Last verified October 24, 2026 · How we verify
Grants for food and retail businesses
As of October 2026, a food and retail business can be matched against 308 programs: 68 programs for food and retail businesses, 157 general programs open to any industry, and 83 federal grants via Grants.gov.
Kitchen equipment. Food-safety compliance. A second location. A grocery or storefront. Packaging and production capacity. There are grants that fund exactly those line items for food and retail businesses, and most restaurant, shop, and food-business owners never hear about them. The money is real. The hard part was never qualifying. It was learning the program existed before the application window closed.
Food & Retail grants by the numbers
- Who funds them
- 36 funders: New Mexico Economic Development Department (3), California Department of Food and Agriculture (2), Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (Center for Dairy Research and Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association) (2), Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (2), and 32 more.
- Award size
- Most awards $7K to $750K.
- Timing
- 25 open now, 9 of them rolling. Soonest deadline: SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund Independent Bookstore Grant, Nov 1, 2026. 17 between cycles; Santander Cultivate Small Business lists its next window as “November 2026 (spring cohort applications accepted November through January)”.
42 grants a food and retail business can act on
Every program below names food, restaurant, or retail businesses among the industries it funds. Some target local sourcing, grocery access, or production capacity specifically. Others are general small-business programs that food and retail businesses qualify for. The 'Built for' column tells you whether a program is narrowed to a few industries or open to any. Each links to the funder's official page.
| Program | Amount | Status | Built for | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) CalFresh Grants California Department of Food and Agriculture Verified Oct 15, 2026 | $50,000 to $12,500,000 per award; $13.5 million available | Closes Nov 3, 2026 | Food & Restaurant, Agriculture, Retail | Official page ↗ |
Illinois Grocery Initiative: New Stores in Food Deserts Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Verified Oct 19, 2026 | $500,000 to $5.2 million per award (Round 3); $20.8 million for about 8 awards | Closes Dec 9, 2026 | Food & Restaurant, Retail | Official page ↗ |
Illinois Grocery Initiative - Equipment Upgrades Program (Round 3) Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Verified Oct 15, 2026 | $25,000 - $250,000 | Rolling, apply anytime | Retail | Official page ↗ |
NourishMD Grant Program (DHCD) Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Verified Oct 17, 2026 | $25,000 – $150,000 | Closes Nov 2, 2026 | Food & Restaurant, Retail | Official page ↗ |
Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Program (RFIP) Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Verified Oct 24, 2026 | Up to $75,000 per ethanol project; up to $50,000 per biodiesel project; up to $100,000 per biodiesel terminal project | Rolling, apply anytime | Retail | Official page ↗ |
Sephora Beauty Grant (2027) Fifteen Percent Pledge and Sephora Verified Oct 15, 2026 | $100,000 (one grantee) | Closes Nov 6, 2026 | Retail | Official page ↗ |
Innovation Voucher Rhode Island Commerce Verified Oct 21, 2026 | up to $75,000 | Closes Nov 3, 2026 | Food & Restaurant, Healthcare, Manufacturing | Official page ↗ |
Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grant Wisconsin DATCP Verified Oct 23, 2026 | $5,000 to $50,000 (applicants must match at least 50% of project budget) | Closes Nov 4, 2026 | Food & Restaurant, Agriculture | Official page ↗ |
Dairy Processor Grants Wisconsin DATCP Verified Oct 23, 2026 | $50,000 | Closes Nov 3, 2026 | Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
NYS Grown & Certified Research and Development Grant (GCRD) NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Verified Oct 14, 2026 | $10,000 to $50,000 (10% match) | Closes Oct 25, 2027 | Food & Restaurant, Agriculture | Official page ↗ |
Florida Retail Fuel Transfer Switch Modernization Grant Program Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Verified Oct 19, 2026 | Up to $10,000 for facilities located in fiscally constrained counties; up to $5,000 for facilities in all other counties | Rolling, apply anytime | Retail | Official page ↗ |
Oklahoma Healthy Food Financing Program Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Verified Oct 16, 2026 | Grants shall be limited to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) | Closes Jan 1, 2027 | Food & Restaurant, Retail | Official page ↗ |
The Halstead Grant Halstead Bead, Inc. Verified Oct 10, 2026 | $7,500 cash + $1,000 merchandise | Closes May 1, 2027 | Arts & Creative, Retail | Official page ↗ |
SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund Independent Bookstore Grant Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Impact and Legacy Fund Verified Oct 17, 2026 | $1,000 (three grants) | Closes in 7 daysCloses Nov 1, 2026 | Retail | Official page ↗ |
Healthy Food Financing Fund (HFFF) New Mexico Economic Development Department Verified Oct 21, 2026 | Varies | Closes Nov 18, 2026 | Food & Restaurant, Agriculture | Official page ↗ |
CERTA Food Waste Processing Infrastructure Grant Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Verified Oct 19, 2026 | $50,000 to $249,999 for small-scale projects (up to $2,000,000 for large facilities) | Closes Nov 30, 2026 | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant, Services | Official page ↗ |
MPPEP Phase 3 Invasive Wild-Caught Catfish Rural Business-Cooperative Service Verified Oct 17, 2026 | $50,000–$2,000,000 | Closes Dec 7, 2026 | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
Rail Industrial Access Program Virginia Economic Development Partnership Verified Oct 11, 2026 | $750,000 per locality per fiscal year | Rolling, apply anytime | Food & Restaurant and 4 other industries | Official page ↗ |
MTI Business Innovation Funding Maine Technology Institute Verified Oct 24, 2026 | Up to $100,000 | Rolling, apply anytime | Food & Restaurant and 3 other industries | Official page ↗ |
Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Verified Oct 15, 2026 | Up to $100,000 per applicant | Closes Nov 6, 2026 | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant, Manufacturing | Official page ↗ |
America's Seed Fund Iowa Economic Development Authority Verified Oct 19, 2026 | $50,000 on top of a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I award, and $25,000 when you submit a Phase II proposal ($75,000 total per company), plus 100% of third-party proposal assistance | Rolling, apply anytime | Food & Restaurant and 7 other industries | Official page ↗ |
JobsOhio Small Business Grant JobsOhio Verified Oct 18, 2026 | Up to $50,000 | Rolling, apply anytime | Food & Restaurant and 5 other industries | Official page ↗ |
Working Lands Business Enhancement Grant (FY27) Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets) Verified Oct 21, 2026 | $10,000 - $50,000 | Closes Dec 10, 2026 | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant, Manufacturing | Official page ↗ |
Kentucky Food Safety and Efficiency Incentives Program Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy (Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund) Verified Oct 16, 2026 | up to 75 percent reimbursement of the actual cost of a qualified consultation service, up to $3,750 | Rolling, apply anytime | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
Job Training Incentive Program New Mexico Economic Development Department Verified Oct 17, 2026 | 50-90% of employee wages | Rolling, apply anytime | Manufacturing, Technology, Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
Dairy Industry Impact Grant Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (Center for Dairy Research and Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association) Verified Oct 17, 2026 | Up to $100,000 (reimbursable) | Reopens, date not announced yet | Food & Restaurant, Manufacturing, Agriculture | Official page ↗ |
NM Food Pathways Grant New Mexico Economic Development Department Verified Oct 17, 2026 | $25,000–$100,000 | Between cycles Usually opens around Summer 2027, based on past rounds | Food & Restaurant, Retail | Official page ↗ |
Santander Cultivate Small Business Santander Bank US Verified Oct 19, 2026 | $2,500 per graduate; up to $20,000 for exemplary graduates | Opens November 2026 | Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
eBay Up & Running Grants eBay (with Hello Alice) Verified Oct 10, 2026 | $10,000 | Reopens, date not announced yet | Retail | Official page ↗ |
Toast Changemakers Program Toast Verified Oct 2, 2026 | $10,000 | Between cycles Usually opens around September 2027, based on past rounds | Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
Enthuse Foundation Grant Program Enthuse Foundation Verified Oct 16, 2026 | $2,500 per category grant; one $5,000 Planet and Purpose grant | Between cycles Usually opens around March 2027, based on past rounds | Food & Restaurant, Retail, Manufacturing | Official page ↗ |
Restaurants Care Resilience Fund California Restaurant Foundation Verified Oct 14, 2026 | $5,000 | Reopens, date not announced yet | Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
Small Farm Infrastructure Grant Washington State Department of Agriculture Verified Oct 10, 2026 | up to $75,000 (Equipment Plus) or up to $750,000 (Large Projects) | Opens Summer 2027 | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Verified Oct 23, 2026 | $25,000 to $100,000 (planning) or $100,000 to $500,000 (implementation) | Between cycles Usually opens around April 2027, based on past rounds | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program California Department of Food and Agriculture Verified Oct 19, 2026 | Producers and food hubs: $20,000 to $200,000 (Track 3); school districts up to $1 million and technical-assistance groups up to $1.5 million; up to $38 million in total (draft Cohort 4 RFA) | Reopens, date not announced yet ~2027 (Cohort 4 RFA pending; public comment period closed Sept 11, 2026) | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
Dairy Business Innovation Alliance Dairy Business Builder Grant Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (Center for Dairy Research and Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association) Verified Oct 22, 2026 | Up to $150,000 (for large equipment projects, or $100,000 for other projects) | Reopens, date not announced yet | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant, Manufacturing | Official page ↗ |
Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (Choose Iowa) Verified Oct 16, 2026 | Up to $100,000 (1:1 private match, no in-kind; reimbursement) | Between cycles Usually opens around March 2027, based on past rounds | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
Agricultural Businesses Energy Incentive Program Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Verified Oct 23, 2026 | Up to $50,000 (100% match required) | Opens Fall 2026 | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
GO TEXAN Marketing Enhancement Grant Assistance - Product Promotion Texas Department of Agriculture Verified Oct 19, 2026 | Up to $40,000 (reimbursement of approved marketing costs) | Between cycles Usually opens around March 2027, based on past rounds | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
Southeast Dairy Business Planning Grant Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture) Verified Oct 16, 2026 | Up to $30,000 (no match; reimbursement) | Between cycles Usually opens around Summer 2027, based on past rounds | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant | Official page ↗ |
NC IDEA MICRO NC IDEA Foundation Verified Oct 14, 2026 | $10,000 | Between cycles Usually opens around February 2027, based on past rounds | Technology and 3 other industries | Official page ↗ |
Northeast Dairy Processor Modernization Grant Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets) Verified Oct 16, 2026 | Total funds available: $1,000,000 | Reopens, date not announced yet | Agriculture, Food & Restaurant, Manufacturing | Official page ↗ |
We track 26 more programs for food and retail businesses that are not verified closely enough to name here yet. The quiz still checks your business against them.
Food & Retail grants open right now
- California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) CalFresh Grants: $50,000 to $12,500,000 per award; $13.5 million available, closes Nov 3, 2026
- Illinois Grocery Initiative: New Stores in Food Deserts: $500,000 to $5.2 million per award (Round 3); $20.8 million for about 8 awards, closes Dec 9, 2026
- Illinois Grocery Initiative - Equipment Upgrades Program (Round 3): $25,000 - $250,000, rolling, apply anytime
- NourishMD Grant Program (DHCD): $25,000 – $150,000, closes Nov 2, 2026
- Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Program (RFIP): Up to $75,000 per ethanol project; up to $50,000 per biodiesel project; up to $100,000 per biodiesel terminal project, rolling, apply anytime
- Sephora Beauty Grant (2027): $100,000 (one grantee), closes Nov 6, 2026
- Innovation Voucher: up to $75,000, closes Nov 3, 2026
- Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grant: $5,000 to $50,000 (applicants must match at least 50% of project budget), closes Nov 4, 2026
- Dairy Processor Grants: $50,000, closes Nov 3, 2026
- NYS Grown & Certified Research and Development Grant (GCRD): $10,000 to $50,000 (10% match), closes Oct 25, 2027
- Florida Retail Fuel Transfer Switch Modernization Grant Program: Up to $10,000 for facilities located in fiscally constrained counties; up to $5,000 for facilities in all other counties, rolling, apply anytime
- Oklahoma Healthy Food Financing Program: Grants shall be limited to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), closes Jan 1, 2027
- The Halstead Grant: $7,500 cash + $1,000 merchandise, closes May 1, 2027
- SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund Independent Bookstore Grant: $1,000 (three grants), closes Nov 1, 2026Closes in 7 days
- Healthy Food Financing Fund (HFFF): Varies, closes Nov 18, 2026
- CERTA Food Waste Processing Infrastructure Grant: $50,000 to $249,999 for small-scale projects (up to $2,000,000 for large facilities), closes Nov 30, 2026
- MPPEP Phase 3 Invasive Wild-Caught Catfish: $50,000–$2,000,000, closes Dec 7, 2026
- Rail Industrial Access Program: $750,000 per locality per fiscal year, rolling, apply anytime
- MTI Business Innovation Funding: Up to $100,000, rolling, apply anytime
- Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant: Up to $100,000 per applicant, closes Nov 6, 2026
- America's Seed Fund: $50,000 on top of a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I award, and $25,000 when you submit a Phase II proposal ($75,000 total per company), plus 100% of third-party proposal assistance, rolling, apply anytime
- JobsOhio Small Business Grant: Up to $50,000, rolling, apply anytime
- Working Lands Business Enhancement Grant (FY27): $10,000 - $50,000, closes Dec 10, 2026
- Kentucky Food Safety and Efficiency Incentives Program: up to 75 percent reimbursement of the actual cost of a qualified consultation service, up to $3,750, takes applications every month; next round not posted yet
- Job Training Incentive Program: 50-90% of employee wages, rolling, apply anytime
Food & Retail grants, program by program
California Nutrition Incentive Program (CNIP) CalFresh Grants (California Department of Food and Agriculture): $50,000 to $12,500,000 per award; $13.5 million available, closes Nov 3, 2026
Food & Restaurant, Agriculture, Retail. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 15, 2026. Official page ↗
Illinois Grocery Initiative: New Stores in Food Deserts (Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity): $500,000 to $5.2 million per award (Round 3); $20.8 million for about 8 awards, closes Dec 9, 2026
Food & Restaurant, Retail. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 19, 2026. Official page ↗
Illinois Grocery Initiative - Equipment Upgrades Program (Round 3) (Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity): $25,000 - $250,000
Retail. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 15, 2026. Official page ↗
NourishMD Grant Program (DHCD): $25,000 – $150,000, closes Nov 2, 2026
Run by Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Food & Restaurant, Retail. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 17, 2026. Official page ↗
Renewable Fuel Infrastructure Program (RFIP) (Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship): Up to $75,000 per ethanol project; up to $50,000 per biodiesel project; up to $100,000 per biodiesel terminal project
Retail. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 24, 2026. Official page ↗
Sephora Beauty Grant (2027) (Fifteen Percent Pledge and Sephora): $100,000 (one grantee), closes Nov 6, 2026
Retail. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 15, 2026. Official page ↗
Innovation Voucher (Rhode Island Commerce): up to $75,000, closes Nov 3, 2026
Food & Restaurant, Healthcare, Manufacturing. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 21, 2026. Official page ↗
Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grant (Wisconsin DATCP): $5,000 to $50,000 (applicants must match at least 50% of project budget), closes Nov 4, 2026
Food & Restaurant, Agriculture. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 23, 2026. Official page ↗
Dairy Processor Grants (Wisconsin DATCP): $50,000, closes Nov 3, 2026
Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 23, 2026. Official page ↗
NYS Grown & Certified Research and Development Grant (GCRD) (NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets): $10,000 to $50,000 (10% match), closes Oct 25, 2027
Food & Restaurant, Agriculture. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 14, 2026. Official page ↗
Florida Retail Fuel Transfer Switch Modernization Grant Program (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services): Up to $10,000 for facilities located in fiscally constrained counties; up to $5,000 for facilities in all other counties
Retail. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 19, 2026. Official page ↗
Oklahoma Healthy Food Financing Program (Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry): Grants shall be limited to Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000), closes Jan 1, 2027
Food & Restaurant, Retail. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 16, 2026. Official page ↗
The Halstead Grant (Halstead Bead, Inc.): $7,500 cash + $1,000 merchandise, closes May 1, 2027
Arts & Creative, Retail. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 10, 2026. Official page ↗
SCBWI Impact and Legacy Fund Independent Bookstore Grant: $1,000 (three grants), closes Nov 1, 2026
Closes in 7 daysRun by Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Impact and Legacy Fund. Retail. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 17, 2026. Official page ↗
Healthy Food Financing Fund (HFFF) (New Mexico Economic Development Department): Varies, closes Nov 18, 2026
Food & Restaurant, Agriculture. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 21, 2026. Official page ↗
CERTA Food Waste Processing Infrastructure Grant: $50,000 to $249,999 for small-scale projects (up to $2,000,000 for large facilities), closes Nov 30, 2026
Run by Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Agriculture, Food & Restaurant, Services. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 19, 2026. Official page ↗
Rail Industrial Access Program (Virginia Economic Development Partnership): $750,000 per locality per fiscal year
Food & Restaurant and 4 other industries. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 11, 2026. Official page ↗
MTI Business Innovation Funding (Maine Technology Institute): Up to $100,000
Food & Restaurant and 3 other industries. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 24, 2026. Official page ↗
Very Small Meat and Poultry Processor Reimbursement Grant (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture): Up to $100,000 per applicant, closes Nov 6, 2026
Agriculture, Food & Restaurant, Manufacturing. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 15, 2026. Official page ↗
America's Seed Fund (Iowa Economic Development Authority): $50,000 on top of a federal SBIR/STTR Phase I award, and $25,000 when you submit a Phase II proposal ($75,000 total per company), plus 100% of third-party proposal assistance
Food & Restaurant and 7 other industries. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 19, 2026. Official page ↗
JobsOhio Small Business Grant: Up to $50,000
Food & Restaurant and 5 other industries. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 18, 2026. Official page ↗
Working Lands Business Enhancement Grant (FY27): $10,000 - $50,000, closes Dec 10, 2026
Run by Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets). Agriculture, Food & Restaurant, Manufacturing. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 21, 2026. Official page ↗
Kentucky Food Safety and Efficiency Incentives Program: up to 75 percent reimbursement of the actual cost of a qualified consultation service, up to $3,750, takes applications every month; next round not posted yet
Run by Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy (Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund). Agriculture, Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 16, 2026. Official page ↗
Job Training Incentive Program (New Mexico Economic Development Department): 50-90% of employee wages
Manufacturing, Technology, Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 17, 2026. Official page ↗
Dairy Industry Impact Grant: Up to $100,000 (reimbursable)
Run by Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (Center for Dairy Research and Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association). Food & Restaurant, Manufacturing, Agriculture. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 17, 2026. Official page ↗
NM Food Pathways Grant (New Mexico Economic Development Department): $25,000–$100,000, usually opens around Summer 2027, based on past rounds
Food & Restaurant, Retail. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 17, 2026. Official page ↗
Santander Cultivate Small Business (Santander Bank US): $2,500 per graduate; up to $20,000 for exemplary graduates, next window November 2026
Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 19, 2026. Official page ↗
eBay Up & Running Grants: $10,000
Run by eBay (with Hello Alice). Retail. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 10, 2026. Official page ↗
Toast Changemakers Program: $10,000, usually opens around September 2027, based on past rounds
Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 2, 2026. Official page ↗
Enthuse Foundation Grant Program: $2,500 per category grant; one $5,000 Planet and Purpose grant, usually opens around March 2027, based on past rounds
Food & Restaurant, Retail, Manufacturing. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 16, 2026. Official page ↗
Restaurants Care Resilience Fund (California Restaurant Foundation): $5,000
Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 14, 2026. Official page ↗
Small Farm Infrastructure Grant (Washington State Department of Agriculture): up to $75,000 (Equipment Plus) or up to $750,000 (Large Projects), next window Summer/Fall 2027
Agriculture, Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 10, 2026. Official page ↗
California Farm to School Incubator Grant Program (California Department of Food and Agriculture): Producers and food hubs: $20,000 to $200,000 (Track 3); school districts up to $1 million and technical-assistance groups up to $1.5 million; up to $38 million in total (draft Cohort 4 RFA), next window 2027
Agriculture, Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 19, 2026. Official page ↗
Dairy Business Innovation Alliance Dairy Business Builder Grant: Up to $150,000 (for large equipment projects, or $100,000 for other projects)
Run by Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (Center for Dairy Research and Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association). Agriculture, Food & Restaurant, Manufacturing. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 22, 2026. Official page ↗
Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant: Up to $100,000 (1:1 private match, no in-kind; reimbursement), usually opens around March 2027, based on past rounds
Run by Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (Choose Iowa). Agriculture, Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 16, 2026. Official page ↗
Agricultural Businesses Energy Incentive Program: Up to $50,000 (100% match required), next window Fall 2026
Run by Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Agriculture, Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 23, 2026. Official page ↗
GO TEXAN Marketing Enhancement Grant Assistance - Product Promotion (Texas Department of Agriculture): Up to $40,000 (reimbursement of approved marketing costs), usually opens around March 2027, based on past rounds
Agriculture, Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 19, 2026. Official page ↗
Southeast Dairy Business Planning Grant: Up to $30,000 (no match; reimbursement), usually opens around Summer 2027, based on past rounds
Run by Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture). Agriculture, Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 16, 2026. Official page ↗
NC IDEA MICRO (NC IDEA Foundation): $10,000, usually opens around February 2027, based on past rounds
Technology and 3 other industries. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 14, 2026. Official page ↗
Northeast Dairy Processor Modernization Grant: Total funds available: $1,000,000
Run by Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets). Agriculture, Food & Restaurant, Manufacturing. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 16, 2026. Official page ↗
Federal food and retail grants
MPPEP Phase 3 Invasive Wild-Caught Catfish (Rural Business-Cooperative Service): $50,000–$2,000,000, closes Dec 7, 2026
Agriculture, Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 17, 2026. Official page ↗
Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP) (USDA Agricultural Marketing Service): $25,000 to $100,000 (planning) or $100,000 to $500,000 (implementation), usually opens around April 2027, based on past rounds
Agriculture, Food & Restaurant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 23, 2026. Official page ↗
Straight answers
Do I pay these back? How current is this list?
No. Grants are not loans. Each row shows the date we last checked it against the funder's own page. How we verify.
Are these grants only for food and retail businesses?
Some are specific to food and retail and a few related industries. Many are open to businesses in any industry, including yours. The “Built for” column on each row tells you which is which, so you are never applying for something you are not eligible for.
Some of these say "between cycles." What do I do right now?
Get ready before the window opens. Santander Cultivate Small Business lists its next window as “November 2026 (spring cohort applications accepted November through January)”; Small Farm Infrastructure Grant as “~Summer/Fall 2027 (page states 'We anticipate the next grant round to open in Summer/Fall 2027')”. The owners who win are the ones whose applications are ready the week a window opens, not the ones who find out it existed the week it closed.
A food or retail business owner somewhere qualifies for one of these right now and does not know it.
This page lists what is available. It cannot read your business. The 3-minute quiz can. It matches what you serve or sell, your state, and how your business is owned against every program above and shows you where you stand.
See how many grants fit my business