Top Small Business Grants for 2025 in Missouri

Starting and sustaining a small business in Missouri is both exhilarating and financially daunting. The small business community forms the backbone of the state’s economy. More than 540,000 small businesses are driving innovation and creating jobs in the Show-Me State. Yet despite their impact, many small business owners face steep financial hurdles. This is especially true during the early stages of growth or during economic downturns. 

Access to capital remains one of the most persistent challenges for entrepreneurs. Traditional funding options usually come with strings attached, like high interest rates and rigid repayment schedules. That’s where small business grants come in. Unlike loans, grants don’t require repayment. This makes them a powerful and low-risk tool for business development. If you’re starting a new business, expanding a family-owned establishment, or revitalizing a rural storefront, a grant can provide a critical boost to make it happen. 

A growing number of public and private grant programs are stepping up to support small businesses in Missouri. Grants are available for high-impact industries, “mom and pop” ventures, solopreneurs, individuals in underserved communities, and much more. There’s a diverse landscape of funding opportunities out there to help small businesses thrive. 

In this post, we’ll explore some of the top small business grants in Missouri. These will include local and industry-specific options. Then, we’ll dive into some key federal grants that you might be able to tap into. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up, these resources could be the game-changer your business needs. 

What are small business grants?

Small business grants are funds awarded to entrepreneurs and business owners who require capital for operations, growth, or innovation. Loans require repayment with interest. Venture capital often involves giving up equity and control.

Grants, on the other hand, do not have to be paid back. They offer a debt-free way to secure capital. They’re especially valuable to startups and small businesses looking to expand without taking on financial risk. 

Federal and state governments offer grant programs to stimulate economic development and promote growth in key industries. In Missouri, there are state agencies and regional development organizations that provide targeted grants. These might be aimed at rural businesses or minority-owned enterprises. There are also industry-specific grants for sectors like agriculture and advanced manufacturing.

Corporations, private foundations, and non-profits also play a role in the grant landscape. They sometimes provide funding tied to specific missions, such as workforce development or local revitalization.

The benefits of securing small business grants go beyond a simple financial boost. They can validate a business model or provide enhanced credibility with future investors or lenders. For Missouri entrepreneurs navigating tight margins or seeking to scale up, small business grants offer a strategic lifeline. 

Missouri state-specific grants

Missouri offers grants to startups and small businesses to spur job growth and economic development within the state. 

These state-specific programs are aimed at various industries and demographic groups. They’re available through different state agencies, and each has its own application process. 

Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) Grants

The MASBDA Value-Added Grant Program is administered by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the grants in this program is to support businesses and small enterprises that add value to Missouri agricultural products. 

Value-Added grants of up to $200,000 are administered on a first-come, first-served basis each year until all program funds are expended. They’re geared toward small businesses involved in processing, packaging, and marketing Missouri ag products. In many cases, these grants are awarded to companies that are adjacent to agriculture. Think eco-packaging or logistics.

An applicant must be Missouri-based and can be a small business, cooperative, or agribusiness. You must be able to demonstrate economic viability and job creation potential to receive an award. 

Application Process

Application forms can be downloaded from the MASBDA Value-Added Grant Program website. MASBDA staff are available for pre-application guidance. You can even request a review with MASBDA staff before submitting a formal application.

Applications can be submitted via email or mail with supporting documentation:

• Business plan
• Financial projections
• Ownership and registration documents

Missouri Technology Corporation Physical Infrastructure Grants

This is a public-private partnership grant offered by the state of Missouri and the Missouri Technology Corporation. These grants are aimed at small businesses looking to expand physical infrastructure, such as commercial office space. It can also be used for the expansion of biotech or agtech companies looking to expand wet lab space or greenhouses. Funds are limited to $200,000 or 25 percent of an applicant’s average annual operating expenses (whichever amount is lower). 

Application Process

The application window opens each year in April. Once the selection process is complete, grant periods begin in September of the same year. Grants can be awarded based on one-, two-, or three-year operational plans. Applicants must own or actively manage the physical infrastructure that is the subject of the grant. Full details about the application process and window can be found on the MTC’s Physical Infrastructure Grants page.

Missouri Small Business Grant Program

This program is administered for small businesses through the Missouri Department of Economic Development. During the most recent round of funding, $10 million was allocated for small businesses. Grants up to $25,000 were awarded to eligible small businesses across the state. The most recent year that funding was available was 2024. The program was not funded by the state legislature in 2025, but is expected to be reactivated at some point in the future. Watch for news updates from DED for more information. 

Application Process

For the most recent round of DED grants, applicants were required to be Missouri-based for-profit businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees, including the owner. Application instructions and timelines will be updated on the Small Business Grant Program webpage when the DED receives a new round of funding. 

Federal grants for Missouri small businesses

Federal agencies are another source of significant grant funding for Missouri small businesses. These are funded annually through various agencies to support specific types of projects and businesses. Here are some of the top federal grants that Missouri small businesses can explore. 

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants

The SBIR Program provides accelerated grants to small businesses engaged in high-impact research and development (R&D). It’s designed to stimulate technological innovation and help small businesses commercialize cutting-edge solutions. These are ideal grants for startups and small businesses developing products and services in fields like biotech, defense, energy, or advanced manufacturing.

Applicants must be for-profit, US-owned and -controlled, and have fewer than 500 employees. Phase I of the grant involves the feasibility and proof-of-concept stage, and awards can be up to $250,000. Phase II is the full R&D and prototype development stage, in which businesses can receive $750,000 to $1.8 million in grant funding. 

Application Process

Each federal agency posts solicitations for specific research topics it’s interested in funding. Grants can be awarded through the USDA, the Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, and others. Proposals must meet strict formatting and technical criteria. The application process is intense, so businesses should give themselves 6 to 8 weeks minimum to prepare a proposal. Applications are submitted via SBIR.gov.

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants

The STTR Program is designed to fund small businesses that collaborate with non-profit research institutions to commercialize breakthrough technologies. It’s designed to unlock the R&D potential of universities and labs by formally linking them with private businesses, creating a win-win, public-private partnership. 

Applicants must be US-based, US-owned, and US-operated with fewer than 500 employees. The business must partner with a US non-profit research institute, and both parties must carry out a percentage of the R&D. STTR grants are especially relevant for Missouri businesses in the biotech, clean energy, and health innovation sectors. 

Application Process

Proposals for STTR grants must include a formal collaboration agreement and technical plan. You can apply through participating federal agencies. Small businesses can leverage partnerships with institutions like the University of Missouri, Washington University of St. Louis, and Missouri S&T to apply for these grants. 

Foundation and niche small business grants in Missouri

Private foundations and non-profit groups are another source where Missouri small businesses can turn for grant funding. These entities often provide niche funding to specific types of businesses or business owners. 

Kansas City G.I.F.T. Grants

The Generating Income for Tomorrow (G.I.F.T.) Grant is designed to accelerate the growth of African American-owned businesses in Kansas City. It provides both capital and coaching to small businesses that demonstrate the potential for job creation and community impact. 

Grants for eligible businesses in the amount of $10,000 are available multiple times per year. There’s also an annual $100,000 grant awarded each year in July. Businesses must be at least 51 percent Black-owned and must be geographically located within the Kansas City, MO, city limits. 

G.I.F.T. grants have strict ongoing compliance requirements that business owners must meet. The grant funds are dispersed incrementally, and compliance with program requirements is necessary to receive the full funding amount. 

Application Process

G.I.F.T. provides monthly classes on its grant application process. Once they’ve attended a class and decided on a track ($10,000 or $100,000), they can go to the G.I.F.T. Grant Application page. Applications require a statement of financial activity, tax returns, and other legal and financial documentation. There is also a non-refundable fee to submit the application.  Small business owners will also go through two in-person interviews during the review process. 

Amber Foundation Grants for Women-Owned Businesses

The Amber Foundation awards three $10,000 grants every month to women-owned small businesses across the country, including in Missouri. At the end of each year, three grantees are given an additional $25,000 award. Even women who have a dream to start a business but lack startup capital can apply and win an award. There’s no restriction on the type of business that can apply. Women-led non-profits are eligible, too.  Amber Foundation grants have been awarded to everything from STEM companies to haircare and skincare businesses. 

Application Process

Amber grants have one of the simplest application processes in the industry. Simply fill out a one-page form on the Amber application page, answer a couple of questions, and pay a $15 application fee.

Tailor Brands Small Business Grant

The Tailor AID Fund was created to give recently displaced workers the chance to turn setbacks into new beginnings. Valued at $1,000, the fund provides a complete small business kit that includes essential tools like business coaching and registered agent services.

The application is simple, just provide proof of a recent layoff connected to AI-driven changes, and recipients gain everything they need to launch their own business. For aspiring entrepreneurs in Missouri, this grant can be the first step toward building something of their own.

Conclusion

Small business grants can make all the difference for entrepreneurs in Missouri who are ready to launch, expand, or stabilize their operations. Unlike loans, they provide capital without the burden of repayment, freeing up owners to reinvest directly into their businesses. From agriculture and technology to women-owned startups and community-focused enterprises, the state offers a wide range of funding opportunities that meet diverse needs.

If you are serious about growing your business in the Show-Me State, start exploring the grant programs that fit your goals and qualifications. Whether you e time to research, prepare your applications carefully, and position your business to succeed, the resources are out there waiting for you.