Small business grants in North Carolina
What a North Carolina small business can apply for: North Carolina programs first, then national ones.
- 2 open
- 2 rolling
- 0 upcoming
- Next deadline November 6, 2026
North Carolina and regional programs
- Closes06 NOV
Southern SARE Producer Grant
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education · Small businesses, Individuals
Grants for farmers in the Southern region to run on-farm projects: $20,000 for one farmer, $25,000 for a farmer group.
- ApplyOPEN
One North Carolina Small Business Program
State of North Carolina · Small businesses
North Carolina grants for technology small businesses: incentive grants toward federal SBIR/STTR proposals and matching grants for federal award winners.
- StatusVARIES
Main Street Solutions Fund
State of North Carolina · Small businesses, Local governments
Reimbursable grants for small business projects in North Carolina Main Street communities and small towns in Tier 2 and 3 counties, applied for with the local government.
National programs you can apply for
- Closes07 DEC
Small Business Digital Ready grants
Verizon · Small businesses
$10,000 grants for U.S. for-profit small businesses that take free courses or events on Verizon's Digital Ready platform. Ten businesses are picked each month.
- ApplyANYTIME
Amber Grant
WomensNet · Small businesses
Monthly grants for women-owned businesses in the U.S. and Canada, with a larger year-end grant, from WomensNet. One short application covers every grant.
Federal grants to North Carolina small businesses in 2025
| Program | Awarded |
|---|---|
| Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research 93.855 | $34 million |
| Biomedical Research and Research Training 93.859 | $12 million |
| Cardiovascular Diseases Research 93.837 | $8.8 million |
| Cancer Treatment Research 93.395 | $8.6 million |
| Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships 47.084 | $8.4 million |
| Aging Research 93.866 | $8.1 million |
| Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research 93.847 | $5.6 million |
| Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.853 | $5.4 million |
Questions
What small business grants are open in North Carolina now?
The next deadline is November 6, 2026 for Southern SARE Producer Grant. 2 programs take applications at any time.
Can I get a grant to start a business in North Carolina?
Startup grants are scarce. Most listed programs fund existing businesses, exports, training or research, and several state options are loans. A few national programs, such as the Amber Grant for women-owned businesses, take newer businesses; check each program's rules on age and revenue.
Do I have to pay to apply for a grant?
No. Real grant programs never charge to apply or to receive an award. Anyone asking for a fee before you get grant money is running a scam.