Oregon offers a variety of grant programs aimed at supporting small businesses across industries. These grants provide critical funding to help cover operational costs, expansion, innovation, and recovery from financial hardship. Let’s explore some of these opportunities as well as what they can help Oregon business owners.
Business Oregon’s programs
Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency, plays a key role in facilitating small business growth through over 80 programs including grants and tax incentives.
Rural Business Development Grants of Oregon
Operated by the USDA, The Rural Business Development Grants of Oregon are designed to help small businesses in rural areas of Oregon. These grants provide financial support for business development projects including funding new equipment, expansion, and other operational needs to strengthen rural economies.
SBIR Support Program
Oregon’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Support Program is available for businesses that are focused on research, development, and innovation. This program assists in securing federal research grants by providing matching funds, support in grant writing, and additional financial resources.
CDBG-CV Statewide Emergency Small Business & Microenterprise Grant Program
The CDBG-CV Statewide Emergency Small Business & Microenterprise Grant Program (SBMA) is designed to support Oregon’s small businesses and microenterprises that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Administered by Business Oregon in partnership with CCD Business Development Corporation, a nonprofit economic development organization, this program has allocated $3 million to help small businesses stay solvent and retain or create jobs for low- and moderate-income workers.
Eligible businesses can apply for these grants to cover essential operating costs, ensuring they remain viable during challenging economic conditions. The program primarily focuses on businesses that might struggle to access traditional financing, offering critical financial support to maintain operations and protect jobs in local communities. This grant provides a vital lifeline to small enterprises facing financial difficulty, helping them to weather economic uncertainties while continuing to serve their communities.
Technical Assistance Grants
The Technical Assistance Program (TAP) is designed to help Oregon school districts plan for capital improvements and facility expansion. By providing essential resources, TAP enables districts to better inform their communities about deferred maintenance needs, future enrollment projections, and explore potential funding sources for school facilities.
TAP offers four types of grants to offset or cover the costs of important assessments, including; facilities condition assessments, long-range facility planning, seismic assessments and environmental hazard assessments.
Oregon BRC Grants
The Oregon Business Resource Center (BRC) offers grants aimed at supporting small businesses, nonprofits, and startups in the Wilsonville, Keizer, Sherwood, and Newberg areas. These grants are designed to provide technical assistance to help businesses overcome challenges, improve operational efficiency, and promote sustainable growth.
Eligible applicants must have 50 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees and operate within specific zip codes: 97303, 97070, 97140, 97132, 97137, and 97115. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate a COVID-related impact and be registered with the Oregon Secretary of State (except for sole proprietors without a DBA/ABN).
Startups that are not yet operational but are in the planning phase and expect to open within six months are also eligible to apply. However, certain types of businesses, such as chain franchises, pawn shops, and adult entertainment establishments, are excluded from eligibility.
Prosper Portland’s Local Small Business Repair Grants
Prosper Portland offers local repair grants to small businesses in need of financial assistance for facility repairs, renovations, or improvements. These grants are designed to help businesses maintain and improve their operational spaces including interior, exterior, and security repairs/improvements.