Business Grants in Florida [Updated for 2024]

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Updated: February 22nd, 2024

Business Grants in Florida [Updated for 2024]

If you plan to launch or open a business in Florida, consider applying for a business grant. In general, business grants are one of the essential things to consider when developing a startup business, especially if you need more money as capital to start your business. You can find business grants in Florida and apply for one to help your business.

In this article, we'll walk you through everything you need about business grants in Florida. We'll include different ones to fit any starting business for various owners. This way, you'll have a starting point if you need starting capital through grants.

Without further ado, let's get into it!

Best Business Grants in Florida

Below are some of the best business grants in Florida. If you're starting a business and need some funding for capital, consider applying for any of these grants.

Enterprise Florida Grants

Small businesses in Florida can apply for grants from Enterprise Florida. In addition, a new trade incentive program called Florida Export Diversification & Growth is now available to firms interested in exporting for the first time.

Additionally, they offer grants for virtual business matching so you can meet with possible agents, distributors, and partners to extend your business internationally.

Enterprise Florida is an excellent resource for small businesses, even if you don't qualify for their grants. They offer small and minority-owned businesses services, financing, and development opportunities.

Apply for Enterprise Florida Grants

Florida High-Tech Corridor Grants

Any entrepreneurs with interest in cutting-edge technology are encouraged to apply! Here's one for you. A total of three Florida institutions provide funding for the Florida High-Tech Corridor and coordinate with it. The maximum award amount is $150,000 for two awards. This fund is intended for a narrow range of initiatives with moderate competition.

Apply for Florida High-Tech Corridor Grants

Florida Trade Show Grants

Florida Trade Show Grants allow small and medium-sized companies in Florida to expand their export sales and enter foreign markets. In some cases, Enterprise Florida will cover 75% of the cost of trade fair displays up to $7,500.

Apply for Florida Trade Show Grants

Florida Export Marketing Grants

A similar program offered by Enterprise Florida helps your firm find foreign development initiatives by providing grants specifically for Export Marketing Plans. The award will pay $4,500 of the $5,000 service cost.

Apply for Florida Export Marketing Grants

Orlando Business Assistance Program

Would you like to relocate to Orlando, grow there, or renovate it? Then, you may benefit from BAP, which stands for Business Assistance Program. The BAP provides matching funds to firms for moving costs and development fees. You will be responsible for half the remaining expenses, with BAP covering up to $20,000.

Apply for Orlando Business Assistance Program

Small Business Grants in Florida

Most business grants offered to business owners in Florida are only for small businesses. As such, you'll find many options when starting a small business in this state. Moreover, a small business will have better chances of getting a business grant approval in Florida. Here are some options to consider:

Small Business Research Grants

As part of the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs, the National Institutes of Health offers grants to small businesses in the US scientific and technology sector (NIH).

Apply for Small Business Research Grants

North Miami Small Business Grant

North Miami Regular Business Stabilization Grants are available for businesses with fewer than seven employees and low-to-moderate incomes in North Miami. In response to COVID-19, this grant provides $1,000 to help protect North Miami's commercial environment by aiding with inventory, supplies, and services. In addition, North Miami also offers Smart Biz Mini-Grants and Heritage Business Grants.

Apply for North Miami Small Business Grant

Florida Prospera Small Business Grants

Prospera gives out no cash grants. In its place, it provides free professional services, such as branding, accounting, legal, and accounting assistance. As a result, they are based on unique possibilities and requirements that each client may have.

Apply for Florida Prospera Small Business Grants

Seminole County's Small Business Assistance Program

As a result of COVID-19, small businesses have been adversely affected by this award. Small businesses in Seminole County can use the grant to pay rent, mortgages, payroll expenses, and utility bills, purchase goods and services that will stop COVID-19, or purchase technology that will allow them to work remotely. This grant is part of the Seminole County Small Business Assistance Program. The amount you can get depends on the size of your company and the number of employees you have.

Apply for Seminole County's Small Business Assistance Program

Small Business Grants in Florida for Minorities

Business grants are always geared towards minorities who plan to start small businesses, and Florida offers various business grants. For this reason, you can consider these grants if you want to start a small business in Florida.

National Association for the Self-Employed Grant

US small businesses can apply for grants from the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) up to $5000. Applicants must be NASE members (for more than 90 days) and demonstrate the financial necessity to meet the requirements. It can expand your business, hire new employees, and market and advertise your business.

Apply for National Association for the Self-Employed Grant

Federal Minority Business Grants

Federal minority business grants are available to small business owners categorized as minorities because of their ancestry, gender, or handicap status. You will receive different amounts of money based on your business's size, industry, and financial needs. You can search for minority-owned business grants on the website.

Apply for Federal Minority Business Grants

USDA Rural Business Development Grant in Florida

If your small business is located in a rural area of Florida, you may qualify for a USDA Rural Business Development Grant. The money can be used for many things, such as education and technical support, buying or developing property, etc. Also, there are opportunity grants that can be used for things like entrepreneurship and leadership development, community economic development, and others. Due to the lack of a maximum grant amount, more minor petitions are given priority over those with a more significant grant amount. The range is generally between $10,000 and $500,000.

Apply for USDA Rural Business Development Grant in Florida

Business Grants in Florida for Women

Another common factor for business grants is for women who are business owners. As such, if you're a woman who's planning to start a business in Florida and in need of funding, you can consider applying for one of the following grants:

Amber Grant

An Amber Grant of $10,000 is awarded each month to a small business operated by a woman across North America. If you qualify for the Amber Grant, you can apply again for another $25,000 at the end of the year. According to the Amber Grant website, they seek enthusiastic applicants and business expertise.

Apply for Amber Grant

Miami Mom-and-Pop Small Business Grants

Small businesses can apply for Mom and Pop Small Business Grants to fund equipment, marketing, insurance, security, and renovations. Districts within Miami-Dade County have their applications, each with different specifications. However, any for-profit company with a physical location not affiliated with a chain may apply.

Apply for Miami Mom and Pop Small Business Grants

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the frequently asked questions you may have about business grants in Florida.

How Can I Get Financial Help for My Business in Florida?

Business grants vary from state to state, and Florida has a specific business grant suited to approved applicants and business owners.

Every Florida small business owner is entitled to financial assistance from federal and state agencies.

As such, if you're planning to start a business in Florida, you can apply for a business grant through the federal and state agencies that cover this state.

How Much Is the Florida Grant?

The amount of financial help you can get from business grants offered in Florida depends on your business type and your eligibility for approval.

However, you can get as much as $5,000 if you conduct development and research with the state's federal agencies.

Also, it will depend on your application's approval, as the state agency will determine how much grant they'll offer for your business.

What Is the Florida Grant For?

Florida's Federal Government isn't publicly provided, meaning only some startups business are automatically given grants. As such, you'll likely need to apply for such and wait if you get approved or not.

Nonetheless, the Florida Grant is primarily available for small business owners planning to start and grow their ventures.

While most grants require paying back the funding, some grant beneficiaries from the Florida Government do not require such. Thus, you can grow your business in Florida without paying back the grant after some time.

Conclusion

Starting a business from scratch requires hard work, research, and funding. As such, many people need more funding to maintain or even launch a business. With business grants, the state government will take care of the capital you need or the fund you need for your business research.

As such, you only need to worry about your business structure and do the work to keep it growing. With this information, we hope you find a business grant in Florida and get approved for one to help you grow your business.

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Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

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