Top Small Business Grants for 2025 in Utah

Utah is one of the best states in which to do business. This subjective claim comes from the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, which shares that the Beehive State has a great business climate and is eager to welcome more businesses. It refers to itself as the Start Up State, and hopes to leverage a business-friendly Legislature, a strong employment market, a well-educated workforce, strong civic engagement, and general affordability to attract more entrepreneurial efforts.  

As of 2023, there were 333,661 small businesses in Utah, which represent 99.3 percent of all businesses. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, this works out to be 635,432 employees, and 45.2 percent of the state’s workforce.

To make things easier for people planning to do business in Utah as well as those who have already launched startups, there are several options available for financial support.

Small business grants are one of the more useful ways to help get a business off the ground or a needed boost to scale up. Grant opportunities come from a variety of sources and can be helpful for company  officials seeking needed funds.

Continue reading to learn about some of the available Utah grant programs.

What are small business grants? 

There are many tools businesses can use to help grow, including loans and investment from venture capital. Loans especially can be useful funding opportunities bu they usually do have to be paid back over time, often with interest.

Small business grants, however, don’t have to be paid back, which can be appealing if you want to start your venture with as little debt as possible. They also may be a good option if you don’t think you’ll qualify for traditional lending.

 There are plenty of sources for grants, including charities and non-profits as well as local, state, and national business organizations. Private foundations like to provide funds to help local startups get a leg up. 

Each organization has different guidelines for how to request small business grants in Utah. You will likely need a paperwork such as a thorough business plan that estimates possible costs and revenue. Supplemental materials may also be requested, everything from market conditions to details about the economic outlook for your industry.

Utah state-specific small business grants

The State of Utah offers several programs to help startups become part of the state’s business community. The grants may be focused on needed business categories and certain industries. Grants may also be available for certain demographic groups such as women-owned businesses and veteran-owned businesses.

Successful grant applicants are usually selected based on interesting concepts, growth potential, and relevance to the area.

Utah Economic Assistance Grants

The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity offers one-time grants for businesses which have a focus on growing or promoting education, industry, infrastructure, or community development, especially in five targeted areas of aerospace and defense; financial services; advanced manufacturing; life sciences and health care; and software and IT.  There are three funding tiers, from $50,000 up to $200,000.

Application and eligibility requirements

Applicants need to create a plan with metrics that measure success that focus on one or more of the targeted industries. This includes a realistic budget and other funding sources, and the possibility of matching funds. It can also include a timeline of a process, since design projects are due within 18 months of funding.

Learn more at https://business.utah.gov/grants/eag/

Business Idea Challenge

 Even if your business is still at the “good idea” stage, Startup Utah can help flesh it out and get it to a point where it could be commercially viable. Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah will offer up to $1,000 in non-equity funding for you to reach “milestones” and get your business to the next stage.

Application and eligibility requirements

Applicants must be residents of Utah. They need to create and deliver a summary of their plan at a live pitch event held once a month at the University of Utah. The pitch should answer the question “Will customers buy my product or service?” Applications should describe the specific milestone they want to achieve, such as creating a test product, putting together an ad campaign, or building an app. The milestone is expected to be met 30-60 days from funding.

Get more info at https://startup.utah.gov/business-idea-challenge/

Rural Employment Development Incentive

The state encourages economic development in rural areas and has grants available for businesses that want to bring high-paying jobs to outlying communities, especially towns with populations less than 10,000 in four rural counties. Between $4,000 and $6,000 is available for each job that could be created, whether it’s on-site, remote, or hybrid. The total amount available is $250,000 each year.

Application and eligibility requirements

Jobs eligible for grant funding must be full-time, be predicted to last at least a year, pay at least 100 percent of the county’s average wage, and not be in the retail, staffing, public utilities, or construction industries. Businesses must already exist in Utah.

Learn more at https://business.utah.gov/rural/redi/

Industry-specific and niche grants in Utah

Travel Utah Cooperative Marketing Program

Utah Board of Tourism Development invites tourism-focused entities to combine resources to apply for up to $225,000 in matching funds to enhance marketing efforts. Grant funds are primarily used for out-of-state marketing but a portion can be used for in-state promotional efforts. The goals include bringing more visitors to the state, enhancing the economy, and increasing overall tax revenue.

Application and eligibility requirements

Travel organizations and non-profits are eligible to apply for these state grants, which must be matched. Applicants can include tourism organizations and large-scale events. The application cycle takes place each year. Non-profits are encouraged to partner with a local destination marketing organization to be part of the grant request. Only one application is allowed for each marketing campaign, but applicants can also submit multiple campaigns.

Get more details at https://travel.utah.gov/cooperative-marketing-program/

Agricultural Water Optimization Program

Businesses in the agricultural industry with ideas to improve the use of water resources, especially ways to use less of it, are encouraged to apply to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. The grants can also be used for infrastructure purchases, such as buying new equipment or upgrading older, less efficient machinery.

Farms can request up to $500,000 and irrigation/canal companies can request up to $1,000,000.

Application and eligibility requirements

Grants will pay for up to 75 percent of irrigation projects, as well as a 50 percent cost share for other water optimization projects. Real-time metering is required that shows daily data. A 10 percent out-of-pocket contribution is also required.

Grant recipients must provide annual reports for three years after project completion. A total of 20 percent of funding won’t be released until the project is complete, approved, and documented.

More details are available at https://ag.utah.gov/agricultural-water-optimization/program-information/

Air and Water Innovation Grant

Non-profits or for-profit organizations that have ideas for projects to improve air quality or water quality in Utah are welcome to apply for these grants. Applicants will partner with either the Utah Division of Water Resources or Division of Air Quality. The project will be reviewed by officials from the University of Utah and other representatives from the private and public sector. Up to $1,000,000 is available.

Application and eligibility requirements

Applicants must have a physical location in Utah and propose projects that will exist in Utah. They also must be registered with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Preferences will be given to applicants able to demonstrate that their project is novel and can also be easily duplicated in other places in the state.  Preferences will be given to companies able to find matching funds from private organizations.

Learn more at https://business.utah.gov/grants/air-and-water-innovation-grant/

Federal grants available to Utah businesses

The Utah grant program is only one source of funding that Utah businesses can consider. Funding opportunities can come outside the state, including federal agencies. These can offer funding for research and involvement in projects. By providing grants, they can receive help from small businesses around the country for their projects.

Along with research support, federal grants can also help companies expand and perform their own research or purchase infrastructure and equipment. Grants can also help companies develop or improve technology or receive assistance setting up interstate agreements or international trade affiliations.

Small Business Administration

The SBA offers tools to help small businesses grow, including access to experts. It also provides loans and grants to eligible businesses plus access to professionals in different industries as well as assistance with federal certifications. Its goal is to support entrepreneurship around the country by offering resources at local levels.

Utah has one SBA district and offices in St. George and Salt Lake City.

Application process: best practices and tips

Grants can be provided to non-profits, educational organizations, and resource partners.

While SBA support can’t be used directly to start or upgrade a business, grants can be used for all sorts of projects and ventures, including developing training programs, scientific research, community promotion of entrepreneurship, and exporting.

Within the SBA, there are a variety of grant options based on different industries, such as manufacturing, community organizations, and general exporting.

Applicants must show that their product has potential for commercial success.  

Learn more at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/grants or https://www.sba.gov/district/utah.

Small Business Innovation Research/ Small Business Technology Transfer

The SBIR and SBTT programs provide funding to advance research, “translating laboratory discoveries into commercial products or services.”  A total of 11 federal agencies support this pairing of research and development with small business, through a program called America’s Seed Fund.

In Utah, this program is hosted at the University of Utah’s Technology Licensing Office.

Application process: best practices and tips

Each agency has its own mission, available funds, and application due dates, so people seeking grants should learn about each one.

Projects must follow a similar outline, from determining feasibility to validation/development to commercialization.

For general eligibility, companies must be U.S. owned and have less than 500 employees. Each project requires a principal investigator who is employed by the Small Business Center.  In some cases, microgrants can be requested to help with the costs of submitting a proposal or moving through the different project phases.

More details are available at https://technologylicensing.utah.edu/inventors/programs/sbir-sttr

Community Economic Development Grants

The U.S. Office of Administration for Children and Families offers business grants through its Office of Community Services. The goal is for businesses to expand employment to low-income individuals in areas facing poverty and high unemployment. Grants can pay for living wages, benefits, opportunities for career growth and other support.

Application process: best practices and tips

Funding can go toward businesses wanting to invest in community development corporations, as well as faith-based organizations and tribal organizations. For every dollar of CED funding applied to a project, more than $6 from other sources will go into low-income communities. Funds don’t go to individuals. Any jobs must be permanent.

One new funding restriction is that projects can’t support costs directly related to diversity, equity, or inclusion, including research.

More info is available at https://acf.gov/ocs/programs/ced

Corporate and private foundation small business grants  

FedEX Small Business Grants

In 2012, FedEx launched a national program to provide grants to small businesses to help them get off the ground and connect with others. This program shut down in 2024, but new programs have emerged, including the FedEx Entrepreneur Fund, a cooperative venture between HelloAlice and the Global Entrepreneurship Network. Up to $300,000 is available to encourage businesses to access networks and resources.

The organizations will provide $10,000 to eligible businesses owned by military-connected entrepreneurs and/or people with disabilities. https://helloalice.com/grants/fedex/

Amber Grants for Women

WomensNet began to offer grants for women entrepreneurs in 1998, in memory of Amber Wigdahl, a teen who had dreams of opening her own business. Monthly awards are given, including $10,000 for a startup, $10,000 for an outstanding business, and $10,000 for business categories such as health and fitness, food and beverage, sustainability, and skilled trades.

Each monthly winner is eligible for one of three annual awards of $25,000.    

Only one application is needed to apply. Applicants must be women at least 18 years old, who are part of a business that’s at least 50 percent women owned, and operates in the U.S.

Because there are multiple industries and awards, one application can be used for multiple opportunities to win each month. People who don’t win one month can reapply in three months. https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/

Nike Community Impact Fund

Grants are available for companies and organizations interested in developing sports programs in their communities, especially at the youth level. By focusing on this sector and partnering with current Nike teammates already living in these areas, Nike hopes to build local communities and economies.  Applications are reviewed by Nike teammates familiar with the local communities.

Nike requires applicants to partner with a municipality in the city or region that they want to increase sports programs.

The application cycle begins each January.

Learn more at https://about.nike.com/en/mission/initiatives/nike-community-impact-fund.

Conclusion

Utah has earned its reputation as the “Start Up State” by combining a strong economy with a supportive environment for entrepreneurs. From state-sponsored initiatives to federal programs and private foundation opportunities, there are numerous grant options available to help small business owners access the resources they need to grow.

Whether you are launching a new business or scaling an existing one, these grants can provide critical funding without the burden of repayment. The key is to find the programs that best align with your industry, goals, and stage of development, and then put together a thoughtful application that demonstrates your business’s potential.

Now is the time to explore your options, take advantage of Utah’s business-friendly climate, and pursue the grant opportunities that can turn your vision into long-term success.