Grants

The best source for federal grant programs is www.grants.gov -- you can sign up for automatic updates, and the site also includes useful information regarding the federal grants submission process.

Arizona Community Foundation, Current Grant Opportunities, COVID-19 Grants for Small Businesses and Nonprofits: Open Grant Opportunities: There are multiple funding opportunities currently available for small businesses and nonprofits experiencing financial hardship during COVID-19. (23)

The Arizona Commerce Authority manages several Arizona Programs. Each program has its own eligibility criteria, application process, review and award process, and funding. 

Research Grants for Small Businesses: If your small business is engaged in scientific research and development (R&D), you may qualify for federal grants under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. (24)

USDA Rural Development: Grants and Loans: USDA provides technical assistance and financial backing for rural businesses and cooperatives to create quality jobs in rural areas. (24)

Loans and Loan Programs

• Microloan Programs: Provide very small loans to startup or growing small businesses. Under this program, non-profit community-based lenders make loans to eligible borrowers in amounts up to a maximum of $50,000. Individuals and small businesses applying for micro loan financing may be required to fulfill training and/or planning requirements before a loan application is considered. (24)
   
  • MesaCAN Economic Development Program, A New Leaf's Economic Development Program, has been a certified Community Development Financial Institution, providing business literacy and financial resources for low and moderate income individuals by collaborating with local businesses and other institutions.
    480.258.6927
    
    Area coverage: Greater Phoenix
     
  • PPEP Microbusiness and Housing Development Corporation (PMHDC): Non-profit, certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides loans and technical assistance to small businesses. Loans range from $500 up to $250,000. (24)
    520.622.3553
    
    Area coverage: All of Arizona and the Navajo Nation 

• Prestamos CDFI, LLC, a division of Chicanos Por La Causa Inc. (CPLC): Non-profit SBA community development lender that provides affordable capital in the form of small business loans and equity investments up to $500,000. Prestamos additionally offers no cost business advising services to help its clients grow their businesses. (24)
  602.258.9911 or toll free 855.849.2752
  
  Area coverage: All of Arizona

• Arizona Technology Access Program, Self-Employment for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities (S.E.E.D.): An alternative financing program designed to assist individuals with disabilities in borrowing money at affordable rates for the purchase of office equipment, furniture, supplies, or assistive technology. Qualified applicants may be approved to borrow funds in the amounts ranging between $500 and $10,000. Pre-loan support services, flexible repayment terms, below market interest rates, and no prepayment penalties are features of this unique program. (24)
  602.776.4670 or Toll free 800.477.9921
  602.728.9536 TTY
   
  Area coverage: All of Arizona
• LISC Phoenix (Local Initiatives Support Corporation): Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that offers financing during all stages of projects, from predevelopment to permanent financing, across a wide variety of community development project types, from large affordable housing projects to small business loans. Loans range from $50,000-$5,000,000. (24)
  602.252.6316
  
  Area coverage: Metropolitan Phoenix
  
     
• Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization (VVREO) offers loans to assist startup, emerging and growing businesses that are ineligible for funding from commercial institutions. Funds for the loan programs are made through a loan and a grant from the USDA. Loans may be secured for working capital, inventory and equipment. Loans range from $25,000 up to $150,000. (23)
  928.300.1640
  
  Area coverage: Verde Valley

• SBA Loan Programs: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has developed a number of financial programs for small businesses. (24)
  
  Contact: U.S. Small Business Administration, Arizona District Office, 602.745.7200 or 800.359.1833
   
  • Financing Your Business: This free, self-paced training exercise is an introduction to financing options for your business. Topics include; determining your financial needs, loans, grants, venture capital, angel investors, crowd funding and other financial options available to small businesses. (24)
     
  • Arizona SBA Lender List (under Business Resources and News > From our Office)

• Commercial Bank Loan Programs: In Arizona, many businesses seek financing through their commercial bank. Commercial banks provide the business community with a variety of financing options, such as SBA guaranteed loans, working capital, commercial real estate loans, and letters of credit. A loan officer from your bank can discuss which type of loan will best meet your needs and outline the application procedures. (24)
  
  

Loan Resources

• Accion Opportunity Fund: An award-winning nonprofit organization that increases access to business credit, makes loans, and provides training. Accion offers small business loans ranging from $1,000 to $1,000,000 and other support, including credit reporting, business counseling, publicity opportunities and educational business resource events. (24)
  520.682.3648 or toll free 800.508.7624

• Arizona MultiBank Community Development Corporation, a division of Clearinghouse CDFI: Provides financing for the advancement of small businesses, affordable housing projects, nonprofit organizations and economic development. (24
  602.412.1166

• Business Development Finance Corporation (BDFC): A private, non-profit corporation dedicated to economic development by providing affordable financing for Arizona businesses. As an SBA Premier Certified Lender (PCL), they have tools and resources that simplify the SBA 504 loan process. (24)
  Phoenix 602.381.6292 or toll free 800.264.3377
  Tucson 520.623.3377 or toll free 866.630.1974

• Community Investment Corporation (CIC): A non-profit agency created to assist with economic development in Pima County. They offer financial assistance and business loans to new and existing businesses within Pima County.
  520.529.1766
   
• Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of the United States: Provides financing solutions – including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, and guarantees of commercial loans to foreign buyers – to empower exporters of U.S. goods and services. (24)
  Western Regional Office: 949.660.1341 or 800.565.3946 
   
• Southwestern Business Financing Corporation (SBFC): A private, non-profit corporation that is certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration to make the SBA 504 loan to small businesses for buildings or heavy equipment. (24)
  602.495.6495
   
• USDA Rural Development - Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loans: Provides loan guarantees to eligible lenders for quality loans whose purpose is to improve, develop, or finance business, industry, and employment and improve the economic and environmental climate in rural communities. (24)
  602.280.8715
   
• USDA Rural Development: Programs & Services for Businesses: Provides funding opportunities for rural small businesses through loans, loan guarantees, and grants. 
  602.280.8715

Funding Resources

The following organizations provide funding resources:

• Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC): One of the largest business plan competitions in the country designed to advance innovation and technology commercialization opportunities in Arizona by assisting early-stage ventures to scale. (24)

• Arizona Tech Investors (ATI): This non-profit corporation is an active community of accredited investors who invest in high-quality, high-growth seed and early stage Information Technology and Life Science startups in Arizona, the southwest US, and beyond. (24)

• ARIZONA: SBIR/STTR Resource Center: SBIR/STTR is a highly competitive program overseen by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Each year through these grants, eleven federal agencies award over $2 billion in non-dilutive funding to small, high-tech, innovative businesses that have the potential for commercialization. These competitive awards ensure the United States remains the world's innovation leader.

  The Arizona Commerce Authority helps educate Arizona Small Businesses and connect them with resources to better compete for funding through the SBIR/STTR program. (24)

• City of Phoenix, Grants and Funding: Stimulates economic activity by offering a diverse range of value-added business and workforce solutions to build, revitalize, and sustain a quality community for Phoenix businesses and residents. (24)

• Desert Angels: Tucson, Arizona based non-profit organization of accredited investors who seek opportunities to invest in Southwest regional startup or early stage companies. (24)

• Invest Southwest: A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization that serves as a connective tissue between investors and emerging growth companies. Its purpose is to support the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem in Arizona, its neighboring states and throughout the country through year-round marketing and public relations initiatives that provide valuable insights and education on topics important to the investor and emerging growth ecosystems.
  
  Their signature event, Venture Madness, in partnership with Arizona Commerce Authority, pits the most promising startups and emerging growth companies in a head-to-head competition. (24)