1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
This listing may be outdated. Verify details at the official source before applying.
Find similar grantsNo deadline specified; program is first-come, first-served with $55 million available.
Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program (SmBIZ) is sponsored by North Carolina Department of Commerce. Provides grants to local governments in western North Carolina to rebuild public infrastructure supporting small businesses affected by Hurricane Helene.
Get alerted about grants like this
Save a search for “North Carolina Department of Commerce” or related topics and get emailed when new opportunities appear.
Search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program | NC Commerce Local governments in North Carolina located in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene can now apply for grants from the new Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program (SmBIZ) , a $55 million dollar fund designed to rebuild the damaged infrastructure that small businesses rely on to operate and thrive.
Commerce's Rural Economic Development Division administers the program, funded through legislation recently passed by the North Carolina General Assembly ( House Bill 47/Session Law 2025-2 ). The SmBIZ fund is not related to a separate, federal Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, which includes a Commercial District Revitalization component.
This CDBG-DR grant is managed by another Commerce business unit, the Division of Community Revitalization. Access the SmBIZ Grant Application First time visitors to our Rural Connect portal above will need to register as a new user.
Purpose of the SmBIZ Fund Provide financial assistance for community recovery and resilience to communities specifically impacted by Hurricane Helene, helping to bring back vital services for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Restore and repair critical infrastructure, allowing small businesses to resume function and operations to support economic recovery and sustainability.
Assist in restoring or expanding small businesses’ ability to attract customers to business districts to help retain business, expand access, spur private investment to create stability, and leverage resources to create resiliency and economic growth. The SmBIZ program will offer grants to local governments, and the related infrastructure projects will target and support small businesses that employ 150 or fewer employees.
Funding will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Grants awarded under this program must be used by local governments to address qualifying infrastructure needs that Commerce, in consultation with applicant local governments and related small businesses, determines are the result of Hurricane Helene’s impact and have adversely affected access to, or operations of, the identified small businesses.
Qualifying infrastructure must serve one or more businesses within the identified project area and must have been damaged by Hurricane Helene. The infrastructure cannot be owned by the small business, nor can it be such that the small business is responsible for maintaining it.
Infrastructure may include but will not be limited to water, sewer, gas, telecommunications, high-speed broadband, electrical utility, sidewalk and curb infrastructure, and other repairs that remove barriers and restore or increase access to impacted small businesses.
Guidelines & Statutes: Small Business Infrastructure Grants Guidelines & Statutes: Small Business Infrastructure Grants Guidelines | Small Business Infrastructure Grants Compliance | Local Government Certifications Document for the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program (smBIZ) This document is used by local government applicants to the North Carolina Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program (smBIZ) to certify that the information attached and included in the application are true, correct, and complete.
Compliance | Form Listing Businesses Involved with a Small Business Infrastructure Grant This document provides necessary information for each small business involved with the project.
Sample | Local Government Resolution for the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program (smBIZ) This document can be adapted and used to officially approve, at the local level, an application to be submitted to the Department of Commerce for a grant from the Small Business Infrastructure Grant program and is required to participate in the program.
For additional information: Rural Engagement & Investment Rural Economic Development Division hazel. edmond@commerce. nc.
gov This page was last modified on 06/17/2025
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Local governments in western North Carolina. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program (SmBIZ) is funded by North Carolina Department of Commerce. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in North Carolina. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
The solicitation lists 2 required documents: SmBIZ Grant Application via Rural Connect portal and Local Government Certification document. Check the official notice for formatting and page-limit rules.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
One North Carolina Small Business Program - SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds Program is sponsored by North Carolina Department of Commerce. This program provides reimbursement to qualified North Carolina businesses for a portion of the costs incurred in preparing and submitting Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposals to federal agencies.
One North Carolina Small Business Program (SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds Program) is sponsored by North Carolina Department of Commerce. This program provides reimbursement to qualified North Carolina businesses for a portion of the costs incurred in preparing and submitting Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposals to federal agencies. The goal is to increase the number and quality of NC applications for federal SBIR and STTR Phase I awards.
The Homeless Youth Program is a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services that funds services for homeless and at-risk youth across Illinois. Administered through the Office of Community and Positive Youth Development, it supports nonprofit organizations delivering shelter, outreach, and support services to young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Eligible applicants are Illinois-based nonprofits with demonstrated capacity to serve youth. Awards range from $100,000 to $800,000 per year under CSFA number 444-80-0711. This is a FY 2026 funding opportunity with an application deadline of May 21, 2025.
Community Investment Tax Credit Program (CITC) is a grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development that provides state tax credit allocations to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, enabling them to attract private donations from individuals and businesses. Donors contributing $500 or more to approved projects receive tax credits equal to 50% of their contribution. The program has leveraged nearly $27 million in charitable contributions to approximately 700 projects statewide. Eligible project areas include education, housing, job training, arts and culture, economic development, and services for at-risk populations. Projects must be located in or serve residents of Maryland's Priority Funding Areas. The application period is typically held annually.
The Families First Community Grant Program is a competitive grant initiative from the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) offering approximately $27 million in funding to support nonprofit organizations serving low-income Tennessee families. Grants fund programs across four priority areas: education, health, economic stability, and family well-being, aligned with TANF goals of promoting self-sufficiency. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits based in Tennessee that provide direct services to economically disadvantaged families. The 2025 application cycle closed July 10, 2025. This program reflects Tennessee's broader commitment to strengthening communities through strategic investment in local organizations that address the root causes of poverty.
The Commerce Department's August 2025 march-in proceeding against Harvard is the first invocation of an authority that sat dormant for 45 years. The policy precedent reaches every Bayh-Dole grantee — and the operational compliance gap is wider than most institutions realize.
Read articleThe EDA's May 11 NOFO will award 5-8 grants of $1M-$8M for AI workforce training — but only to employer-led sectoral partnerships, not standalone training providers. With a 60% federal cap and a 24-36 month performance period, the design favors regional coalitions over universities. Here is how to assemble a winning application.
Read article