Grant Opportunities
The Erie County Redevelopment Authority (ECRDA) provides access to a multitude of grant opportunities and services to help your business succeed. We work alongside local, state, national, and private entities to provide you with the most up-to-date information. More than $10 million in grant funding to Erie County Businesses: Erie County PA Redevelopment Authority Grant Funded Projects (arcgis.com)
Small Business Advantage Grant
The Small Business Advantage Grant provides reimbursement grants ranging from 50% to 80% of eligible project costs to Pennsylvania small businesses to improve energy efficiency or reduce pollution or waste by: upgrading or replacing equipment or supplies; improving processes; or reducing runoff into affected waterways. Maximum grant award amounts will vary from up to $5,000 to up to $8,000, based on the environmental impact of the project and whether the project location is in an Environmental Justice Area in Pennsylvania. Apply for the Small Business Advantage Grant
StARTup Grant
The StARTup Grant is designed to assist fledging creative businesses with grants to help grow their enterprise. The program provides grants up to $5000 and applicants are encouraged to participate in any one of several creative entrepreneur business development programs – which can be found on our Support for Entrepreneurs Resource Page. The StARTup Program will also consider emergency grants on a case by case basis. Apply now.
Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP)
This Commonwealth grant program is designed to support significant capital projects that include the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects. Get more information on this program.
Small Business Growth Fund is offering up to $25,000 in grants
Small-business owners can now apply for up to $25,000 in grants from the Small Business Growth Fund sponsored in part by small business funding platform Hello Alice and the Global Entrepreneurship Network.
This is the third and final round of this particular grant program, which began in March 2023. This final round will close to new applications on Oct. 27, 2023, at 6 p.m. EST.
Grants will be between $5,000 and $25,000 and applicants must have a business with less than $1 million in gross annual revenue, as well as a clear plan for how the funds will help them achieve a significant growth milestone in the next year.
Good Humor offering $5,000 grants to ice cream vendors
The new Neighborhood Joy Grant Program will bring $200,000 in grants to mobile ice cream vendors. These $5,000 grant winners will then have a chance to win an additional $20,000 as part of contest voted on by consumers.
All applicants must be over 18 years old and the owner of an ice cream push cart or truck with a valid business license. The deadline to apply is Oct. 25, 2023.
AICPA and CPA.com are offering $25,000 for accounting startups
Applications for the 2024 AICPA and CPA.com Startup Accelerator are now open, and startups in the accounting, regulatory or ESG spaces are eligible to apply. Companies must be seed or pre-series A financing, have a functioning service or product and must have value for the accounting profession.
Those selected for the accelerator will be offered a $25,000 grant, access to members of the professional organizations, firms, press and customers, and subject matter experts and mentors.
The deadline for applications is Nov. 30, 2023, and winners will be announced in January 2024.
Wish Local grants for up to $2,000
Small-business owners can get grants of $500 to $2,000 through the Wish Local grant program. The money can be used for any expense, including rent, inventory, connecting with new customers or keeping workers employed.
Businesses must be majority Black-owned and have fewer than 20 employees, with a physical location within the United States and revenue under $1 million.
The $10,000 Feed the Soul’s Restaurant Business Development Grant program
Black and Latino-owned restaurants and related businesses can apply for a financial stipend of $10,000 and free financial education, consulting and marketing assistance through Feed The Soul’s grant program.
Applications open Oct. 5, 2023 and run through Jan. 31.
Black Girl Ventures offering up to $10,000
The Black Girl Ventures BGV Pitch competition is a live, crowdfunded pitch competition where each startup founder has three minutes to pitch their business with three minutes of Q&A from the audience.
The person with the most votes wins $10,000, with second place being $6,000 and third place $2,000, in addition to money raised through the audience crowdfunding. Winners also get Google Cloud credits and other freebies.
Business owners must identify as a woman, be majority owned by a founder of color and have been open at least a year with revenue.