Financing a new business is one of the most stressful experiences an entrepreneur will ever have. Yet coming up with funding is critical for developing your goods or services, employing workers, finding premises, and all the day-to-day tasks that come with starting and running a small business.
Small business grants can make the whole process less stressful. Much like a loan, they help you find funding in the early stages. This is often critical to new business owners who operate on slim margins.
In Massachusetts, getting funding for your small business is as important as any other state or country in the world. Happily, there is lots of support for new and existing ventures in the Commonwealth.
Massachusetts is a thriving hub for small businesses, in fact. The state currently operates nearly 700,000 of them, according to the most recently available statistics from the U.S. Small Business Administration. This comprises 99.5% of all Massachusetts businesses and nearly 45% of Massachusetts employees. In total, small businesses employ 1.5 million people in the state.
The reason you should consider grants is because you don’t have to pay the money back. They can provide that critical boost your business needs, both in the early stages and further down the road.
In this post, we will explore how grants fit into the overall business ecosystem. We will also explore the main small business grants 2026 is likely to offer, even if the application windows are not open yet. We will explore a range of small business grants, including state, federal, industry-specific, and corporate or private foundation grants.
Ready to take a look at small business grants in Massachusetts? Let’s dive in.
What are small business grants?
A small business grant is a lump of money that entrepreneurs can use to further their business goals.
Funding opportunities vary, some of them for specific purposes, and some of them unrestricted. For instance, some grants are earmarked for upgrading the technology at your small business. Others are nonspecific, so you can use the money for any activity, as long as it is legitimately related to your business.
Grants are different from loans and venture capital in one key way: The money is yours with no strings attached.
Unlike loans, you do not have to pay them back. Unlike venture capital investment, you do not have to surrender an ownership share in your company, nor do you have to share a specific percentage of the profits with an investor later.
This means that you can expand your new or early-stage business more easily, without risking debt that may come back to bite you. Plus, you will be able to:
- Find funding opportunities that don’t require collateral
- Put more capital into your business than you otherwise could
- Avoid interest payments later
The grant opportunities Massachusetts offers are significant. Whether you’re looking for startup grant opportunities or money to help your existing small business along, you will find that when it comes to funding opportunities Massachusetts is quite generous.
Massachusetts state-specific grants for 2026
First and foremost, when looking for small business grants in Massachusetts, check out Massachusetts grant program opportunities. These are unique to the state, so you won’t be competing with as wide an audience.
Note that while the following list is a great starting place for some of the most lucrative grants, it hardly represents everything that might apply to your business. Make sure to do your research about small business grants in Massachusetts and don’t confine your search to the ones on this list.
Massachusetts START Grant Program (MassVentures)
For Massachusetts-based technology and life sciences companies that have received a federal SBIR or STTR Phase II award, MassVentures’ SBIR Targeted Technologies (START) Grant Program provides a critical bridge between federally funded research and commercial viability. START grants are non-dilutive and range from $100,000 to $500,000, covering activities that federal research grants typically don’t fund, including market validation, business development, and intellectual property strategy.
The program runs three tiers of awards: 16 Round 1 grants of $100,000 each for Phase II companies; 7 Round 2 grants of $200,000 each for the most promising Round 1 winners from the prior year; and 3 Round 3 seed capital awards of up to $500,000 each for the most successful Round 2 companies. Since launching in 2012, START has awarded $41.7 million to 141 companies that have gone on to employ more than 3,300 people and leverage over $5 billion in private capital.
To be eligible, your business must be Massachusetts-based and have received a federal SBIR or STTR Phase II award within the past five years.
Application process – best practices and tips
Applications open annually on February 1 and are due by late February; the 2026 cycle has closed and the next window opens February 1, 2027. MassVentures hosts an information session at the start of each application window, which is worth attending to understand what reviewers are looking for.
Community One Stop for Growth
The Community One Stop for Growth is a unified application portal administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Economic Development that allows applicants to apply for multiple state economic development grant programs through a single submission. The One Stop covers a wide range of programs across housing, community development, and economic revitalization, making it a powerful resource for small businesses, developers, municipalities, and nonprofits.
For small businesses specifically, the most relevant programs accessible through the One Stop include the TDI Equity Investment Program ($25,000–$250,000 for commercial space improvements in Gateway City TDI Districts) and the Biz-M-Power Grant (matching grants of up to $50,000 for small and microbusinesses located within active TDI Districts). Note that TDI-specific programs are only available to businesses located within one of the 13 active TDI Districts: Attleboro, Barnstable, Fall River, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, New Bedford, Pittsfield, Revere, Springfield, Taunton, and Worcester.
Application process – best practices and tips
The One Stop application round typically opens in January each year. Visit the website to review currently available programs, eligibility requirements, and the application timeline. MassVentures and EOED host virtual office hours before the application deadline, take advantage of these to ask questions and strengthen your submission before applying.
Industry-specific and niche grants
Some of the small business grants 2026 is likely to offer are confined to specific industries or niches. Technology and agriculture are a few of the most common.
However, it is very likely that you will find small business grants in Massachusetts that apply to your own industry as well. Again, make sure to do that research so you don’t miss out on anything that might apply to you.
Agricultural Grants and Financial Assistance Programs
If you work in the agriculture or food industries and are curious about small business grants 2026 has a lot to offer you. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources offers grant money for farm improvement, food safety, environmentalism, and more.
Application process – best practices and tips
Check out the link above and click on the specific category into which you fall. There, take note of what’s available in 2026. Not all grants listed on the page are still active, so check that before putting in significant time.
Federal grants available to Massachusetts businesses
Small business grants in Massachusetts may also take the form of federal funding. That means your grant will come from institutions at the federal level, where you may be able to secure significant funding.
Don’t miss out on these grants, most of which are available on a rolling basis. That means they are very likely to be among the small business grants 2026 will offer.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
The SBIR grant is available to businesses that advance the causes of science and technology. The federal government believes that small Business Innovation is core to maintaining a strong economy and a technologically advanced society.
For that reason, the Small Business Administration offers significant grant money through America’s Seed Fund. This money will allow you to develop, test, and market your idea. The funding is non-dilutive, which means accepting it does not require you to give up an ownership share.
Application process – best practices and tips
Because the SBIR grant is not one single grant, there is not one single application process. Explore the rules for each agency or get help from a local assistant if needed.
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
Similar to the SBIR, the STTR is a grant that also helps you develop and mark it a scientific or technological idea. The only difference is that you need to find a nonprofit partner, like a federal organization or a research university.
Note: The SBIR and STTR programs lapsed on September 30, 2025, after Congress missed the reauthorization deadline. Both programs were reauthorized in March 2026 and are now active through September 30, 2031.
Department of Defense
Department of Defense grants come via a variety of avenues. The Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) and the Rapid Integrated Scalable Enterprise (RISE) initiative are two examples of funding types you can find if your business contributes to national defense.
Application process – best practices and tips
There is no single DoD grant on an annual timeline. Instead, they offer multiple funding paths through different departments and throughout the year. Read through the page carefully.
Department of Energy
If your business falls in energy-related sectors (such as nuclear, renewables, carbon, and so forth), then you may get grant money from the Department of Energy. As with other federal and state grants, these often represent a number of different opportunities rather than just one.
Application process – best practices and tips
Again, read through the page carefully. Choose your area and click “View More” to see opportunities and application details.
National Institute of Health
Businesses in the health and sciences sectors should check out the National Institutes of Health for grant money. They also offer contracts, and all funding is non-dilutive, so you don’t need to give up an ownership share in your company.
Application process – best practices and tips
To apply for small business grants through the NIH, check out the available funding opportunities using the link above. Timelines and award amounts vary.
Corporate and Private Foundation Grants for 2026
Small business grants in Massachusetts are also available on the corporate and private foundation level. The following are common and ongoing small business grants for which you should consider applying.
Visa (CLOSED)
The well-known global credit card company likes to give back in the form of grant money. Specific grants varied from year to year, tending to focus on women, minorities, and underserved communities.
The Visa Foundation’s Small Business Grant Program, which previously awarded grants to women-owned and underserved small businesses in the United States, is no longer accepting applications. Check visafoundation.org for any new grant programs they may announce.
Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant Program
The Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant Program, powered by the FedEx Founder’s Fund and sponsored by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, awards grants annually to veteran- and military spouse-owned small businesses. Four businesses receive $10,000 and one standout business receives a $25,000 grand prize.
Application process – best practices and tips
To be eligible, your business must be at least 51% owned by an honorably discharged veteran or military spouse, have between 3 and 20 employees, and generate no more than $5 million in annual revenue. Applications typically open in fall and close in December each year. Visit their website to apply when the next cycle opens.
FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab
FedEx, in partnership with Accion Opportunity Fund and e-commerce experts at 37 Oaks, runs a four-month hands-on program called the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab designed to help small business owners strengthen their e-commerce strategy and grow their online sales. The program includes practical courses, interactive workshops, expert guidance, and order fulfillment support through the holiday season. Participants who graduate receive a $5,000 grant to reinvest back into their business.
Application process – best practices and tips
The Fall 2026 cohort application deadline is June 30, 2026.
National Association for the Self-Employed
The NASE offers what they call growth grants. These are available to all business owners for any type of business activity, helping you to launch a new business or expand an existing one.
Application process – best practices and tips
You can submit applications any time and they will be reviewed once a quarter. The website indicates that current NASE members may have a better shot at getting grants, so consider that when applying.
Amber Grant Program
Founded in honor of a young woman, the Amber Grant offers $10,000 a month to one lucky female entrepreneur. The past 36 winners are eligible for an additional grant of $25,000, of which there are three annually.
Application process – best practices and tips
As with any grant, make sure to fill out the grant to the best of your ability. The website advises telling your story with heart rather than focusing on details or numbers as you would in a corporate report.
Conclusion
The above list is a great place to start when looking for small business grants. They are rich funding opportunities and are all small business grants 2026 is likely to offer.
Remember when you are searching for small business grants in Massachusetts that you won’t get them all, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you should stop trying. Your business is worth keeping the faith, so good luck!