Last verified October 23, 2026 · How we verify
North Dakota small business grants: state programs and more
As of October 2026, a North Dakota small business can be matched against 157 programs: 11 North Dakota state programs, 1 multi-state program that includes North Dakota, 62 national programs open to ND businesses, and 83 federal grants via Grants.gov.
We track 11 North Dakota state programs. 6 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 Dakota programs by the numbers
- Who funds them
- 5 funders: North Dakota Department of Commerce (2), Choice Bank (1), North Dakota Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (1), North Dakota Health and Human Services (Early Childhood Services) (1), and 1 more.
- Award size
- Awards from $10K to $200K.
- Timing
- 4 open now, 3 of them rolling. Soonest deadline: North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) Grants, Jan 1, 2027. 2 between cycles.
- What they fund
- Childcare (2), Services (2), Agriculture (1), Technology (1); 2 open to any industry.
All 6 North Dakota state programs we can name
Only North Dakota'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Technical Skills Training Grant North Dakota Department of Commerce Verified Oct 21, 2026 | up to $200,000 (Track A), up to $100,000 (Track B), up to $200,000 (Track C) | Rolling, apply anytime | A workforce development grant supporting eligible training providers, employers, colleges, universities, nonprofits, and municipalities in North Dakota to design and launch rapid, non-degree re-skilling and upskilling programs or expand capacity in existing programs. Three tracks available with awards up to $200,000 and a required 1:1 match. | Official page ↗ |
Grow Child Care Grant North Dakota Health and Human Services (Early Childhood Services) Verified Oct 18, 2026 | Up to $100,000 for new centers in desert counties ($75,000 family/group); infant/toddler expansion $5,000 to $20,000 statewide | Rolling, apply anytime | Grow Child Care Grant from North Dakota HHS pays newly licensed or expanding child care programs per new slot. New-license centers in desert counties (Dunn, Towner) can receive $2,500 per slot up to $100,000 (family/group up to $75,000), with lower tiers in high-needs counties. Programs anywhere in the state adding infant or toddler slots get $5,000 to $20,000 (effective July 1, 2026). Apply within 60 days of licensing or expansion; grants are offered while funding is available. | Official page ↗ |
North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) Grants North Dakota Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Products Utilization Commission Verified Oct 16, 2026 | Amount not stated (no fixed cap in the guidelines) | Closes Jan 1, 2027 | North Dakota's APUC funds projects that create new or bigger uses for North Dakota farm products: research, marketing, farm diversification, technical assistance, nature-based agritourism and prototypes. Deadlines are quarterly (January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1), and the first 15 qualifying applicants each quarter present in person to the commission. The guidelines set no fixed award size; matching funds earn points. | Official page ↗ |
STEP ND North Dakota Trade Office Verified Oct 10, 2026 | Varies | Rolling, apply anytime | STEP ND is a financial reimbursement program designed to assist small North Dakota businesses grow their international exports. The program is funded through the SBA's State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant. | Official page ↗ |
Innovate ND North Dakota Department of Commerce Verified Oct 21, 2026 | up to $50,000 | Reopens, date not announced yet | Innovate ND is a voucher-based reimbursement program for North Dakota entrepreneurs to advance their businesses through customer and market research. Participants may receive up to $50,000 in reimbursable expenses over two six-month phases. The program supports the development of new, innovative businesses with clear potential for Primary Sector Certification, excluding retail, hospitality, and local service-based ventures. | Official page ↗ |
Choice Bank Child Care Grant Program Choice Bank Verified Oct 23, 2026 | $500 to $10,000 per facility per calendar year | Between cycles Usually opens around Summer 2027, based on past rounds | Choice Bank pays cash grants of $500 to $10,000 per facility per calendar year to licensed North Dakota child care providers (in-home or center) in communities under 10,000 people. Funds cover start-up costs, replacement or expansion costs, and one-time operating expenses. Applicants must be Choice customers or based in and primarily serve families in the listed counties. The 2026 round closed 2026-10-16 and was the only 2026 round. | Official page ↗ |
We track 5 more North Dakota 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 North Dakota
This program covers more than three states, so we list it here instead of counting it as a North Dakota state program.
- North Central SARE Farmer Rancher GrantNorth Central Region SAREOpen in 12 states, including NDUp to $15,000 (individual); up to $30,000 (team of 2+ farms) · Closes Dec 3, 2026 · Official page ↗
Also open to ND 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 Dakota
- Technical Skills Training Grant: up to $200,000 (Track A), up to $100,000 (Track B), up to $200,000 (Track C), rolling, apply anytime
- Grow Child Care Grant: Up to $100,000 for new centers in desert counties ($75,000 family/group); infant/toddler expansion $5,000 to $20,000 statewide, rolling, apply anytime
- North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) Grants: Amount not stated (no fixed cap in the guidelines), closes Jan 1, 2027
- STEP ND: Varies, rolling, apply anytime
North Dakota small business grants, program by program
Technical Skills Training Grant (North Dakota Department of Commerce): up to $200,000 (Track A), up to $100,000 (Track B), up to $200,000 (Track C)
A workforce development grant supporting eligible training providers, employers, colleges, universities, nonprofits, and municipalities in North Dakota to design and launch rapid, non-degree re-skilling and upskilling programs or expand capacity in existing programs. Three tracks available with awards up to $200,000 and a required 1:1 match. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 21, 2026. Official page ↗
Grow Child Care Grant: Up to $100,000 for new centers in desert counties ($75,000 family/group); infant/toddler expansion $5,000 to $20,000 statewide
Run by North Dakota Health and Human Services (Early Childhood Services). Grow Child Care Grant from North Dakota HHS pays newly licensed or expanding child care programs per new slot. New-license centers in desert counties (Dunn, Towner) can receive $2,500 per slot up to $100,000 (family/group up to $75,000), with lower tiers in high-needs counties. Programs anywhere in the state adding infant or toddler slots get $5,000 to $20,000 (effective July 1, 2026). Apply within 60 days of licensing or expansion; grants are offered while funding is available. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 18, 2026. Official page ↗
North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) Grants (North Dakota Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Products Utilization Commission): Amount not stated (no fixed cap in the guidelines), closes Jan 1, 2027
North Dakota's APUC funds projects that create new or bigger uses for North Dakota farm products: research, marketing, farm diversification, technical assistance, nature-based agritourism and prototypes. Deadlines are quarterly (January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1), and the first 15 qualifying applicants each quarter present in person to the commission. The guidelines set no fixed award size; matching funds earn points. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 16, 2026. Official page ↗
STEP ND (North Dakota Trade Office): Varies
STEP ND is a financial reimbursement program designed to assist small North Dakota businesses grow their international exports. The program is funded through the SBA's State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 10, 2026. Official page ↗
Innovate ND (North Dakota Department of Commerce): up to $50,000
Innovate ND is a voucher-based reimbursement program for North Dakota entrepreneurs to advance their businesses through customer and market research. Participants may receive up to $50,000 in reimbursable expenses over two six-month phases. The program supports the development of new, innovative businesses with clear potential for Primary Sector Certification, excluding retail, hospitality, and local service-based ventures. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 21, 2026. Official page ↗
Choice Bank Child Care Grant Program: $500 to $10,000 per facility per calendar year, usually opens around Summer 2027, based on past rounds
Choice Bank pays cash grants of $500 to $10,000 per facility per calendar year to licensed North Dakota child care providers (in-home or center) in communities under 10,000 people. Funds cover start-up costs, replacement or expansion costs, and one-time operating expenses. Applicants must be Choice customers or based in and primarily serve families in the listed counties. The 2026 round closed 2026-10-16 and was the only 2026 round. Verified against the funder's own page Oct 23, 2026. Official page ↗
Starting a business in North Dakota: 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.
A narrow one on this page: the Grow Child Care Grant, which supports newly licensed or expanding child care programs in the state's child care desert and high-needs counties, plus new infant and toddler rooms anywhere in the state. Owners apply within 60 days of licensing or expanding.
The North Dakota SBDC offers no-cost, confidential business advising to people starting, managing or growing a business in the state.
Straight answers
Does North Dakota have state business grants?
We track 11 North Dakota state programs. The 6 named on this page are each checked against the funder's own page, and 4 are open now, including Technical Skills Training Grant and Grow Child Care Grant. Most North Dakota state grants pay for one purpose, like worker training, new child care slots, recruiting New Americans, or export growth, not general cash for any business.
Is there a grant to start a business in North Dakota?
Not a general one that we track. For child care there is one: the Grow Child Care Grant supports newly licensed or expanding child care programs. For a new business, North Dakota's Small Business Development Centers offer no-cost advising, including help finding funding.
Which North Dakota business grants are open right now?
Open now: Technical Skills Training Grant, up to $200,000, no posted deadline; Grow Child Care Grant, up to $100,000, no posted deadline; North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission (APUC) Grants, closes Jan 1, 2027; STEP ND, no posted deadline.
What's the difference between state, national, and federal programs?
State programs are run through North Dakota agencies and partners and are limited to ND 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 Dakota business?
This page can't read your business. The 3-minute quiz can. It matches your industry, state, and ownership against all 157 programs and shows you where you stand.
See how many grants fit my business