Top Small Business Grants for 2025 in New Jersey

New Jersey is open for business. With 953,000 small businesses, representing an impressive 99.6 percent of all businesses in the state, it’s clear that budding entrepreneurs view New Jersey as the ultimate haven for growth and innovation. 

Opportunities abound, but challenges do as well. Amid economic uncertainty, New Jersey entrepreneurs may struggle to get their feet off the ground. Startup costs can add up quickly, making it difficult not only to launch New Jersey businesses, but also, to scale them over time.

Recognizing these challenges, the state offers many generous grants, designed to lend promising small businesses a helping hand. Learn more about these opportunities and how they can lead to small business success in New Jersey.

What are small business grants?

Small business grants provide funding for entrepreneurs, assisting with startup efforts along with expansions or innovative projects. These funding opportunities do not need to be paid back. For this reason, many aspiring entrepreneurs favor grants over loans or venture capital (VC), which come with significant caveats: loans charge interest while venture capital opportunities may force entrepreneurs to give up equity or control. 

New Jersey state-specific grants

Addressing a wide range of local business challenges and opportunities, New Jersey grants aim to foster entrepreneurship across the state. These opportunities are largely available through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), which offers assistance to credit-worthy businesses via the Small Business Fund. 

Small Business Improvement Grants

Funded by New Jersey’s Main Street Recovery Finance Program, the Small Business Improvement Grant helps entrepreneurs upgrade their spaces with equipment, fixtures, furniture, or other essentials. This program allows New Jersey small businesses to apply for up to $50,000 in reimbursements for building improvement expenses. This program prioritizes businesses that occupy areas known as Opportunity Zones — distressed communities in which investors can take advantage of expanded tax credits. 

Application and eligibility requirements:

Qualifying improvement projects must cost, at minimum, $5,000. Depending on the cost of the project, green building standards may be enforced. Applicants must rent or own these facilities and must intend to remain in improved locations for at least two years. The application is straightforward, but processing time may span up to eight months. 

Entrepreneurs should be aware that this grant maintains minimum wage requirements for small business employees. The application process includes tax clearance certificates. NJEDA provides a detailed application checklist and recommends that all applicants examine this carefully to ensure that all eligibility requirements are met. NJEDA also offers step-by-step application instructions featuring easy-to-understand visuals. 

Food Equity and Economic Development in NJ 

Committed to eliminating New Jersey food deserts, the Food Equity and Economic Development in NJ (FEED NJ) pilot program awards grants of up to $500,000. This program prioritizes projects that empower the state’s Food Desert Communities (FDCs). The goal: to encourage innovations that can effectively address food insecurity throughout New Jersey. 

NJEDA chief economic security officer Tara Colton tells the Trenton Journal that the program seeks applicants with unique perspectives, including “locally driven ideas that are realistic and sustainable but that would have a catalytic impact on food access in New Jersey.”

Application and eligibility requirements:

NJEDA grants are available to for-profit organizations, but eligibility is limited to those that have existed for at least two years at the time of applying. These organizations will ideally have a strong track record of serving FDCs and expanding food access within these communities. Applications can be completed via NJEDA’s online application center.

New Jersey Small Business Fund

Designed to support New Jersey’s minority-owned and women-owned businesses, the NJ Small Business Fund offers resources that can be applied towards working capital or fixed assets. This allows local businesses to make critical investments that support their long-term viability while also getting the chance to cover day-to-day operational expenses. 

Application and eligibility requirements:

Businesses that apply for this grant must be based in New Jersey but cannot be home-based organizations. Furthermore, these businesses must have operated for at least one year — but with revenue under $3 million. Also necessary: the ability to provide fixed assets such as real property. Tax clearance certificates are required but can be obtained via the Premier Business Services (PBS) online portal.

Federal grants available to New Jersey businesses

In addition to the many state-based programs highlighted above, New Jersey businesses may enjoy access to a wide range of federal grants. The Small Business Administration (SBA), for example, offers limited, but meaningful grants. Many of these federal programs support scientific research and can spark innovation that benefits both New Jersey communities and the broader economy. 

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program

Designed to support the deployment of research-backed innovations within the commercial market, the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program helps to promote seamless collaboration between research institutions and small businesses. This, in turn, allows businesses to capitalize on advanced research while accelerating innovation within real-world settings. Many startups and biotechnology companies use STTR funding to move promising technologies or products toward commercialization.  

Application and eligibility requirements:

This grant is only available to businesses with 500 (or fewer) employees. Eligibility also hinges on partnerships with research-focused nonprofits, such as academic institutions. The STTR application process includes strict registration requirements. For example, all applying businesses must obtain Unique Entity IDs (UEIs) via SAM.gov. Applicants must also certify that they meet all eligibility requirements, as highlighted in the SBA’s eligibility guide. 

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program shares much in common with the STTR program, but without the need for in-depth collaboration with research colleges or universities. Promoting innovation, this unique grant helps small businesses explore tech-driven opportunities. This federal program provides a reliable pathway for tech-focused businesses to bring innovative ideas to life, ensuring a seamless shift from concept to commercialization. 

Application and eligibility requirements:

As with STTR, the SBIR program strictly defines qualifying small businesses as those with 500 or fewer employees. With SBIR, however, the small business owner remains the primary applicant, so academic partnerships are not a central part of the application process. Unique Entity IDs remain critical, as do certifications surrounding satisfied eligibility requirements. Phase 0 and state matching programs can provide additional support for applicants as they pursue SBIR awards. 

Made in America Manufacturing Initiative

Designed to expand access to capital and facilitate exporting, the Made in America Manufacturing Initiative aims to empower small manufacturers. Although this program can prove helpful for individual manufacturers, it holds a broader goal of strengthening domestic production. The initiative involves awards of up to $1.1 million, with recipients expected to provide both training and technical assistance. 

Application and eligibility requirements:

Eligible applicants must have existed continuously for at least three years. Additionally, the Small Business Administration (SBA) highlights the need for a strong track record in offering assistance to small manufacturing businesses. This funding opportunity is available to a variety of for-profit or not-for-profit entities, including not only small businesses, but also, trade associations and even academic institutions. 

Corporate and private foundation grants

Many prominent New Jersey businesses and nonprofit organizations support entrepreneurship through specialized grants. These can provide expanded funding but may be more difficult to navigate than their state or federal counterparts, simply because their eligibility standards and application processes vary so considerably.

Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

Focused on promoting a “just and equitable New Jersey,” the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation provides many viable pathways towards small business funding. This equity-focused organization provides broad support but is especially focused on driving opportunities in Atlantic City, Camden, Newark, Paterson, and Trenton. The foundation maintains an easy-to-navigate grants directory, complete with helpful details such as the types of grants previously awarded, along with grant durations and amounts.

Application and eligibility requirements:

The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation primarily identifies and connects grant partners through a proactive outreach process, in which foundation representatives determine whether organizations align with core goals or values. The foundation’s FAQ page offers helpful insight into funding priorities. Organizations interested in obtaining grant funding can share details about their community-oriented work via the foundation’s contact page. 

Entrepreneurs of Color Fund

Supported by Prudential Financial (which is based Newark), the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund (ECOF) was originally launched in Detroit, but, with corporate assistance, has branched out to serve many other metropolitan areas. This program has provided tens of millions in grants to entrepreneurs, with a focus on supporting women and people of color. Grant recipients gain not only access to capital, but also, coaching services and connections to other valuable resources. 

Application and eligibility requirements:

The ECOF matching process begins with visiting the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) website, which provides the chance to share relevant details about business needs and functions before gaining access to details about local lenders. These lenders can then share additional details or seek documentation to determine the best path forward for supporting eligible businesses. 

Tailor AID Grants

Tailor Brands’ AID Grants give aspiring entrepreneurs and displaced workers the opportunity to launch their own businesses with confidence. Each grant provides $1,000 in value, covering essentials such as registered agent services, professional business coaching, and support with bookkeeping and banking setup. The goal is to make the transition from employment loss to business ownership smoother, offering practical tools that help new founders take their first steps toward financial independence.

Application and eligibility requirements:

The Tailor AID application is simple compared to many other grants. Applicants need to complete a short form and provide proof of recent layoffs or job displacement. Acceptable documentation may include termination letters, notes from managers, or other verifiable records of job loss. Once submitted, eligible applicants gain access to Tailor Brands’ resources, designed to make starting a business more attainable.

New Jersey small business grant application process: best practices and tips

No two grant applications will look exactly alike, but certain habits or practices are more likely to deliver a success story. When in doubt, stick with these suggestions:

• Start early. Stay on top of application deadlines and, if possible, launch this process early to allow plenty of time for research, drafting, and, if necessary, revisions. Some grant programs offer insight into typical processing timelines, but, in general, applicants can expect the grant approval process to span several months. 
• Research thoroughly. Because grant requirements are so different, it is important to understand all details before applying. Look for online resources such as eligibility guides or application checklists. 
• Use available resources. Many programs offer robust assistance with grant applications. For example, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) provide counseling and workshops designed to make the application process easier and less stressful. State-specific opportunities are even available through New Jersey Small Business Development Centers (NJSBDC). Networking events can provide additional insight, and, while many of these are available through SBDCs, professional associations and alumni organizations are also excellent resources. 
• Follow up if needed. Agencies may request additional clarifications. Respond promptly to these requests and provide all relevant details to improve the odds of applications moving forward. Follow-ups should not be viewed as failures, but rather, as opportunities to strengthen proposals.

Conclusion

New Jersey small business grants can provide a solid source of funding whether you are just about to start a business, or looking to grow operations.. These take some effort to navigate, but the time spent researching and drafting can deliver a major payoff: the resources needed to launch or scale New Jersey businesses, and to better serve local communities. While federal grants can be challenging to secure, many local and corporate programs provide a pathway to funding, support, and ultimately, small business success.