Last verified October 24, 2026 · How we verify

Small business grants in North Carolina

As of October 2026, a North Carolina small business can be matched against 161 programs: 12 North Carolina state programs, 4 multi-state programs that include North Carolina, 62 national programs open to NC businesses, and 83 federal grants via Grants.gov.

We track 12 North Carolina state programs. 9 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.

North Carolina state programs

National programs open to NC businesses

Federal grants via Grants.gov

North Carolina programs by the numbers

Who funds them: 5 funders: North Carolina Department of Commerce (4), NC IDEA Foundation (2), Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) (1), NC State Extension (1), and 1 more.
Award size: Most awards $10K to $125K.
Timing: 7 open now, 4 of them rolling. Soonest deadline: NC AgVentures Farm Grant, Dec 15, 2026. 2 between cycles.
What they fund: Manufacturing (5), Technology (4), Healthcare (2), Services (2), Agriculture (1), and 2 more; 2 open to any industry.

All 9 North Carolina state programs we can name

Only North Carolina'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
Rail Industrial Access Program North Carolina Department of Commerce Verified Oct 10, 2026	Maximum of 50% of total project costs, subject to a $200,000 limit per project	Rolling, apply anytime	The NCDOT Rail Industrial Access Program provides state funds to help construct or refurbish railroad spur tracks for new or expanding companies in North Carolina. Eligible applicants include local governments, community development agencies, railroads, and companies themselves. Awards cover up to 50% of total project costs, capped at $200,000 per project, contingent on matching funds and job-creation potential.	Official page ↗
North Carolina State Trade Expansion Program (STEP 13) Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) Verified Oct 18, 2026	Up to $12,000 in reimbursements	Closes Sep 29, 2027	EDPNC's STEP 13 reimburses North Carolina small businesses for export-development costs: up to $12,000 per company for things like exhibiting at international trade shows, export services, marketing media, website translation, e-commerce fees and US Commercial Service services. You must operate in North Carolina, meet the SBA small-business size standard, have been in business at least one year, and export (or be ready to export) goods or services of US origin or at least 51% US content. STEP 13 runs from June 30, 2026 through September 29, 2027. Start by contacting an EDPNC trade manager.	Official page ↗
One North Carolina Small Business Program: SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds North Carolina Department of Commerce (Office of Science, Technology and Innovation) Verified Oct 15, 2026	Up to $12,000 reimbursement of Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal costs	Closes Jun 30, 2027	North Carolina pays back part of what your company spent preparing a federal SBIR or STTR Phase I proposal, up to $12,000 (a resubmitted proposal can get up to $6,000 more). Your Phase I proposal must have been received by a federal agency in the solicitation period. Apply by June 30, 2027, or sooner if the $210,000 runs out.	Official page ↗
NC AgVentures Farm Grant NC State Extension Verified Oct 17, 2026	Awards up to $10,000.	Closes Dec 15, 2026	Cost-share grants of up to $10,000 for established North Carolina family farms. Funds equipment and infrastructure projects that raise farm profits.	Official page ↗
Job Development Investment Grant North Carolina Department of Commerce Verified Oct 13, 2026	Varies	Rolling, apply anytime	A performance-based grant program providing cash grants to for-profit companies that create jobs and invest in North Carolina. Grants are awarded competitively and paid annually over up to 12–30 years (depending on project type), with amounts calculated by formula based on new taxes generated by job creation and investment level.	Official page ↗
One North Carolina Fund North Carolina Department of Commerce Verified Oct 17, 2026	Varies	Rolling, apply anytime	A discretionary cash-grant program administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce that allows the Governor to respond quickly to competitive job-creation projects. Awards are based on number of jobs created, investment level, project location, economic impact, and importance to the state and region.	Official page ↗
Technology Funds North Carolina Department of Commerce Verified Oct 10, 2026	Varies	Rolling, apply anytime	An overview page for North Carolina's technology-focused grant programs, including the One NC Small Business Program (which provides matching funds for businesses that win Phase I SBIR/STTR federal grants) and North Carolina Biotechnology Center funding for innovative life sciences companies. Targeted at small businesses in capital-intensive STEM and life sciences industries.	Official page ↗
NC IDEA SEED NC IDEA Foundation Verified Oct 14, 2026	$50K	Between cycles Usually opens around Spring 2027, based on past rounds	$50,000 non-dilutive grants for innovative North Carolina startups with a proven concept and early traction; 5–7 companies funded per cycle, two cycles per year.	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	$10,000 grants plus an eight-week accelerator program for very early-stage North Carolina startups; about 15 companies funded per cycle, two cycles per year.	Official page ↗

We track 3 more North Carolina 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 North Carolina

Open only to businesses in one city, county or local area, so they are not counted in the North Carolina totals above.

Fayetteville Street Corridor Bounce Back Program
City of Durham Office of Economic and Workforce Development
City of Durham (Fayetteville Street Corridor) only
Stipends up to $10,000 (with coaching and technical assistance) · Official page ↗
Durham Choice Business Retention and Recruitment Fund (grant)
Durham Housing Authority and City of Durham (with Downtown Durham Inc and NIMED)
Durham only
$5,000 to $25,000 grant (loans of $10,000 to $500,000 are a separate track) · Official page ↗
WNC AgOptions Grant Program
WNC AgOptions (NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission)
Western North Carolina only
Grants of $10,000 · Official page ↗

Multi-state programs that include North Carolina

Each of these covers more than three states, so we list them here instead of counting them as North Carolina state programs.

Southern SARE Producer Grant
Southern SARE
Open in 13 states, including NC
Up to $20,000 (individual farmer); up to $25,000 (farmer group) · Closes Nov 6, 2026 · Official page ↗
Southeast Dairy Business Planning Grant
Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture)
Open in 12 states, including NC
Up to $30,000 (no match; reimbursement) · Between cycles (Usually opens around Summer 2027, based on past rounds) · Official page ↗

We track 2 more multi-state programs that include North Carolina and are not open, dated or verified closely enough to name here yet.

Also open to NC 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 North Carolina

Rail Industrial Access Program: Maximum of 50% of total project costs, subject to a $200,000 limit per project, rolling, apply anytime
North Carolina State Trade Expansion Program (STEP 13): Up to $12,000 in reimbursements, closes Sep 29, 2027
One North Carolina Small Business Program: SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds: Up to $12,000 reimbursement of Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal costs, closes Jun 30, 2027
NC AgVentures Farm Grant: Awards up to $10,000., closes Dec 15, 2026
Job Development Investment Grant: Varies, rolling, apply anytime
One North Carolina Fund: Varies, rolling, apply anytime
Technology Funds: Varies, rolling, apply anytime

North Carolina small business grants, program by program

Rail Industrial Access Program (North Carolina Department of Commerce): Maximum of 50% of total project costs, subject to a $200,000 limit per project

The NCDOT Rail Industrial Access Program provides state funds to help construct or refurbish railroad spur tracks for new or expanding companies in North Carolina. Eligible applicants include local governments, community development agencies, railroads, and companies themselves. Awards cover up to 50% of total project costs, capped at $200,000 per project, contingent on matching funds and job-creation potential. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 10, 2026. Official page ↗

North Carolina State Trade Expansion Program (STEP 13): Up to $12,000 in reimbursements, closes Sep 29, 2027

Run by Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC). EDPNC's STEP 13 reimburses North Carolina small businesses for export-development costs: up to $12,000 per company for things like exhibiting at international trade shows, export services, marketing media, website translation, e-commerce fees and US Commercial Service services. You must operate in North Carolina, meet the SBA small-business size standard, have been in business at least one year, and export (or be ready to export) goods or services of US origin or at least 51% US content. STEP 13 runs from June 30, 2026 through September 29, 2027. Start by contacting an EDPNC trade manager. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 18, 2026. Official page ↗

One North Carolina Small Business Program: SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds: Up to $12,000 reimbursement of Phase I SBIR/STTR proposal costs, closes Jun 30, 2027

Run by North Carolina Department of Commerce (Office of Science, Technology and Innovation). North Carolina pays back part of what your company spent preparing a federal SBIR or STTR Phase I proposal, up to $12,000 (a resubmitted proposal can get up to $6,000 more). Your Phase I proposal must have been received by a federal agency in the solicitation period. Apply by June 30, 2027, or sooner if the $210,000 runs out. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 15, 2026. Official page ↗

NC AgVentures Farm Grant (NC State Extension): Awards up to $10,000., closes Dec 15, 2026

Cost-share grants of up to $10,000 for established North Carolina family farms. Funds equipment and infrastructure projects that raise farm profits. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 17, 2026. Official page ↗

Job Development Investment Grant (North Carolina Department of Commerce): Varies

A performance-based grant program providing cash grants to for-profit companies that create jobs and invest in North Carolina. Grants are awarded competitively and paid annually over up to 12–30 years (depending on project type), with amounts calculated by formula based on new taxes generated by job creation and investment level. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 13, 2026. Official page ↗

One North Carolina Fund (North Carolina Department of Commerce): Varies

A discretionary cash-grant program administered by the North Carolina Department of Commerce that allows the Governor to respond quickly to competitive job-creation projects. Awards are based on number of jobs created, investment level, project location, economic impact, and importance to the state and region. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 17, 2026. Official page ↗

Technology Funds (North Carolina Department of Commerce): Varies

An overview page for North Carolina's technology-focused grant programs, including the One NC Small Business Program (which provides matching funds for businesses that win Phase I SBIR/STTR federal grants) and North Carolina Biotechnology Center funding for innovative life sciences companies. Targeted at small businesses in capital-intensive STEM and life sciences industries. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 10, 2026. Official page ↗

NC IDEA SEED (NC IDEA Foundation): $50K, usually opens around Spring 2027, based on past rounds

$50,000 non-dilutive grants for innovative North Carolina startups with a proven concept and early traction; 5–7 companies funded per cycle, two cycles per year. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 14, 2026. Official page ↗

NC IDEA MICRO (NC IDEA Foundation): $10,000, usually opens around February 2027, based on past rounds

$10,000 grants plus an eight-week accelerator program for very early-stage North Carolina startups; about 15 companies funded per cycle, two cycles per year. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 14, 2026. Official page ↗

More small business grant lists

Straight answers

What's the difference between state, national, and federal programs?

State programs are run through North Carolina agencies and partners and are limited to NC 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 North Carolina business?

This page can't read your business. The 3-minute quiz can. It matches your industry, state, and ownership against all 161 programs and shows you where you stand.

See how many grants fit my business