Considering applying for a small business grant in Georgia? You’re at the right place.
Securing small business grants is the most preferred source of funding for entrepreneurs and small business owners with little or no investment capital available for growth or expansion.
According to statistics, 21.9% of small businesses fail within their first year of operation. And lack of startup capital funding is the most common reason they fail.
Applying for business grants to the federal government or funding programs may sound like a lot of work, but this step-by-step guide will help you navigate through the process.
Interested in learning more? Hop in.
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Top Small Business Grants In Georgia
There are 150+ small business grants available in Georgia to offer financial support, but here is the list of the top grants available to support domestic small businesses in Georgia.
1. Rural Business Development Grants
Rural Business Development Grants help rural areas grow and develop by supporting new projects and businesses. RBDGs do not have a maximum grant limit, but small grants are generally prioritized.
Small businesses cannot apply for rural loan funds/RBDGs. Still, Rural public entities such as a town, community, or nonprofit can apply for this program to help these local businesses.
2. Early Stage Innovation Fund
The Small Business Administration (SBA) aims to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners who will contribute to the country’s economic development. They have set up a $1 billion early-stage innovation fund that provides matching capital for small business investment companies.
3. Georgia—Pacific Foundation Grants
Georgia-Pacific Foundation is a charitable organization offering financial support to organizations and businesses that improve life quality in areas where Georgia-Pacific employees reside.
You can apply for the Georgia-Pacific grant program through their website. Your organization must be within 30 miles of a Georgia-Pacific manufacturing community to be eligible.
4. State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI)
The State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) is a lending program offering state grants to small businesses and manufacturers. It is administered and overseen by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Georgia Loan Participation Program (GA LPP) and Georgia Small Business Credit Guaranty (SBCG) are two SSBCI programs for state grants in Georgia.
5. Small Business Improvement Grant
Invest Atlanta—an economic development authority offers Small Business Improvement Grants to help local businesses and property owners.
Suppose you are a tenant or commercial property owner. You can apply for grants of up to $20,000 to improve your workplace infrastructure.
6. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR)
This is a federal grant program by Small Business Administration especially developed to help businesses focus on research and development of new technology.
Read more about Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) here.
Georgia Small Business Grant Programs For Women & Minority Business Owners
Small Business Grants For Women:
1. Amber Grants For Women
Amber Grants are one of the best funding programs for female business owners. This grant program is only available to women operating a business in the United States.
You can apply for a $10,000 Amber Grant through their website; if you get selected as one of their 12 monthly winners, you will be eligible to apply for a $25,000 grant.
Read more about Amber Grant for female business owners.
2. ACE’s WISE (Women Investing In Successful Entrepreneurs)
WISE offers access to capital combined with business advisory services for female entrepreneurs starting or expanding a business in Atlanta or the North Georgia region.
Read more about WISE.
3. Invest Atlanta
Invest Atlant provides gap financing through various business loans and programs to minority and women-owned businesses to expand or relocate in Atlanta.
Visit Invest Atlanta to find more details.
Small Business Grants For Minorities:
1. Fiserv Back2Business
Black and minority-owned businesses can get funding of up to $10,000 through the Fiserv Back2Business program. Fiserv can provide payment solutions and technical support to millions of small businesses.
Read more about the Fiserv Back2Business program.
2. Comcast Rise Grant
Women or minority-owned businesses can apply for a free $10,000 grant from Comcast Rise. Comcast Rise Grant comes with technical assistance, marketing support, free internet access, coaching, and financial assistance.
Where to Find Grants For New Small Businesses In Georgia?
So now that you are aware of top business grants for men, women, and minority business owners, let’s look at some resources to find and know more about grants for small businesses.
1. Georgia GrantWatch
Georgia GrantWatch is an excellent web portal for business loans and small business grants. It is the top website for all USA federal, state, and local grant programs. It is the most updated and detailed information provider for small business owners.
2. Grants.gov
Grants.gov is a federal government-operated web portal listing small business grants from different government agencies. It’s 100% free to register at Grants.gov. You may have to request one if your business doesn’t have a D-U-N-S number.
Check out grants.gov website for more information.
3. Foundation Directory Online
Foundation Directory is a resource offering up-to-date information on available grants in the country. There is a minimal subscription fee, so you must get a subscription to browse through the Foundation Directory.
Check out the Foundation Directory website for more information.
Eligibility Criteria For Small Business Grants
Like other fundraising rounds and business loans, the grant application requires detailed documentation and planning.
You must reserve time aside from your tight business schedule to draft a compelling grant application proposal.
Now you understand what grants are available through federal or local governments, but how to determine whether you’re eligible for that or not.
Here are a few pointers to consider while checking your eligibility for grants.
- Vision and Mission of your small business
- Your gender/race/nationality or origin
- The industry you operate in. (Fintech, B2B, D2C, etc.)
- How many jobs can your business create?
- Area your business will serve? Rural or city?
- Impacts of your business on society
These topics are highly crucial to focus on if you’re considering being one of the grants recipients. Once you answer these questions, you’ll know whether you’re one of the eligible applicants or not.
How To Apply For Small Business Grant Programs In Georgia?
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you apply for small business grants. Please note this process is helpful only when applying for federal grants.
Here’s the 6-step process to apply for a grant:
Step 1: Go to Grants Learning Center to get an overview of the process.
Step 2: Check eligibility and make sure you are one of the eligible applicants.
Step 3: Search for a federal grant that aligns with your business
Step 4: Sign up to the grants.gov portal, and apply using your workspace.
Step 5: Complete and submit your application using the workspace.
Step 6: Set back and track your application using a tracking number.
You can always hire business consulting services to get the job done for you and put more time into focusing on your business.
Other Alternatives To Small Business Grants
Entrepreneurs and startup owners submit thousands of grant applications every year. You may or may not get through these grant applications, but this isn’t the end of the world.
Here are the other resources and alternative funding opportunities to consider for your new business.
1. Rural Business Loans
Rural loan funds are a great way to raise funds for your new business. If your new business is located in a rural part of Georgia, getting a Rural business loan must be your first consideration.
Learn more about Rural business loans & financial aid opportunities for your Georgia small business.
2. Business Credit Cards
Business Credit cards may not sound like funding, a loan, or a grant, but they are super helpful in managing business expenses.
The Simple Dollar is a one of the great resources for finding the best credit card for your business expenses.
3. Small Business Micro Loans/CDFI
Various microloan lenders and community development financial institutions help new businesses or projects grow through microloans. They have lending portfolios that offer many different small business loans.
Click here to Know more. about small business Micro Loans/CDFI.
4. Crowdfunding Opportunities
If your project or business idea is creative and adds value to society, crowdfunding is the best way to fund your business. Kickstarter and Indiegogo are the best online crowdfunding platforms to get started.
Conclusion
Securing a small business grant or raising funds is challenging but not impossible to achieve.
Remember, grants may not fully fund your business or get you enough matching capital, so keep researching and looking for available resources and opportunities.
We hope this guide helped to understand and find better funding opportunities and assistance for your business.
