Last verified October 22, 2026 · How we verify
Small business grants in Nebraska
As of October 2026, a Nebraska small business can be matched against 156 programs: 8 Nebraska state programs, 3 multi-state programs that include Nebraska, 62 national programs open to NE businesses, and 83 federal grants via Grants.gov.
We track 8 Nebraska state programs. 5 are open or verified right now and named below. Most of these programs never run an ad. The money is real, but nobody tells you it exists. That's the part we fixed.
Nebraska programs by the numbers
- Who funds them
- 2 funders: Nebraska Department of Economic Development (4), Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (1).
- Award size
- Awards from $10K to $400K.
- Timing
- 5 open now, 3 of them rolling. Soonest deadline: SBIR/STTR Grant Program, Jun 30, 2027.
- What they fund
- Childcare (1), Services (1), Technology (1); 3 open to any industry.
All 5 Nebraska state programs we can name
Only Nebraska's own programs, open ones first. Each names its funder and links to the official page. Annual programs spend most of the year between windows; the date tells you when to be ready.
| Program | Amount | Status | Built for | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Academic Research & Development Grant Nebraska Department of Economic Development Verified Oct 21, 2026 | Phase I capped at $100,000; Phase II capped at $400,000 | Rolling, apply anytime | Matching grants for Nebraska for-profit businesses conducting research and development activities in partnership with Nebraska colleges or universities, supporting commercialization of new projects, product modifications, and process improvements. Phase I awards capped at $100,000; Phase II at $400,000, with matching funds required. | Official page ↗ |
SBIR/STTR Grant Program Nebraska Department of Economic Development Verified Oct 21, 2026 | Phase 0: up to $5,000; Phase 1: up to $150,000 or 65% of federal grant, whichever is less; Phase 2: up to $300,000 or 65% of federal grant, whichever is less | Closes Jun 30, 2027 | A state matching grant program for Nebraska for-profit small businesses that have received or are eligible for federal SBIR/STTR awards. Provides Phase 0 assistance with federal application costs, and Phase 1 and Phase 2 matching funds to support research and commercialization. | Official page ↗ |
NIF Prototype Grants Nebraska Department of Economic Development Verified Oct 21, 2026 | up to $150,000 per project | Closes Jun 30, 2027 | The NIF Prototype Grant is a matching grant program providing financial assistance for new product development to qualifying Nebraska businesses. Applicants must provide at least 25–50% matching funds (depending on project type). Grant funds are reimbursed at 66–80% of project costs. | Official page ↗ |
Child Care Start-Up and Expansion Grant Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Verified Oct 18, 2026 | Up to $5,000 (child care homes); up to $10,000 (child care centers) | Rolling, apply anytime | Nebraska grants for new child care homes and centers getting licensed, or licensed programs adding capacity, to pay for minor building changes and equipment that licensing requires. Up to $5,000 for homes and $10,000 for centers. A program may hold only one of the three Nebraska DHHS child care grants (Start-Up and Expansion, Emergency Mini, Quality Improvement) and must wait 3 years after an award before applying again. | Official page ↗ |
State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Nebraska Department of Economic Development Verified Oct 21, 2026 | Varies | Rolling, apply anytime | An SBA-funded export assistance grant for eligible small businesses in Nebraska to support international trade activities such as trade shows, foreign market sales trips, and export training. Grants operate on a reimbursement basis with a 25% matching-fund requirement. | Official page ↗ |
We track 3 more Nebraska programs that are not open, dated or verified closely enough to name here yet. The quiz still checks your business against them.
Multi-state programs that include Nebraska
Each of these covers more than three states, so we list them here instead of counting them as Nebraska state programs.
- North Central SARE Farmer Rancher GrantNorth Central Region SAREOpen in 12 states, including NEUp to $15,000 (individual); up to $30,000 (team of 2+ farms) · Closes Dec 3, 2026 · Official page ↗
- Dairy Business Innovation Alliance Dairy Business Builder GrantDairy Business Innovation Alliance (Center for Dairy Research and Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association)Open in 11 states, including NEUp to $150,000 (for large equipment projects, or $100,000 for other projects) · Reopens, date not announced yet · Official page ↗
- Dairy Industry Impact GrantDairy Business Innovation Alliance (Center for Dairy Research and Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association)Open in 11 states, including NEUp to $100,000 (reimbursable) · Reopens, date not announced yet · Official page ↗
Also open to NE businesses: 62 national programs and 83 federal grants via Grants.gov. They are the same in every state, so we list them by who they fund: women-owned, veteran-owned, minority-owned, or by industry.
Every verified grant deadline in the next 90 days is on one page: the live deadlines list.
Open right now in Nebraska
- Academic Research & Development Grant: Phase I capped at $100,000; Phase II capped at $400,000, rolling, apply anytime
- SBIR/STTR Grant Program: Phase 0: up to $5,000; Phase 1: up to $150,000 or 65% of federal grant, whichever is less; Phase 2: up to $300,000 or 65% of federal grant, whichever is less, closes Jun 30, 2027
- NIF Prototype Grants: up to $150,000 per project, closes Jun 30, 2027
- Child Care Start-Up and Expansion Grant: Up to $5,000 (child care homes); up to $10,000 (child care centers), takes applications every month; next round not posted yet
- State Trade Expansion Program (STEP): Varies, rolling, apply anytime
Nebraska small business grants, program by program
Academic Research & Development Grant (Nebraska Department of Economic Development): Phase I capped at $100,000; Phase II capped at $400,000
Matching grants for Nebraska for-profit businesses conducting research and development activities in partnership with Nebraska colleges or universities, supporting commercialization of new projects, product modifications, and process improvements. Phase I awards capped at $100,000; Phase II at $400,000, with matching funds required. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 21, 2026. Official page ↗
SBIR/STTR Grant Program (Nebraska Department of Economic Development): Phase 0: up to $5,000; Phase 1: up to $150,000 or 65% of federal grant, whichever is less; Phase 2: up to $300,000 or 65% of federal grant, whichever is less, closes Jun 30, 2027
A state matching grant program for Nebraska for-profit small businesses that have received or are eligible for federal SBIR/STTR awards. Provides Phase 0 assistance with federal application costs, and Phase 1 and Phase 2 matching funds to support research and commercialization. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 21, 2026. Official page ↗
NIF Prototype Grants (Nebraska Department of Economic Development): up to $150,000 per project, closes Jun 30, 2027
The NIF Prototype Grant is a matching grant program providing financial assistance for new product development to qualifying Nebraska businesses. Applicants must provide at least 25–50% matching funds (depending on project type). Grant funds are reimbursed at 66–80% of project costs. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 21, 2026. Official page ↗
Child Care Start-Up and Expansion Grant (Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services): Up to $5,000 (child care homes); up to $10,000 (child care centers), takes applications every month; next round not posted yet
Nebraska grants for new child care homes and centers getting licensed, or licensed programs adding capacity, to pay for minor building changes and equipment that licensing requires. Up to $5,000 for homes and $10,000 for centers. A program may hold only one of the three Nebraska DHHS child care grants (Start-Up and Expansion, Emergency Mini, Quality Improvement) and must wait 3 years after an award before applying again. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 18, 2026. Official page ↗
State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) (Nebraska Department of Economic Development): Varies
An SBA-funded export assistance grant for eligible small businesses in Nebraska to support international trade activities such as trade shows, foreign market sales trips, and export training. Grants operate on a reimbursement basis with a 25% matching-fund requirement. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 21, 2026. Official page ↗
Straight answers
What's the difference between state, national, and federal programs?
State programs are run through Nebraska agencies and partners and are limited to NE businesses or projects. Less competition. National programs are run by companies and foundations and are open to businesses in every state. Federal grants come through Grants.gov and tend to be larger and more paperwork-heavy.
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.
Which of these fit your Nebraska business?
This page can't read your business. The 3-minute quiz can. It matches your industry, state, and ownership against all 156 programs and shows you where you stand.
See how many grants fit my business