15 Small Enterprise Grants For Veterans –

[ad_1] by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors November 10, 2025

Test your eligibility for these grants and be a part of the ranks of practically 1.6 million veteran-owned companies that present jobs to over 3 million Individuals.

In the event you’ve been a service member within the U.S. navy and have an entrepreneurial spirit, small enterprise grants for veterans can assist you begin or develop your enterprise.

Test your eligibility for these grants and be a part of the ranks of practically 1.6 million veteran-owned companies that present jobs to over 3 million Individuals. NEXT highlights a number of grants and different assets that veterans can apply for to start out small companies.

Small enterprise grants for veterans A grant is a monetary award given to help the event of companies owned by veterans. In contrast to small enterprise funding from loans, grants aren’t paid again, which suggests you possibly can make investments each greenback to advance your online business targets.

These are a few of the prime grants designed with former active-duty vets in thoughts.

Warrior RisingWarrior Rising is an help program that helps veterans and their households beginning in entrepreneurship or trying to develop. Candidates normally should full Warrior Rising’s coaching packages (like Warrior Academy and Warrior College) earlier than being eligible for grant awards. Deadlines and award quantities range yr to yr — verify this system’s web site for the subsequent utility window. Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran GrantThe Stephen L. Tadlock Veteran Grant gives beneficial small enterprise grants for disabled veterans and veteran-owned small companies with a modest group of two to 100 workers. It presents microgrants, distributing $1,000 to twenty recipients yearly to fund enterprise actions. In case your income is below $5 million, this grant may present a monetary increase to maintain your online business on monitor. The Second Service FoundationThe Navy Entrepreneur Problem (MEC) is a grant program from the Second Service Basis. It options velocity teaching and a non-public pitch session with a judging panel for an opportunity to win a small enterprise grant for veterans. Register on-line, take part in teaching, submit your small enterprise grant utility, and if accepted, put together to impress with a compelling two-minute enterprise pitch. Farmer Veteran Fellowship FundFor veterans pursuing a calling in agriculture, the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund is tailor-made to these within the early levels of a farm or ranch enterprise. It presents awards from $1,000 to $5,000. You could be a part of the Farmer Veteran Coalition to qualify, and membership grants entry to a group and assets that may assist help your online business. Hiring our Heroes grant programThe Hiring Our Heroes Small Enterprise Grant program opens yearly for veteran- and navy spouse-owned small companies. 5 winners obtain one-time money grants (4 at $10,000, one at $25,000) to help development, with eligibility centered on companies of three to twenty workers and below $5 million in annual income. StreetShares Basis’s Veteran Small Enterprise AwardThe StreetShares Basis’s Veteran Small Enterprise Award is listed among the many prime grants for veteran-owned companies, usually providing awards within the vary of $4,000-$15,000 primarily based on the cohort. Key standards embody having 51% ot extra veteran possession and demonstrated group or veteran-market influence.

Veteran-friendly enterprise grants

Nationwide Affiliation for Self-Employed (NASE) Progress GrantsIf you handle your personal enterprise, NASE Progress Grants provide $4,000 quarterly that can assist you develop operations. Veterans can profit from a 15% low cost on annual membership and apply for a grant as quickly as they be a part of. This org can assist companies safe funds for advertising, promoting, employees, and different enterprise wants. U.S. Chamber of Commerce CO-100Each yr, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s CO-100 (previously America’s Prime Small Enterprise award) honors 100 small companies throughout the U.S. for innovation, development, and group contribution. In case your for-profit enterprise has fewer than 250 workers or lower than $20 million in income over the previous two years, you possibly can compete for the grand prize: A $25,000 grant to scale your operations. A number of finalists will obtain smaller awards, whereas all honourees achieve nationwide publicity and a yr’s membership within the Chamber. Veteran-owned companies might apply below the usual eligibility necessities. They will use this as a platform to showcase their entrepreneur story—although it’s not solely a veteran grant. The Cornerstone grantThe Sq. Cornerstone Grant presents $10,000 and mentorship to small companies utilizing Sq. which have fewer than 20 workers and fewer than $2 million in income. It helps entrepreneurs from underserved communities, together with veterans, however isn’t unique to them. Veteran-owned companies are inspired to use, particularly if they will present how the funding will assist overcome obstacles or develop operations.

State-specific small enterprise grants for veterans As a veteran entrepreneur, you've got entry to state-specific funding choices designed to strengthen small companies in your native space, together with:

Michigan Veteran Entrepreneur-Lab (MVE-Lab) is open to veterans and navy spouses. A Grand Valley State College initiative, MVE-Lab operates as a cohort and awards at the least $20,000 in small enterprise grants. The Texas Girl’s College Veteran Girl Grant gives 25 grants price $5,000 to girls veterans who personal and management at the least 51% of their enterprise. This small enterprise grant for ladies may very well be a big asset to your organization. The Past Open Small Enterprise Grant advantages entrepreneurs in Charlotte, North Carolina, with monetary help from $10,000 to $150,000. Hawaii presents quite a lot of small enterprise grants and funding packages that may assist help veteran entrepreneurs throughout the state. These state-level alternatives typically concentrate on enterprise improvement, workforce coaching, or group influence.

Various grants to help veteran small enterprise homeowners Different small enterprise funding alternatives embody discovering lenders in case you qualify for a small enterprise mortgage. These mortgage packages embody:

Sources to search out extra veteran small enterprise grants To discover extra small enterprise grants for veterans and nonveterans alike, Grants.gov is a database of over 1,000 federal funding packages from the Division of Labor, the Division of Veterans Affairs, the Division of Commerce, and extra.

One other useful resource is GrantWatch, which options over 1,300 enterprise grants and has supported over 300,000 grant funders. Just like Grants.gov, GrantWatch is open to a broad viewers, however its search software helps you to filter veteran-specific alternatives. Shopping is free, however a paid subscription is required for full entry.