Main Street America and American Express are pleased to announce that applications for the Backing Small Businesses Grant are now open now through Friday, April 7! The grant program will award $2.3 million in small business grants to 350 eligible businesses in the U.S. and territories.
In 2021, American Express and Main Street America created the Backing Small Businesses* grant program to help under-resourced and economically vulnerable small business owners recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and grow their businesses. In its first year, the program provided $1.65 million in grants to more than 330 small business owners nationwide.
Now in its second year, the program will increase the number of grants awarded and total funding to more than $2.3 million to further support small business owners in building their economic vitality and fostering a thriving community. On March 20, 2023, applications will open for 350 small business grants of $5,000 to eligible businesses in the U.S. and territories.
- The applicant must be an owner of the business.
- The applicant must be at least age 18 years or older.
- The business must be at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by small business owners who identify as one or more of the following:
- Veterans
- People with Disabilities
- Immigrants, Refugees, and/or Forcibly Displaced
- Women
- LGBTQIA+
- Asian American and/or Pacific Islander
- Black and/or African American
- Hispanic and/or Latinx
- Middle Eastern and/or North African
- Native and/or Indigenous
- The business must be in a “bricks-and-mortar” location and operate in an older or historic main street, downtown, or commercial district in the United States.
- The business must be an independent business and not part of a franchise.
- The business must have been in operation since January 1, 2022.
- The business must be a business entity in good standing in the state in which it was formed and the state in which it does business.
- The business must have an active business license in the state where you do business.
