Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grants is sponsored by Verizon & Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC). Part of a comprehensive digital readiness program providing small businesses with free courses, coaching, and networking.

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant Program | Local Initiatives Support Corporation Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant Program Child Care & Early Learning Grants to Small Businesses Business Development Organization Network Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Sports & Youth Development Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant Program Child Care & Early Learning Grants to Small Businesses Business Development Organization Network Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Sports & Youth Development Verizon Small Business Digital Ready aims to equip one million small businesses with the tools, training, and resources they need to thrive in today’s digital economy.

Built with and for small businesses, the Digital Ready platform offers free, on-demand courses, expert-led coaching events, peer networking opportunities, and curated resources tailored to the real-world needs of entrepreneurs.

To complement these resources, and in recognition that access to capital is a key challenge for many small businesses, Verizon has partnered with the LISC to provide $5,000 grants to eligible small businesses in New York, California, and West Virginia. Since 2021 LISC has awarded more than $14. 5 million in grants through this partnership to small businesses across the country.

Grant opportunities in New York, California, and West Virginia are now open and accepting applications. LISC will award 25 small business owners in each state with a $5,000 grant. The New York, California, and West Virginia $5,000 grant applications are now open!

To unlock the application, you must: Complete one eligible course, virtual event, or in-person event* on the Digital Ready platform between January 1, 2026 and March 31, 2026. *Only in-person events listed on the Digital Ready In-Person Events page are eligible. To receive credit, you must scan the event’s QR code while onsite.

For details on how credit is awarded, please refer to the specific event page. Once you’ve completed the above requirements, you will be able to access the application via the New York $5,000 Grant, California $5,000 Grant, or West Virginia $5,000 Grant promotion pages. Please be sure to apply to the grant your business is located in.

Applications close at 11:59 PM Pacific Time on March 31, 2026. Our grant program is designed to work with the busy schedules of small business owners—keeping the process straightforward while enabling quick, meaningful impact. Instead of burdensome eligibility rules, lengthy paperwork, or heavy reporting requirements, we’ve created a simple, trust-based process that respects your time and capacity.

Funds are provided as direct cash support—with no reporting required and nothing to repay. Because funding is limited and only a small number of businesses can ultimately be selected, our focus is on providing fast, flexible support that you can put to work right away alongside your Digital Ready learnings.

To be eligible to apply for the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready grant, you must meet the following criteria: Have an account on Verizon Small Business Digital Ready and complete the resource requirement. Be a U.S.-based for-profit business with a primary business address in the state of New York, California, or West Virginia. Non profits are not eligible to apply.

Business address will be required during the application process and verified for applicants who are selected as finalists. Be 18 years of age or older. Can share and provide proper business and financial verification documentation (W-9s, ACH) if selected as a finalist.

Current directors, officers, employees and contractors of LISC or Verizon and such individuals' family members (spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and spouses of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren) may not be eligible to receive an award.

Priority is given to applicants who have not received a prior grant; prior Digital Ready grant recipients are still eligible to apply but not likely to be awarded a second grant. Awards will be made to a selection of qualified businesses who apply (not all applicants). Eligibility is based on accurate and complete submission of the application.

Thousands of small businesses apply for a limited number of grants and LISC uses a three-prong approach to grantee selection. Socioeconomic information is not considered at any stage of this process. While applicants have the option to provide such information, it is not required, and a “prefer not to say” selection is always available.

We use an anonymous drawing to narrow down the applicant pool and give every applicant an equal chance. Then, if needed, an algorithm ensures a balanced mix of industries and geographies so grants aren’t concentrated in one area or sector. Priority is given to businesses in under-resourced low-to-moderate income (LMI) communities that may not have access to flexible, affordable capital.

From there, a subset of applications undergo in-depth review for accuracy, community impact, and proposed use of funds. Finally, selected businesses complete a verification process to confirm good financial and legal standing before funds are awarded. Frequently Asked Questions What is the current grant application timeline?

Grant applications are now open and close at 11:59 pm PT on March 31, 2026. All applicants will be notified about whether or not they have been selected as a grant finalist by the week of May 17, 2026. What can I expect from the application process?

Once you’ve completed one Digital Ready course, virtual event (including recorded events), or in-person event* between January 1, 2026 and March 31, 2026, the grant application will become available on the grant promotion page on the Digital Ready platform. Click "Get Started" to go directly to the application. The application is designed to be straightforward and accessible - no grant writer is needed or recommended.

After you've completed the resources, the application should take no more than 30 minutes to complete. To ensure a smooth application process, here are a few best practices to keep in mind: Use the Google Chrome browser to complete the application Gather key details in advance, such as your most recent annual business revenue, structure of your business, and number of employees.

Set aside uninterrupted time to complete the application in one sitting. Your responses may not be saved if you leave the application page or lose internet connection before submitting the application. Double-check your responses before submitting.

LISC cannot accept changes to the application once it has been submitted. Every applicant will receive a confirmation screen after hitting "done," on their application as well as a follow-up email confirmation, as long as they have filled out all the required fields. Please note that only applications submitted through the LISC application form accessed via your Digital Ready account will be accepted.

Applications sent by email, fax, or through any other website will not be considered. If I applied in a previous round, do I have to re-apply, or will my application roll over? Applications do not roll over to later rounds.

You must submit a new application for each grant cycle in order to be considered for funding. Each round has unique aspects and application eligibility requirements. If you meet the current round’s eligibility requirements, you can apply again, even if you applied in a previous round.

When filling out the application, I'm seeing the error message “ 3. 1. You're creating a duplicate record.

It is recommended you use an existing record instead . ” What should I do? Applicants may apply for only one business and submit only one application per round.

If you've applied in previous rounds, please submit a new application with the exact same First Name, Last Name and Email Address as you did previously. How will I be contacted or know if I will receive a grant? LISC will primarily utilize email to communicate with all applicants.

You can expect to hear whether or not you have been selected for funding by the week of May 17, 2026. Finalists will be notified by email and must respond promptly. The return of any grantee notification message or document as undeliverable may result in disqualification of the applicable grantee, the forfeiture of his or her interest in the grant, and the selection of a substitute from among all remaining eligible finalists.

What does it mean to be a “finalist” and will there be additional documentation required? If your business is selected as a finalist, you will be notified via email. Being selected as a finalist does not guarantee that you will receive a grant.

As a finalist, additional documentation will be required to screen and verify business information. This may include a background search that LISC will conduct at our expense and submission of additional information including verification information such as date of birth, SSN, TIN/ITIN, EIN, W-9, and appropriate banking information in order to receive funds via ACH if awarded.

The background verification does not involve a credit check or credit score pull. LISC will never request copies of personal documentation such as driver’s licenses, passports and/or green cards. Does anything need to be repaid?

No, these grants do not need to be repaid. However, all taxes associated with the acceptance and/or uses of cash awarded are the sole responsibility of the individual grantee. LISC will issue a Form 1099 for these grants.

Applicants may apply once for this round and for one business only. For business owners with multiple businesses, please complete this application based on your largest business owned. Each grant is limited to one grant per individual business tax ID.

Awards will be made to qualified businesses, and eligibility is based on accurate and complete submission. Eligibility is based on accurate and complete submission. Priority will be given to businesses located in under-resourced LMI communities that may not have access to flexible, affordable capital.

Non-profit organizations are ineligible for this grant. Applicants may apply for one business only and must be 18 years of age to apply. If your business is selected as a finalist, you will be notified via email.

Being selected as a finalist does not guarantee a grant will be awarded. As a finalist, additional documentation will be required, including Date of Birth, Social Security Number, Tax Identification Number, Individual Tax Identification Number and/or Employer Identification Number for the applicant and/or the business in order for us to perform the due diligence required by the program’s funding source.

This due diligence inquiry may include a background search that we will conduct at our expense. If the due diligence step is successfully completed, we will ask for your business's W-9 and banking information so that we may transfer funds by ACH to your designated account. If your W-9 and banking information does not match your application, you may be ineligible to receive grant funds.

Conflict of Interest : Current directors, officers, employees and contractors of LISC or Verizon and such individuals' family members (spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and spouses of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren) may not be eligible to receive an award. Submission Guidance : LISC cannot accept changes to your application once it has been submitted, so please review it carefully.

Your work may not be saved if you leave the web page before submitting the application. You may also lose your work if your internet is disconnected, or as a result of other potential web browser issues. You will see a confirmation page after successful completion of this application.

Since 2021 Verizon Small Business Digital Ready has awarded $14. 5M across approximately 1,450 unique small businesses. Here are a few of their stories: A $10,000 Digital Ready grant helped them upgrade their black-light LED system and expand their arcade from 17 to 40+ games.

They’re now exploring new locations while staying true to their motto: “Every experience matters. ” Ronda and James Stone opened Ghot Wingz in East Nashville in 2008, surviving both the financial crisis and the pandemic thanks to their great location and signature flavors. When wholesale wing prices soared, Ronda turned to Verizon Small Business Digital Ready.

A $10,000 Digital Ready grant helped offset rising costs, while course lessons inspired new money-management strategies and cutting a third-party vendor—saving significant expenses. Now, the Stones are planning a second location. Ahmad and Ency Moghaddam founded ASM Educational Center in Rockville, MD, after immigrating from Iran, training more than 38,000 professionals in IT and technical skills.

When the pandemic shrank their client base, daughter Azita applied for a $10,000 Digital Ready grant to help maintain their customer-facing office and support instructor salaries. Azita also completed courses on revenue growth, procurement pathways, and business resiliency, which inspired a stronger continuity plan and new career training for Afghan refugees. “That win confirmed we were still on track,” she says.

Atlanta, GA & Mexico City Lucia and Ana Cossio, sisters and co-founders of Avanza Skin , knew they needed new skills to expand their skincare brand in the U.S. market. "We are strong in certain areas, but there were new skills we needed to tap the entire U.S. market," Lucia said.

Through Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, they learned digital marketing strategies and SEO techniques that helped drive a 10% increase in purchases from organic search. The $10,000 grant they received gave them the resources to put those lessons into action — allowing them to hire an SEO expert, launch an influencer campaign, and test new marketing channels that significantly boosted engagement and sales.

After applying for and receiving a $10,000 Digital Ready grant, Nakia used the funds to professionally rebrand her business, build an e-commerce-ready website, and launch a four-item product line. “With the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program, I was able to learn how to run my business professionally,” she shared.

Charlotte Young Bowens, founder of Conscious Gear , launched her business to meet a need she experienced firsthand: outdoor gear that fits larger bodies. As a solo entrepreneur, she turned to Verizon Small Business Digital Ready to strengthen her marketing and e-commerce skills, completing courses in SEO, storytelling, and business foundations.

After receiving a $10,000 Digital Ready grant, Charlotte used the funds to launch her holiday marketing campaign, invest in vendor setups, and build brand awareness through digital ads and events. Her website traffic increased by 500% in one month, and her hydration packs are now sold internationally and in retail stores across the U.S. “The grant gave me space to focus on growth — not just survival,” she shared.

Joe Alvarez and Erick Casillas, longtime friends and co-founders of iCareClean , launched their commercial cleaning business with one client and a dream. When the pandemic disrupted their growth, they turned to Verizon Small Business Digital Ready to rethink their marketing strategy. Six years after starting their business, iCareClean now bills over $3 million annually.

Jaja Chen and Devin Li, co-founders of Cha Community , turned to Verizon Small Business Digital Ready when inflation threatened to derail the opening of their second location. After completing several personalized courses, Jaja applied for and received a $10,000 grant through the program. The grant helped offset rising construction and labor costs, allowing them to move forward with expansion.

Just as valuable were the courses, which helped them rethink pricing, reduce costs, and improve their website’s SEO—leading to stronger profitability. “The courses stopped us from wasting time and helped us put what we knew into action,” Jaja shared. Mario Jaramillo, founder of The Robot Agency , used Verizon Small Business Digital Ready to sharpen his business skills and pursue Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) certification.

After completing the “Getting Certified” course and attending a live Ask the Expert session, Mario applied for and received his MBE certification from the City of Houston. With support from a $10,000 Digital Ready grant, he was able to invest in legal services for the certification process and make operational improvements that reduced costs and increased efficiency.

Now equipped with new opportunities and a stronger foundation, Mario is bidding on larger contracts and reinvesting in his historically Latino neighborhood.