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Find similar grantsSmart Start Business Development Grant (Portsmouth Economic Development Authority) is sponsored by Portsmouth Economic Development Authority (EDA). Provides financial support for new and recently established startups and small businesses to assist with expanding entrepreneurial opportunity, business resiliency, and organizational development within the City of Portsmouth.
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Smart Start Business Development Grant | Portsmouth Economic Development Smart Start Business Development Grant Portsmouth Economic Development (PED) Homepage Smart Start Business Development Grant The Smart Start Business Development Grant Program is designed to provide financial support for new and recently established startups and small businesses to assist with expanding entrepreneurial opportunity, business resiliency, and organizational development.
New eligibility requirements begin FY2026!
New and recently established for-profit small businesses and non-profit organizations with operations based in the City of Portsmouth Available to businesses that have been in operation for 0-3 years (as evidenced by a City of Portsmouth business license) Available to businesses with 10 full-time equivalent (FTE) or fewer positions Businesses utilizing a co-working space mailbox must prove Portsmouth residency with a 12-month residential lease or proof of home ownership.
Co-working space tenants are required to have a minimum of a 12-month lease. Copy of lease is required. Proof of Portsmouth residency is required for home-based businesses.
Entities of local, state, or federal government, religious organizations, and residential-use businesses are prohibited from applying. Businesses current with City of Portsmouth taxes and fees Maximum Grant Award: $2,000 Grant funds must be expended within 90 days of award Recipients of the Smart Start Business Development Grant may only receive funding one time under the program.
No more than two grant applications may be submitted per business principal within a five-year period. Completion of the Santa Clara University's My Own Business Plan Institute (MOBI) online course or provide documentation of completion of an approved equivalent certification course Grant Submission Schedule Applications for the 2026 Fiscal year are accepted according to the submission schedule below.
Applications received after the cutoff date will be considered by the Portsmouth EDA in the following round. Round 1: Open July 1 - 31, 2025 Round 2: Open October 1 - 31, 2025 Round 3: Open January 1 - 31, 2026 Round 4: Open April 1-30, 2026 Application & Approval Process The Smart Start Business Development Grant application is a four-step process.
All applicants must first complete the Santa Clara University's My Own Business Plan Institute (MOBI) online course or provide documentation of completion of an approved equivalent certification course. (Additional resources available. Please contact Portsmouth Economic Development Staff).
Upon completion of the required coursework, the completed Smart Start Business Development Grant application is to be submitted to Portsmouth Economic Development for review and is not considered submitted if incomplete. Completed applications (those containing all required documentation) will be reviewed to determine completion status and adherence with program guidelines.
Approval or denial of an application lies within the discretion of the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority's (EDA) Board of Commissioners, considering factors such as the degree to which the business activities contemplated by the application further the goals of the program, the degree of the need for the funding, the level of funding requested, the amount of program funds remaining for the fiscal year, and any other factors the Board of Commissioners may deem relevant.
When an application is approved, the applicant will enter into a Grant Agreement with the Portsmouth EDA, agreeing to accept the approved grant funds. If the grantee needs to make any changes to the use of grant funds as proposed in the application, the grantee must notify Portsmouth Economic Development in writing in advance of the changes.
The Smart Start Business Development Grant is funded entirely by the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority (EDA). Eligible activities are only those under Section V of these Guidelines and must directly and primarily benefit the business for which the Grant award is received. The maximum grant amount available for any approved application is $2,000.
Recipients of the Smart Start Business Development Grant may only receive funding one time under the program. No more than two grant applications may be submitted per business principal within a five-year period. Funding is available until the funding pool has been exhausted each fiscal year as appropriated.
All recipients are required to enter into a Grant Agreement with the Portsmouth EDA. Recipients have 30 days to begin eligible business activities and 90 days to complete them.
Extensions for an additional 90 days may be granted on a case-by-case basis Small scale production/manufacturing equipment, machinery, tools, etc. Technology and digital infrastructure (hardware, software, digital platforms, etc.) Business furniture and fixtures Wages, benefits, payroll expenses Operating costs (utilities, insurance, etc.) Residential-use furniture Decorative items (wall art, decor, etc.) Required Documentation For Application All documentation must be submitted by the close of the grant application round.
Completed Portsmouth Vendor Registration Form Rev 1-30-2024 Copy of City of Portsmouth business license Copy of "Articles of Organization" from the Virginia SCC Documentation of completion of the Santa Clara University's MOBI online course or of an approved equivalent certification course Complete business plan that includes an explanation of use of grant funding using the MOBI Business Plan Template Two quotes per product/service you will purchase with grant funding Grant Submission Schedule Application & Approval Process Required Documentation For Application The Smart Start Business Development Grant Program is designed to provide financial support for new and recently established startups and small businesses to assist with expanding entrepreneurial opportunity, business resiliency, and organizational development.
New eligibility requirements begin FY2026!
New and recently established for-profit small businesses and non-profit organizations with operations based in the City of Portsmouth Available to businesses that have been in operation for 0-3 years (as evidenced by a City of Portsmouth business license) Available to businesses with 10 full-time equivalent (FTE) or fewer positions Businesses utilizing a co-working space mailbox must prove Portsmouth residency with a 12-month residential lease or proof of home ownership.
Co-working space tenants are required to have a minimum of a 12-month lease. Copy of lease is required. Proof of Portsmouth residency is required for home-based businesses.
Entities of local, state, or federal government, religious organizations, and residential-use businesses are prohibited from applying. Businesses current with City of Portsmouth taxes and fees Maximum Grant Award: $2,000 Grant funds must be expended within 90 days of award Recipients of the Smart Start Business Development Grant may only receive funding one time under the program.
No more than two grant applications may be submitted per business principal within a five-year period. Completion of the Santa Clara University's My Own Business Plan Institute (MOBI) online course or provide documentation of completion of an approved equivalent certification course Grant Submission Schedule Applications for the 2026 Fiscal year are accepted according to the submission schedule below.
Applications received after the cutoff date will be considered by the Portsmouth EDA in the following round. Round 1: Open July 1 - 31, 2025 Round 2: Open October 1 - 31, 2025 Round 3: Open January 1 - 31, 2026 Round 4: Open April 1-30, 2026 Application & Approval Process The Smart Start Business Development Grant application is a four-step process.
All applicants must first complete the Santa Clara University's My Own Business Plan Institute (MOBI) online course or provide documentation of completion of an approved equivalent certification course. (Additional resources available. Please contact Portsmouth Economic Development Staff).
Upon completion of the required coursework, the completed Smart Start Business Development Grant application is to be submitted to Portsmouth Economic Development for review and is not considered submitted if incomplete. Completed applications (those containing all required documentation) will be reviewed to determine completion status and adherence with program guidelines.
Approval or denial of an application lies within the discretion of the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority's (EDA) Board of Commissioners, considering factors such as the degree to which the business activities contemplated by the application further the goals of the program, the degree of the need for the funding, the level of funding requested, the amount of program funds remaining for the fiscal year, and any other factors the Board of Commissioners may deem relevant.
When an application is approved, the applicant will enter into a Grant Agreement with the Portsmouth EDA, agreeing to accept the approved grant funds. If the grantee needs to make any changes to the use of grant funds as proposed in the application, the grantee must notify Portsmouth Economic Development in writing in advance of the changes.
The Smart Start Business Development Grant is funded entirely by the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority (EDA). Eligible activities are only those under Section V of these Guidelines and must directly and primarily benefit the business for which the Grant award is received. The maximum grant amount available for any approved application is $2,000.
Recipients of the Smart Start Business Development Grant may only receive funding one time under the program. No more than two grant applications may be submitted per business principal within a five-year period. Funding is available until the funding pool has been exhausted each fiscal year as appropriated.
All recipients are required to enter into a Grant Agreement with the Portsmouth EDA. Recipients have 30 days to begin eligible business activities and 90 days to complete them.
Extensions for an additional 90 days may be granted on a case-by-case basis Small scale production/manufacturing equipment, machinery, tools, etc. Technology and digital infrastructure (hardware, software, digital platforms, etc.) Business furniture and fixtures Wages, benefits, payroll expenses Operating costs (utilities, insurance, etc.) Residential-use furniture Decorative items (wall art, decor, etc.) Required Documentation For Application All documentation must be submitted by the close of the grant application round.
Completed Portsmouth Vendor Registration Form Rev 1-30-2024 Copy of City of Portsmouth business license Copy of "Articles of Organization" from the Virginia SCC Documentation of completion of the Santa Clara University's MOBI online course or of an approved equivalent certification course Complete business plan that includes an explanation of use of grant funding using the MOBI Business Plan Template Two quotes per product/service you will purchase with grant funding Figuring out your next steps is not always easy.
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Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: For-profit small businesses or nonprofits in Portsmouth, in operation 0–3 years, with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees; must complete Santa Clara University's MOBI online course. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates $2,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
The Real Property Investment Grant Program is an award from the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority (EDA) in Virginia that funds rehabilitation and redevelopment of commercial, industrial, office, and mixed-use properties within Portsmouth city limits. The program assists new and relocating businesses, expanding businesses, and commercial property owners in improving interior and exterior spaces to enhance the local streetscape and attract investment to the city. Eligible applicants include property owners and lessees of commercial, industrial, office, or mixed-use properties in Portsmouth; government entities, religious organizations, and residential businesses are ineligible. Properties must not have outstanding taxes or code violations. Grants are available up to $25,000, with a deadline of April 30, 2026.
Smart Start Business Development Grant is a program from the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority (EDA) that funds new and recently established small businesses and nonprofits in Portsmouth, Virginia to expand entrepreneurial opportunity, business resiliency, and organizational development. Beginning in FY2026, eligible applicants are for-profit small businesses or nonprofits that have been in operation for zero to three years, hold a City of Portsmouth business license, and have 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees. Home-based businesses must provide proof of Portsmouth residency, and co-working space tenants must hold a minimum 12-month lease. Government entities are not eligible.