Are you starting a business or an entrepreneur looking for grants for your Florida business? Fortunately, there are lots of options for business owners in the Sunshine State, whether you’re still planning to start an LLC in Florida or already run one.
Grants can be used for various purposes. Funding entities often provide resources to attract business to the state and options for specific, highly desired needs or industries.
Grants can provide a significant boost to companies, especially in their earliest days. The grants can offset the need for financing or equity funding. They’re also a great business accelerator, helping companies to make significant leaps in hiring, technology, infrastructure and other growth factors. They can also help offset early expenses such as Florida LLC costs.
Here is a close look at some of the top Florida grant programs for small businesses.
Florida state-specific grants for 2026
1. SelectFlorida Trade Grants (formerly Enterprise Florida)
The SelectFlorida Trade grants help companies with specific business tasks designed to help them begin exporting and expanding into new markets overseas.
The program currently offers two trade grants:
- Target Sector Trade Events. Reimbursable grants assist small- and medium-sized businesses expand overseas export sales for manufacturers and professional services companies
- Export Marketing Plans. Works with manufacturers and service providers to create customized export marketing plans, prepared by the Florida SBDC. The Export Marketing Plan costs the company $500; SelectFlorida covers the other $4,500 of the $5,000 cost. Once the plan is created, businesses can follow up with services such as Gold Key/Matchmaker or participate in an overseas trade mission
Eligibility requirements
- Be a Florida based and active with the state Division of Corporations
- Be in business for at least two years
- Be a licensed commercial operation with an office, office/warehouse or manufacturing site. Home-based and virtual businesses are ineligible, but coworking spaces are OK
- Have between 3 and 500 full-time employees (smaller companies may be considered case by case)
- Have at least $250,000 in annual sales (smaller companies may be considered case by case)
- Be either a Florida-based manufacturer whose products are made in-state or a services provider in an approved industry sector or a manufacturer’s representative representing a Florida-based manufacturer whose products are made in the state
- Have products or services deemed viable in the target market
Companies can receive a maximum of three trade grants each year (counted July through June).
2. Florida Small Business Development Center Network
The Florida SBDC Network prepares the SelectFlorida-funded Export Marketing Plan for exporting businesses and offers free consulting.
The center also provides free consulting services to help with business planning, marketing, financial analysis, management, international trade, cybersecurity, funding and disaster planning.
3. Florida High Tech Corridor Matching Grants Research Program
This program is designed for technology companies. It provides funds of up to $150,000 for research and development in one of 23 Florida counties. Corridor funds match the company’s own investment, and proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.
These grants also connect businesses with researchers at either the University of Central Florida or the University of South Florida.
The businesses and university researchers collaborate to develop a project plan and budget while program administrators advise on eligibility and compliance requirements.
Applications are reviewed by an external committee comprising regional stakeholders and economic development experts. Once approved, the applicant enters into a sponsored research agreement and creates a project plan and terms.
4. Florida SSBCI (loans and investment, not grants)
The Florida State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), operated by FloridaCommerce, offers financing rather than grants. It has five programs: a capital access program, collateral support, loan participation, a loan guarantee program and venture capital. It’s designed to help companies that may otherwise not have access to capital that could help them grow their businesses. In particular, it’s designed to focus on very small businesses or those that are owned by economically and socially disadvantaged individuals.
Eligible businesses need to be based in the state and have 500 or fewer employees. Funds can be used for equipment, franchise fees, inventory, start-up costs and business procurement. They also can be used for buying, building, renovating or improving a place of business.
5. Prospera Business Services
Prospera, a nonprofit, offers free bilingual consulting and services for Hispanic entrepreneurs, sometimes with partner-funded grants. It provides an array of professional business development services, including:
- Accounting
- Branding
- Business plan creation
- Legal assessment
- Marketing and sales plan development
- QuickBooks consulting
Businesses can sign up for a free strategy session to learn more about the program offerings.
6. CareerSource Florida Training Grants
CareerSource Florida administers two state-funded training grant programs that are among the most widely used small business grants in the state. Both programs are flexible, customizable, and available to Florida businesses of all sizes.
The Quick Response Training (QRT) Grant supports new and expanding businesses by reimbursing costs for customized training of net new hires. The program is specifically designed for businesses in Florida’s targeted high-skill industries and those that produce exportable goods or services, with funding priority for businesses that offer wages at 115% or more of the state or local average. Funding is set each fiscal year, with priority given to first-time applicants; check CareerSource for the current allocation.
The Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) Grant helps existing Florida businesses address skills gaps in their current workforce. It reimburses up to 50% of pre-approved training costs, or up to 75% for businesses with 25 or fewer employees or in rural, distressed, brownfield or HUBZone areas.
Both programs are administered through CareerSource Florida’s network of regional offices. QRT applications must be submitted at least 45 business days before training starts. To apply, visit careersourceflorida.com or contact your local CareerSource Florida regional office.
Local grant programs
Several Florida grant programs are available for businesses located in certain cities.
1. North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency Grants
The North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency is an independent government entity that administers multiple grant programs. The agency offers programs designed to augment the business climate in the city, with grants for:
- Business attraction and expansion
- Beautification and enhancement (facade improvements)
- Rehabilitation
- Capacity building and retention
Some grants target specific neighborhoods in North Miami.
Commercial grants range from $5,000 to $200,000: Business Attraction & Expansion up to $200,000 and Rehabilitation up to $100,000 (both require a 50% match by the company), Facade up to $30,000, and Capacity Building up to $10,000. Businesses must be located within or moving within the North Miami geographical boundaries and projects must have benefits for the community.
2. Miami-Dade Mom and Pop Small Business Grant
The Miami-Dade County Mom and Pop Small Business Grant Program is one of the most accessible local grant programs in Florida, providing annual funding to small, independently owned and operated businesses across Miami-Dade County. Grants range from $3,000 to $5,000 depending on the commission district, and funds can be used for a wide range of business needs including equipment, supplies, inventory, advertising and marketing, building liability insurance, security systems, and minor renovations.
The program runs annually through each of Miami-Dade’s 13 county commission districts, with each district managing its own application window, typically opening between February and May each year. Home-based businesses are eligible to apply.
To be eligible, your business must be a for-profit, independently owned operation located within Miami-Dade County, in operation for at least 1 year, and registered as an active entity with the Florida Division of Corporations. Your business must hold a current Miami-Dade County Local Business Tax Receipt and must not be affiliated with a national chain or franchise.
Applications are submitted through your specific district’s commissioner office. To find your district and check whether applications are currently open, visit their website.
3. City of Tampa Entrepreneur Microgrants
The City of Tampa’s Entrepreneur Microgrants provide direct financial support to small businesses and entrepreneurs and are funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
Three tiers are available. BASE offers up to $1,500 for businesses under 12 months old. STEP offers up to $3,000 for businesses operating 12 months or more. SCALE helps cover the owner contribution for a microloan.
To be eligible, the owner’s household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI), or the business must serve a low- or moderate-income area, and businesses must be located within the City of Tampa. Referrals are due by February 15, 2027.
Visit their website to learn more and apply.
4. Glazer Family Small Business Fund
The Glazer Family Small Business Fund is a Tampa Bay area grant program distributed by the Tampa Bay Chamber and seven other area chambers. The fund is backed by the Glazer family, owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It started in 2024 after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the $1.6 million fund has supported 350 or more businesses.
The fund is open to Tampa Bay businesses operating 1 year or more that face a setback. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Federal grants programs
Businesses in Florida can also apply for federal grant programs designed to encourage innovation and business growth.
1. America’s Seed Fund
America’s Seed Fund is the National Science Foundation’s SBIR/STTR program and invests up to $2 million per company. It is designed to support small businesses in the technology sector. The focus is work to develop technology and foster commercialization. Businesses must be U.S.-based, for-profit and have fewer than 500 employees. Congress reauthorized SBIR/STTR through September 30, 2031 (P.L. 119-83, April 13, 2026).
Private Grants and Contests
Several businesses and organizations sponsor programs designed to encourage small businesses.
1. WomensNet Grants
There are multiple opportunities under this private program. The Amber Grant awards $15,000 every month, plus a monthly $15,000 Startup Grant and $15,000 business category grants. At the end of each year, three of the year’s monthly winners receive an additional $75,000 year-end grant.
The grants are for women-owned businesses. One application covers all of them, and there’s a $15 non-refundable application fee.
2. National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Grant
An NASE Growth Grant provides startups and small businesses with up to $4,000. Applicants must be NASE members: monthly members wait 90 days, while annual members can apply right away. Companies must show a financial need, illustrate how the grant monies will be used and share a copy of their business plan. NASE awards 4 grants each quarter.
3. Gusto Impact Awards
The Gusto Impact Awards has expanded significantly since the Orlando-focused pilot. The program now runs nationally across five U.S. regions, Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West, making it accessible to small businesses across all of Florida, not just Orlando. Each year, five regional grand prize winners are selected. Each winner receives a $10,000 cash grant, a $40,000 local advertising package designed and placed by Gusto, and a full year of free Gusto payroll services, a total prize package worth $50,000. In addition, 150 runner-up businesses nationwide each receive a $500 Visa gift card.
To be eligible, your business must be a U.S.-based for-profit with no more than 75 employees, less than $7 million in annual revenue, and must have been registered and operating for at least 12 months prior to entry. No purchase is required. Applications are submitted through gusto.com and consist of a written entry describing your business’s community impact. The program typically opens in the fall each year; the last entry window ran October 27–November 21, 2025. Visit the grant website for the next application window.
Conclusion
Now that you have some ideas on your possibilities, choose the ones that can be the best fit for you and start working on your applications for the grants you want. Hopefully you will get a business grant, and whether you’re starting a business in Florida, or expanding on what you have, you will achieve your goals.