27th July 2025

Utilizing a grant to fund or broaden your small companies in Texas could be interesting. In contrast to small-business loans, grants are free types of funding that you simply don’t should pay again. Nevertheless, getting a Texas small-business grant requires an funding — time to analysis enterprise grants you’re eligible for and full purposes.

A lot of Texas small-business grants are supplied by state packages, however there are additionally enterprise grants supplied by Texas cities in addition to a number of nationwide grants which can be accessible to small companies working wherever within the U.S.

Texas state small-business grants

Texas state grant packages are inclined to have particular necessities, so hold that in thoughts as you flick through this listing.

Texas Workforce Fee’s Expertise for Small Enterprise Grant Program

Companies can obtain as much as $1,800 per yr for every new worker and $900 for each present worker. Your online business should have fewer than 100 workers to be eligible for the TWC grant. On-line purposes for this TWC grant program are accepted at any time in the course of the yr.

Middle for Girls Entrepreneurs StartHER Grant

The Middle for Girls Entrepreneurs at Texas Girls’s College presents StartHER Grants within the quantity of $5,000 to women-owned small companies in Texas. Twenty-five grants might be awarded this yr to companies which can be at the very least 51% owned/managed by ladies who’re U.S. residents or everlasting residents. Eligibility can be restricted to companies with not more than 5 full-time workers — with two part-time workers equal to at least one full-time worker.

StartHER Grant funds can be utilized for a variety of functions from buying tools, stock or uncooked items to advertising and marketing and social media campaigns. Functions for the 2023 grant cycle should be submitted by Oct. 20, with winners introduced on Oct. 30.

Texas State Commerce Enlargement Program

To encourage Texas companies to export to overseas markets and improve the worth of exported items and providers, the State Commerce Enlargement Program (STEP) awards grants of as much as $10,000 to eligible small companies that take part in choose export actions. STEP requires companies match 25% of the grant award as much as $2,500.

Eligible companies should be organized and working within the U.S., meet industry-based enterprise measurement requirements, be in enterprise for at the very least one yr and exhibit an understanding of the prices related to exporting and conducting enterprise transactions with overseas purchasers. It’s additionally required that the small enterprise have a services or products that’s manufactured, produced, processed or has another worth added in Texas.

Younger Farmer Grants

Out there by the Texas Division of Agriculture, the Younger Farmer Grant program is designed to develop and help Texas agriculture. Grant quantities vary from $5,000 to $20,000 and are made on a reimbursement foundation as much as 50% of the expense.

The grant program is obtainable within the spring and fall of every yr. Funds can be utilized to begin or broaden an agricultural enterprise, to not merely preserve an present operation. Candidates should be U.S. residents between the ages of 18 and 45, and stay and function their enterprise in Texas.

Texas Enterprise Fund

Companies that need to open a brand new facility or broaden an present one could also be eligible to obtain a grant from the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF). Eligible tasks should generate at the very least 75 full-time jobs in city areas or at the very least 25 full-time jobs in rural areas. Wages should meet or exceed the typical county wage the place the undertaking might be positioned. The undertaking should even be supported by the native county authorities the place it takes place.

Awards usually vary from $1,000 to $10,000 per certified job. Quantities are calculated primarily based on an analytical mannequin that makes use of elements similar to the typical wage for brand spanking new workers, the variety of jobs created and the corporate’s whole proposed capital funding.

The appliance course of includes a prolonged due diligence that features areas similar to undertaking competitiveness, estimated financial influence, monetary standing, tax standing, credit score rankings and authorized points amongst different issues.

Texas city-specific enterprise grants

Along with state packages, the next cities in Texas supply grants to small-business entrepreneurs positioned of their communities.

Open for Enterprise Grant Program in Houston

The Wells Fargo Open for Enterprise Grant Program is designed to advance the mission of the Houston Fairness Fund by investing in diverse-owned small companies with 100 or fewer workers positioned in susceptible communities in Houston. Grants can vary from $5,000 to $100,000 and can be utilized for the acquisition of property, tools and different belongings.

This grant program is being administered in three rounds. The appliance course of for spherical three will open in 2024.

Amegy Financial institution Small Enterprise Increase Program

The Amegy Financial institution Small Enterprise Increase Program, created by Amegy Financial institution and the Houston Texan soccer franchise, is out there to small companies within the higher Houston space. Program winners obtain a $5,000 grant, entry to occasion alternatives and advertising and marketing and promotional help.

To be eligible for this system, the enterprise should be small, function for revenue, have annual income of lower than $20 million and fewer than 500 workers. The appliance interval closes on Nov. 15, 2023.

Dayton Group Growth Company grant packages

Dayton Group Growth Company presents grants for small companies that concentrate on the Downtown District of Dayton. To qualify for these packages, companies should be inside designated places within the metropolis.

The Dayton Downtown Enchancment Grant offers as much as $25,000, as a 50% match for actions similar to inside renovations, signage, landscaping and enchancment to the constructing and parking zone. Alongside the identical traces, the Dayton Small Enterprise Grant presents funding as much as $7,500 for exterior tasks and likewise $7,500 for inside tasks — on a 50% match foundation.

San Antonio Financial Growth Division grant packages

Grant quantities can be found from $2,000 to $50,000, relying on this system. Particular particulars about every grant program together with utility deadlines can be found on the EDD web site.

Lubbock Financial Growth Alliance grants

Lubbock Financial Growth Alliance grant packages are open to companies positioned in downtown Lubbock or in a delegated business revitalization space. The Business Revitalization Grant Program is designed to help with bills associated to property enhancements with reimbursements starting from 10% to 50% of certified bills as much as $50,000, relying on the undertaking.

Along with being positioned within the required areas, the applicant should be the proprietor or tenant of the property and be present on property taxes. Enhancements should meet the town tips and the grant should be made earlier than beginning development.

The Alamo Small Enterprise Grant Program

The Alamo Small Enterprise Grant Program is out there to companies positioned within the metropolis of Alamo. It offers 50% reimbursement, as much as $2,500, for tasks similar to storefront enhancements, signage, repairs, renovations and tools purchases.

For a enterprise to qualify for the Alamo Small Enterprise Grant, it should have been in operation for at least 24 consecutive months. Additionally, the enterprise proprietor should have a yearly lease. Along with finishing an utility, homeowners might want to describe their enterprise, their undertaking and the undertaking price range. Tax returns for the previous two years and documented leases from the enterprise’s landlord agreeing to the undertaking are additionally required.

Nationwide grant packages accessible to Texas small companies

There are a variety of small-business grants that aren’t restricted to particular states or cities, similar to the next:

America’s Seed Fund

Small companies within the expertise sector can apply for America’s Seed Fund supplied by the Small Enterprise Innovation Analysis (SBIR) and Small Enterprise Expertise Switch (STTR) packages. To be eligible for this grant, the enterprise should be for-profit, operated within the U.S. and have fewer than 500 workers.

There are three phases of this system that embody proof of consent, expertise improvement and commercialization. Awards are given at totally different phases and quantities can vary from $50,000 to $1.eight million.

Amber Grants

Amber Grants supplied by WomensNet is a number one grant program for ladies entrepreneurs. Amber Grant awards are given out month-to-month, quarterly and at year-end with quantities starting from $1,000 to $25,000.

Companies can apply on-line and be thought of for all of the accessible grant packages. To be eligible for an Amber Grant, a enterprise should be at the very least 50% owned by ladies and primarily based within the U.S. or Canada.

NASE Progress Grant

The Nationwide Affiliation for the Self-Employed presents NASE Progress Grants of as much as $4,000 to enterprise homeowners within the U.S. who’ve been lively members of the group for at least 90 days. Grant purposes are reviewed quarterly.

You may apply on-line and might be requested to explain your monetary want and likewise clarify how the funds might be used and the influence that the grant cash would have on the success of your corporation.

Tricks to discovering the best grant program on your small enterprise

Perceive your eligibility

Enterprise grant packages are extremely aggressive. Whereas this shouldn’t discourage you from making use of, you’ll save effort and time by rigorously reviewing the eligibility necessities of every program.

Notice utility deadlines and awards dates

Grant packages usually have laborious deadlines for utility so that you’ll must put aside satisfactory time to finish the method, particularly if you need your submission to be a winner. In some circumstances, you’ll even be requested to submit documentation for your corporation and the tasks you intend to make use of the grant funds for.

Award dates are additionally essential. In case you require the funds rapidly, then a grant program with an awards date that’s six months away might not meet the wants of your corporation.

Think about financing alternate options

In case you don’t have time to undergo the grant course of, it’s possible you’ll need to think about other ways to finance your corporation, similar to a small-business mortgage. Along with financial institution loans and SBA loans, there are small-business loans and features of credit score supplied by on-line lenders. Though banks usually supply the most effective charges and phrases, on-line enterprise loans can have extra versatile necessities and be funded rapidly, inside days in some circumstances.

A model of this text initially appeared on Fundera, a subsidiary of NerdWallet.

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