Grants for Small Businesses

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

This Pennsylvania measure is a tax deduction for employers, not a cash grant or loan. It rewards manufacturers that make qualified investments and create jobs in Pennsylvania by allowing a deduction against state tax liability. Only manufacturing businesses operating in the Commonwealth would qualify, so most nonprofits and individuals are not a fit.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

The Pennsylvania Beginning Farmer Tax Credit provides tax credits to owners of agricultural assets who sell or rent those assets to beginning farmers. Eligible applicants are individuals and other legal entities such as trusts and pass-through entities that own agricultural assets. This is a tax-credit benefit rather than a cash grant, administered with the state Departments of Agriculture and Revenue. No specific credit amounts are listed.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

Pennsylvania's Manufacturing Tax Credit Program provides tax credits to taxpayers who increase their annual taxable payroll by $1,000,000 through the creation of new full-time jobs. Eligibility is limited to qualified taxpayers meeting that payroll-growth threshold, so it targets businesses able to add substantial new jobs. This is a tax credit rather than a cash grant, and no specific credit amounts are listed.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

This Pennsylvania program offers grants and low-interest loans to fund environmental site assessment and cleanup at former industrial sites. Eligible applicants include public entities, private nonprofit economic development entities, and companies reusing former industrial land, but applicants must not have caused or contributed to the contamination. Individuals and parties responsible for the pollution are not eligible.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

The Film Production Tax Credit provides tax credits (not grants) to expand Pennsylvania's film industry, supporting qualifying film production activity in the Commonwealth. It is geared toward film production companies; specific eligibility requirements and credit amounts are not detailed here. Applicants outside film production are not a fit.

Community & Economic Development · Up to $250K

The Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority (PMBDA) provides low-interest loans to businesses owned and operated by ethnic minorities. Eligibility is limited to minority-owned and operated businesses, with non-franchised restaurants excluded. The maximum loan is $250,000. This is a loan program rather than a grant.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

This Pennsylvania program gives tax credits to businesses authorized to do business in the state that contribute to an Opportunity Scholarship Organization, which then funds scholarships for students in low-achieving schools. Only businesses with Pennsylvania tax liability can apply, and there are fixed annual application dates that vary by whether you are a new applicant or renewing a two-year commitment. Nonprofits and individuals do not apply for the credit itself.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

Pennsylvania's Video Game Production Tax Credit (VGP) provides tax credits to video game production companies operating in the state. Eligibility is limited to qualifying video game production businesses; nonprofits and individuals are not eligible. Award amounts are not specified here, and the program is governed by Pennsylvania's Tax Reform Code, so review the program guidelines for qualifying-expense and application requirements.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

The Next Generation Farmer Loan Program uses federal tax-exempt financing to lower the interest rate a farmer pays on capital purchases such as farmland or agricultural machinery and equipment. It is aimed at qualifying farm businesses in Pennsylvania, so non-agricultural businesses, nonprofits, and individuals outside farming would not be a fit. This is interest-rate-reduced financing, not a cash grant.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

The Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA) Taxable Bond Program offers access to low-interest financing through the issuance of taxable bonds or notes. It is geared toward larger capital projects in sectors such as manufacturing, solid waste disposal, wastewater treatment, transportation facilities, assisted living/housing, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits. This is bond financing, not a grant, and individuals are not the intended applicants.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

The Ben Franklin Partners Challenge Grant provides funding through Pennsylvania's four Ben Franklin Technology Partners to support access to capital, business expertise, and technology commercialization, including alternative and clean energy work. Eligible applicants include entrepreneurs, start-ups and early-stage companies, investors, higher-education institutions, researchers, and Ben Franklin alumni companies. No specific award amounts are listed.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) provides tax credits to eligible businesses that contribute to approved Scholarship Organizations, Educational Improvement Organizations, or Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organizations. Eligibility is limited to contributing businesses, and application timing depends on whether a business is renewing a two-year commitment or applying initially. This is a tax credit rather than a cash grant, and no specific amounts are listed.

Community & Economic Development · Up to $500K

Pennsylvania's Private Dam Financial Assurance Program helps owners of regulated private dams meet proof of financial responsibility required under state dam safety law, and can provide low-interest loans once the fund reaches $1.5 million. Eligible applicants are individuals and other legal entities such as persons, partnerships, associations, community associations, and corporations that own regulated private dams. The listing notes a figure up to $500,000. The program is run jointly by the state DCED and Department of Environmental Protection.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

This Pennsylvania program offers grants and loans (gap financing) to develop competitive sites where businesses can relocate or expand within the Commonwealth. Eligible applicants are municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment and municipal authorities, industrial development agencies, and for-profit organizations; it is not aimed at individuals or nonprofits. Projects must be located in Pennsylvania.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

Keystone Opportunity Zones provide state and local tax abatements (not grants) to businesses and residents that locate in specifically designated geographic zones in Pennsylvania. The benefit only applies within those defined zones, so location is the key qualifier. Both businesses and residents in eligible zones may benefit.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

The Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA) provides low-interest loans and lines of credit to eligible businesses that commit to creating and retaining full-time jobs, and for developing industrial parks and multi-tenant facilities. Applications are packaged and underwritten through certified economic development organizations, so applicants work with a CEDO rather than applying directly. This is debt financing tied to job commitments, not a cash grant.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

Pennsylvania First is a broad economic-development grant supporting investment and job creation in the Commonwealth. A wide range of applicants qualify, including businesses (corporations, partnerships, sole proprietorships, LLCs, other for-profits), nonprofits, municipalities, and various authorities and development districts. The program is statewide and aimed at projects that create jobs and attract or retain employers; award amounts are not specified.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

The Pipeline Investment Program provides grants to extend the final miles of natural gas distribution lines to business parks and existing manufacturing or industrial sites in Pennsylvania, aiming to create jobs and expand gas access. Eligible applicants include economic development organizations, businesses, municipalities, hospitals, and school districts. Award amounts are not stated; projects must serve qualifying end users in the Commonwealth.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

The Keystone Special Development Zone program provides tax credits to for-profit businesses that locate and operate within designated geographic zones, encouraging redevelopment of former industrial and commercial sites in Pennsylvania. The benefit applies only inside the designated zones, so location is the key qualifier. Nonprofits and individuals are not the intended applicants.

Community & Economic Development · Amount varies

This component of Pennsylvania's PA SITES program provides construction grants and loans as gap financing to ready competitive sites for businesses to relocate or expand within the Commonwealth. Eligible applicants are municipalities, economic development organizations, redevelopment and municipal authorities, industrial development agencies, and for-profit organizations; it does not target individuals or nonprofits. Projects must be located in Pennsylvania.