Grants for Small Businesses

NSWC CRANE - N00164 · Amount varies

This Navy (NSWC Crane) Broad Agency Announcement seeks innovative research and technology demonstrators in national-security focus areas such as electronic warfare, sensors, hypersonics, and power systems. Eligibility is unrestricted to any entity type, so businesses, nonprofits, universities, and research organizations may propose, though work must align with the Navy's defense mission. No fixed award amount or deadline is stated; proposers are encouraged to contact the listed points of contact before submitting.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This is a forecast notice from NIH signaling that a future funding opportunity for an R41/R42 Small Business Transition Grant aimed at early-career scientists is expected to be published, but the opportunity is not yet open. No eligibility details, funding amounts, or deadlines are available yet; interested small businesses and early-career researchers should watch for the official NOFO announcement.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This forecasted National Eye Institute program (R61/R33, clinical trial not allowed) supports translational research to develop therapeutics for eye diseases through a phased milestone-driven award. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadline are not yet posted. R61/R33 awards typically fund universities, research institutions, and sometimes small businesses; clinical trials are not permitted under this opportunity. Review the full notice for confirmed eligibility.

AFRL Kirtland AFB · Amount varies

This forecasted Air Force Research Laboratory (Kirtland AFB) announcement (DETER ARA) funds experimentation and research in directed energy technology. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadline are not posted in this listing. Defense research announcements typically fund universities, research institutions, and companies, and may carry restrictions related to U.S. national security and export control; review the full announcement for confirmed eligibility and any citizenship or facility requirements.

Department of Housing and Community Development · Amount varies

Businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply for this roughly $101 million California HCD Super NOFA funding multifamily rental housing and infrastructure programs, but awards are strictly limited to projects located in Los Angeles County affected by the January 2025 wildfires. Funding covers new construction, rehabilitation, and conversion of affordable, supportive, transit-oriented, or veteran-focused rental housing, plus infrastructure gap funding for qualifying infill projects; organizations outside LA County are not eligible.

DOC NOAA - ERA Production · $250K–$30M

Institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profit companies, U.S. territories, and state, local, and tribal governments may apply to this NOAA program for fish habitat restoration in the Great Lakes. Federal agencies and their employees are not eligible. Applicants can be located anywhere, but the proposed work must take place within the Great Lakes basin in one of the eight U.S. Great Lakes states (NY, PA, OH, MI, IN, IL, WI, MN). Awards range from about $250,000 to $30 million, making this a large-award opportunity with a strong geographic restriction.

Natural Resources · $30K–$3M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant, which funds fish and wildlife management activities supporting Asian carp control in the Ohio River Basin. Awards range from $30,000 to $3,000,000.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · $100K–$2.3M

This U.S. Army research program (Tactical Behaviors for Autonomous Maneuver) funds work on robotics and autonomous systems for future multi-domain military operations, with awards ranging from about $100,000 up to roughly $2.3 million to a single entity. Institutions of higher education, for-profit, and non-profit organizations may apply, and FFRDCs may propose subject to their sponsoring agency's policy; teams are allowed but not required. Note the listed proposal dates have passed (Cycle 2 submission was April 24, 2024), so verify whether any cycle remains open before pursuing it.

State Treasurer's Office · Amount varies

California businesses, nonprofits, individuals, public agencies, and tribal governments building or expanding a manufacturing facility involving recycled feedstock, advanced manufacturing, alternative energy, or advanced transportation technologies can apply to CAEATFA for a sales and use tax exclusion on qualifying equipment purchases. This is a tax exclusion rather than a direct cash grant, so applicants should confirm it fits their funding needs; no dollar cap or deadline is specified here.

CA Energy Commission · Amount varies

Businesses, individuals, public agencies, and tribal governments in California may apply for this CA Energy Commission program, which provides cost-share funding to match federal geothermal energy grants (energy, science, technology, and R&D projects). No award amounts or deadlines are listed here, and applicants should consult the program's application manual for full eligibility rules and required documentation.

Office of the National Coordinator · Amount varies

This is a forecasted Leading Edge Acceleration Projects for Health IT (LEAP) opportunity from the Office of the National Coordinator, which funds development of innovative health information technology to address emerging needs in health data exchange and use. Such awards typically go to organizations with health IT research and development capacity, such as universities, nonprofits, and companies. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines have not yet been published for this cycle.

Department of Commerce · $1–$1.5M

The Department of Commerce / Economic Development Administration Research and National Technical Assistance (RNTA) program funds research and technical assistance projects that support economic development in economically distressed areas of the U.S. Eligibility is broad, including district organizations, tribes, states, local governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits acting with local officials, private individuals, and for-profit organizations. Awards range up to about $1.5 million, and applications use a two-step process (concept proposal first, then invited full application) submitted through EDA's EDGE platform. No deadline is stated.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH forecast notice announces a planned Small Business Translator funding opportunity for MedTech and digital health technologies, aimed at small businesses. Full eligibility, funding amount, and deadline details are not yet published since this is only a forecast, not an open solicitation.

Natural Resources · $30K–$2M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant funding invasive carp removal and monitoring activities in the Upper Mississippi River. Awards range from $30,000 to $2,000,000.

Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery · $500K–$4M

Businesses and nonprofits located in California can apply for this CalRecycle program, which funds rail-transportation projects that move empty glass beverage containers to certified California glass processing facilities. Grants range from $500,000 to $4,000,000 and can cover equipment, materials, transportation costs, rail line construction, and related personnel. Eligibility is geographically restricted: both the applicant and the transportation activity must be based in California, making this unsuitable for out-of-state organizations.

CA Department of Food and Agriculture · $1–$190K

Businesses, individuals, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments can apply for this CA Department of Food and Agriculture program funding research into new management methods for controlling the beet leafhopper and curly top virus, with awards up to $190,000. Proposals must be submitted 30 days before posted Beet Curly Top Virus Control Board meetings, and funding priority goes to no-pesticide or DPR-approved pesticide approaches, making this a narrow, specialized agricultural research opportunity.

Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command · Amount varies

This is an advance notice to industry of a draft solicitation for the U.S. Army Materiel Command's Trusted Partner Program. As a draft/advance notice, it is informational for industry partners and not yet an open application; eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines are not defined. Interested defense-industry organizations should monitor for the formal solicitation when it is released.

Air Force Office of Scientific Research · Up to $10M

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research funds basic research aligned with Air Force priorities across engineering, information science, and physical and biological sciences, with awards reaching up to about $10 million. Eligibility is governed by the announcement itself ('See Announcement'); these programs commonly fund universities, research institutions, and industry labs. Applicants should review the specific AFOSR announcement for detailed eligibility, restrictions, and submission requirements before applying.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

Open to small businesses (fewer than 20 employees) in California that own or operate underground storage tanks (USTs) needing to comply with state upgrade, removal, or replacement requirements. Grants range from $3,000 to $70,000 (up to $210,000 for certain remote fueling stations), covering up to 100% of qualifying project costs. Eligibility is narrow: applicants must meet specific gasoline sales thresholds and compliance history requirements.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF STEM K-12 program funds fundamental, applied, and translational research that advances STEM teaching and learning across formal and informal settings. Proposals may only be submitted by U.S.-based for-profit organizations (including small businesses) with R&D capacity, non-profit non-academic organizations tied to education or research (e.g., museums, research labs, professional societies), state and local governments, accredited U.S. institutions of higher education, and federally recognized tribal nations. Individuals and most general nonprofits without a research/education tie are not eligible; no specific award amount or deadline is listed here.