.
Read article