Last verified October 24, 2026 · How we verify
New York small business grants: state and city programs
As of October 2026, a New York small business can be matched against 159 programs: 9 New York state programs, 5 multi-state programs that include New York, 62 national programs open to NY businesses, and 83 federal grants via Grants.gov.
We track 9 New York state programs. 5 are open or verified right now and named below. City and county grants are listed too, for New York City. Most of these programs never run an ad. The money is real, but nobody tells you it exists. That's the part we fixed.
New York programs by the numbers
- Who funds them
- 2 funders: Empire State Development (3), NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets (2).
- Award size
- Awards from $10K to $200K.
- Timing
- 3 open now, 2 of them rolling. Soonest deadline: NYS Grown & Certified Research and Development Grant (GCRD), Oct 25, 2027. 2 between cycles; Innovation Matching Grants Program (NYSTAR) lists its next window as “~April 2027 (stated: 2nd Wednesday in April)”.
- What they fund
- Agriculture (2), Food & Restaurant (1), Technology (1); 2 open to any industry.
All 5 New York state programs we can name
Only New York'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | A New York grant that pays for the research and development work needed to launch a new NYS Grown & Certified food product, or to grow production or distribution of an existing one: consultants, market research, product development, lab testing and certification training. | Official page ↗ |
Global NY Fund Grant Program Empire State Development Verified Oct 15, 2026 | Up to $25,000 for New York for-profit exporters (reimburses up to 50% of project costs); nonprofit export-assistance organizations can get up to $100,000 | Rolling, apply anytime | Grants to help New York State small- and medium-sized for-profit businesses and not-for-profit economic development organizations start exporting or expand global exports. For-profit companies receive up to $25,000; nonprofits receive up to $100,000. | Official page ↗ |
Global NY State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Empire State Development Verified Oct 24, 2026 | up to $10,000 per funding period; $2,000–$5,000 per activity | Rolling, apply anytime | A reimbursement grant from New York State and the U.S. Small Business Administration that supports for-profit small businesses headquartered in New York with export-related costs, including trade missions, trade show exhibitions, and market research. Awards up to $10,000 per funding period (July 2026–September 2027), issued on a first-come, first-served basis. | Official page ↗ |
Innovation Matching Grants Program (NYSTAR) Empire State Development Verified Oct 21, 2026 | Up to $100,000 (Phase I); Up to $200,000 (Phase II) | Opens April 2027 | New York State program that matches federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants for small businesses developing new technologies. Supports commercialization expenses such as business planning, patents, and marketing studies. | Official page ↗ |
NYS Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Verified Oct 13, 2026 | Varies | Between cycles Usually opens around Spring 2027, based on past rounds | A competitive grant program providing funding to help new and early-stage farmers (those who have operated a farm for no more than 10 years) build financially sustainable agricultural businesses in New York State. Grants support equipment, infrastructure, livestock/crop establishment, business expansion, marketing, and workforce training. Awards are reimbursement-based and competitive. | Official page ↗ |
We track 4 more New York programs that are not open, dated or verified closely enough to name here yet. The quiz still checks your business against them.
City and county programs in New York
Open only to businesses in one city, county or local area, so they are not counted in the New York totals above.
- Customized Training Grant ProgramNYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)City of New York only$10,000-$400,000 · Official page ↗
- Neighborhood Business GrantsCitizensNYCNew York City onlyUp to $5,000 · Official page ↗
Multi-state programs that include New York
Each of these covers more than three states, so we list them here instead of counting them as New York state programs.
- Closes tomorrowNortheast SARE Farming Community Grant ProgramNortheast SARECovers 12 states (plus DC), including NYTypically $250,000 to $500,000 per project; approximately $1,500,000 allocated this cycle · Closes Oct 26, 2026 · Official page ↗
- Exploring and Enhancing Outdoor and Heritage Tourism in the Chesapeake Bay WatershedNational Park ServiceCovers 6 states (plus DC), including NY$10,000–$50,000 · Closes Nov 4, 2026 · Official page ↗
- Northeast SARE Farmer GrantNortheast SARECovers 12 states (plus DC), including NYAwards range from $5,000 to $50,000 · Closes Dec 8, 2026 · Official page ↗
- Northeast Dairy Farm Improvement and Modernization GrantNortheast Dairy Business Innovation Center (Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets)Open in 11 states, including NYAmount not stated · Reopens, date not announced yet · Official page ↗
- Northeast Dairy Processor Modernization GrantNortheast Dairy Business Innovation Center (Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets)Open in 11 states, including NYTotal funds available: $1,000,000 · Reopens, date not announced yet · Official page ↗
Also open to NY 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 New York
- NYS Grown & Certified Research and Development Grant (GCRD): $10,000 to $50,000 (10% match), closes Oct 25, 2027
- Global NY Fund Grant Program: Up to $25,000 for New York for-profit exporters (reimburses up to 50% of project costs); nonprofit export-assistance organizations can get up to $100,000, rolling, apply anytime
- Global NY State Trade Expansion Program (STEP): up to $10,000 per funding period; $2,000–$5,000 per activity, rolling, apply anytime
New York small business grants, program by program
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
A New York grant that pays for the research and development work needed to launch a new NYS Grown & Certified food product, or to grow production or distribution of an existing one: consultants, market research, product development, lab testing and certification training. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 14, 2026. Official page ↗
Global NY Fund Grant Program (Empire State Development): Up to $25,000 for New York for-profit exporters (reimburses up to 50% of project costs); nonprofit export-assistance organizations can get up to $100,000
Grants to help New York State small- and medium-sized for-profit businesses and not-for-profit economic development organizations start exporting or expand global exports. For-profit companies receive up to $25,000; nonprofits receive up to $100,000. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 15, 2026. Official page ↗
Global NY State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) (Empire State Development): up to $10,000 per funding period; $2,000–$5,000 per activity
A reimbursement grant from New York State and the U.S. Small Business Administration that supports for-profit small businesses headquartered in New York with export-related costs, including trade missions, trade show exhibitions, and market research. Awards up to $10,000 per funding period (July 2026–September 2027), issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 24, 2026. Official page ↗
Innovation Matching Grants Program (NYSTAR) (Empire State Development): Up to $100,000 (Phase I); Up to $200,000 (Phase II), next window April 2027
New York State program that matches federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants for small businesses developing new technologies. Supports commercialization expenses such as business planning, patents, and marketing studies. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 21, 2026. Official page ↗
NYS Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant (NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets): Varies, usually opens around Spring 2027, based on past rounds
A competitive grant program providing funding to help new and early-stage farmers (those who have operated a farm for no more than 10 years) build financially sustainable agricultural businesses in New York State. Grants support equipment, infrastructure, livestock/crop establishment, business expansion, marketing, and workforce training. Awards are reimbursement-based and competitive. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 13, 2026. Official page ↗
Starting a business in New York: what grant money exists
Most grant money goes to businesses that already exist. The SBA says it plainly: it "does not provide grants for starting and expanding a business." New owners usually start with savings, a loan, or a narrow grant built for one kind of business.
New York's Small Business Development Centers offer no-cost, confidential one-on-one advising, training and research to small business owners across the state.
Straight answers
Some of these say "between cycles." What do I do right now?
Get ready before the window opens. Innovation Matching Grants Program (NYSTAR) lists its next window as “~April 2027 (stated: 2nd Wednesday in April)”. 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.
Does New York have state business grants?
We track 9 New York state programs. The 5 named on this page are each checked against the funder's own page, and 3 are open now, including NYS Grown & Certified Research and Development Grant (GCRD) and Global NY Fund Grant Program. Most New York state grants pay for one purpose, like export growth, a new New York food product, or matching a federal SBIR technology award, not general cash for any business.
Is there a grant to start a business in New York?
Not a general one that we track. For a new business, New York's Small Business Development Centers offer no-cost advising, including help finding funding.
Are there city or county business grants in New York?
Yes. Some cities and counties run their own. Right now we list 2 local programs, in New York City. They are open only to businesses in that area, so they are not counted in the New York totals above.
Which New York business grants are open right now?
Open now: NYS Grown & Certified Research and Development Grant (GCRD), up to $50,000, closes Oct 25, 2027; Global NY Fund Grant Program, up to $25,000, no posted deadline; Global NY State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), up to $10,000, no posted deadline. City and county grants in New York City are listed separately.
What's the difference between state, national, and federal programs?
State programs are run through New York agencies and partners and are limited to NY 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 New York business?
This page can't read your business. The 3-minute quiz can. It matches your industry, state, and ownership against all 159 programs and shows you where you stand.
See how many grants fit my business