Grants for Small Businesses

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection · Amount varies

Open to businesses, individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and other legal entities that own 20 to 5,000 acres of California forest land, this program provides cost-share assistance for forest improvement such as a Registered Professional Forester management plan, reforestation, thinning, pruning, and wildlife habitat work. Because it is cost-share, applicants must contribute a portion of project costs; controlled/cultural burning is not eligible. Eligibility is tied to owning qualifying California forest acreage.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

Eligibility is unrestricted and open to any type of entity (subject to any clarifications in the program's eligibility text), making this NSF program broadly available. The Accountable Institutions and Behavior (AIB) Program funds theoretically grounded, methodologically rigorous basic social-science research on attitudes, behavior, and institutions related to public policy and public services, and also supports undergraduate research experiences and methodological infrastructure. Note that the program does not fund applied research, so proposals must be basic-science oriented.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · $100K–$2.3M

This U.S. Army research program (Tactical Behaviors for Autonomous Maneuver) funds work on robotics and autonomous systems for future multi-domain military operations, with awards ranging from about $100,000 up to roughly $2.3 million to a single entity. Institutions of higher education, for-profit, and non-profit organizations may apply, and FFRDCs may propose subject to their sponsoring agency's policy; teams are allowed but not required. Note the listed proposal dates have passed (Cycle 2 submission was April 24, 2024), so verify whether any cycle remains open before pursuing it.

NSWC CRANE - N00164 · Amount varies

This Navy (NSWC Crane) Broad Agency Announcement seeks innovative research and technology demonstrators in national-security focus areas such as electronic warfare, sensors, hypersonics, and power systems. Eligibility is unrestricted to any entity type, so businesses, nonprofits, universities, and research organizations may propose, though work must align with the Navy's defense mission. No fixed award amount or deadline is stated; proposers are encouraged to contact the listed points of contact before submitting.

Air Force Office of Scientific Research · $0–$10M

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research funds basic research aligned with Air Force priorities across engineering, information science, and physical and biological sciences, with awards reaching up to about $10 million. Eligibility is governed by the announcement itself ('See Announcement'); these programs commonly fund universities, research institutions, and industry labs. Applicants should review the specific AFOSR announcement for detailed eligibility, restrictions, and submission requirements before applying.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

This Army Research Laboratory special notice (under BAA W911NF-17-S-0003) seeks proposals to design, manufacture, and deliver a low-cost, battery-powered chip-scale atomic clock targeting under $300 per unit at volume for defense timing applications. Eligibility is restricted to for-profit firms (a consortium led by a for-profit firm is also encouraged), so nonprofits, universities as primes, and individuals are not the intended applicants. Funding is via a technology investment agreement; no specific award amount or deadline is listed, and applicants should review the full special notice.

AFRL Kirtland AFB · Amount varies

This forecasted Air Force Research Laboratory (Kirtland AFB) announcement (DETER ARA) funds experimentation and research in directed energy technology. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadline are not posted in this listing. Defense research announcements typically fund universities, research institutions, and companies, and may carry restrictions related to U.S. national security and export control; review the full announcement for confirmed eligibility and any citizenship or facility requirements.

CA Department of Food and Agriculture · $1–$190K

Businesses, individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply to the CA Department of Food and Agriculture's Beet Curly Top Virus Control Program, which funds projects developing new methods to manage the beet leafhopper (the virus's main vector) or to enhance other program areas. Awards range up to about $190,000. Funded approaches must use either no-pesticide alternatives or pesticides approved by CA's Department of Pesticide Regulation for the relevant use. Proposals must be submitted 30 days before posted Control Board meetings, so timing depends on the published meeting schedule.

Department of Fish and Wildlife · Amount varies

California schools (including businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies operating schools) can apply for this equipment grant from the CA Department of Fish and Wildlife to launch a National Archery in the Schools Program. Each year 12-20 new schools receive a starter kit (12 compound bows, targets, arrows, a net, racks, and a maintenance kit) for use in PE classes. Schools already affiliated with NASP are not eligible, and a proposed archery instructor must complete free NASP national training. Applications and a Grant Criterion letter are due July 30 each year, with awards announced by September 15.

State Water Resources Control Board · $1–$1M

California's Orphan Site Cleanup Fund (State Water Resources Control Board) is open to businesses and individuals who are the current property owner of a site with an unauthorized release from a petroleum underground storage tank. Grants of up to $1,000,000 fund site assessment, soil and groundwater investigation, tank and contaminated-soil removal (up to 500 cubic yards), and cleanup actions under California regulations. Only the current property owner is eligible, and cleanup grants generally require an approved corrective action plan before award. No application deadline is stated.

State Water Resources Control Board · $1–$1M

California's Underground Storage Tank Cleanup Fund reimburses petroleum UST owners and operators for costs of cleaning up unauthorized releases from their tanks, helping them meet federal and state financial-responsibility requirements. It is open to businesses and individuals who own or operate petroleum underground storage tanks (a narrow, situation-specific eligibility). Reimbursement can run up to about $1,000,000; no application deadline is specified here.

State Treasurer's Office · Amount varies

California's Sales and Use Tax Exclusion (STE) Program lets eligible manufacturers exclude qualifying equipment purchases from state and local sales and use taxes when building or upgrading facilities for advanced manufacturing, recycling, alternative energy, or advanced transportation. Businesses, individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments may apply, but the project must occur in California and involve qualified manufacturing property. This is a tax-exclusion benefit rather than a cash grant, so confirm the qualifying-property and project requirements with CAEATFA before applying.

Department of Commerce · $1–$1.5M

The Department of Commerce / Economic Development Administration Research and National Technical Assistance (RNTA) program funds research and technical assistance projects that support economic development in economically distressed areas of the U.S. Eligibility is broad, including district organizations, tribes, states, local governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits acting with local officials, private individuals, and for-profit organizations. Awards range up to about $1.5 million, and applications use a two-step process (concept proposal first, then invited full application) submitted through EDA's EDGE platform. No deadline is stated.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

This is an advance notice to industry of a draft solicitation for the U.S. Army Materiel Command's Trusted Partner Program. As a draft/advance notice, it is informational for industry partners and not yet an open application; eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines are not defined. Interested defense-industry organizations should monitor for the formal solicitation when it is released.

CA Energy Commission · Amount varies

The CA Energy Commission offers state cost-share funding to applicants who are pursuing federal Department of Energy Clean Hydrogen Program awards. Businesses, individuals, and public agencies may apply, but you must be applying for (or have a path to) an eligible DOE funding opportunity, and retroactive cost share for already-awarded federal funds is not eligible. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified here; review the solicitation's eligibility section before applying.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

This is a low-interest loan (not a grant) from California's State Water Resources Control Board for small businesses that own or operate underground storage tanks, to finance upgrades, removal, or replacement to meet environmental standards. Applicants must be a small business with fewer than 500 employees, have their principal office and officers based in California, and provide collateral plus financials showing ability to repay; loans range from $10,000 to $750,000 over 10 or 20 years. Note the 2 percent loan fee, the requirement to secure the loan against business assets or real estate, and that this is debt that must be repaid.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

Small businesses in California that own or operate underground storage tanks can apply to the State Water Resources Control Board's RUST program to finance up to 100% of the cost to upgrade, remove, or replace gasoline tanks to meet state requirements. Grants range from $3,000 to $70,000 (with up to an extra $140,000 for certain remote public fueling stations). Applicants must employ fewer than 20 people, be CA-domiciled, have sold less than 900,000 gallons annually for the prior two years, and meet specific compliance conditions, making eligibility narrow.

State Treasurer's Office · $1.5M–$550M

This California State Treasurer's Office program provides tax-exempt conduit bond financing (not grants) to businesses for pollution control, waste disposal, recycling, water, and resource recovery facilities. Only businesses may apply, projects must be in California, and at least 95% of bond proceeds must go to the defined project; if the project defaults, the borrower alone is responsible for repaying bondholders. Financing amounts range from about $1.5 million to $550 million, and final eligibility depends on bond and tax counsel opinion.

Office of the National Coordinator · Amount varies

This is a forecasted Leading Edge Acceleration Projects for Health IT (LEAP) opportunity from the Office of the National Coordinator, which funds development of innovative health information technology to address emerging needs in health data exchange and use. Such awards typically go to organizations with health IT research and development capacity, such as universities, nonprofits, and companies. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines have not yet been published for this cycle.

Department of Public Health · Amount varies

California Department of Public Health's Civil Money Penalty (CMP) Reinvestment Grant funds projects that improve the lives of skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents, such as person-centered care, infection-control training, and arts/engagement programs. Eligibility is broad, including businesses, individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments. Note that research-only projects, capital improvements, staff salaries, and high-cost technology are not fundable; projects run up to 36 months and applicants must use the CDPH template.