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NYC Small Business Grants 2026: What Is Open Now
By Solomon Wiesen, editor. Updated October 2026. Editorial standards | How this site is funded
Most “NYC grant” lists are full of programs that closed years ago. This one only includes programs we confirmed on an official page, with the status as of October 20, 2026 and the date each one is likely to reopen.
- Open now: Verizon Digital Ready ($10,000) and the Amber Grant ($15,000 monthly, women-owned).
- Recurring: CitizensNYC ($5,000), NYSTAR matching grants (up to $200,000, April and October), Queens and Bronx borough grants.
- Typical size: $1,000 to $25,000. Grants rarely cover more than a small project.
- Watch for: a $3M emergency microgrant fund for home-based child care, launching late 2026.
NYC small business grants open now (October 2026)
| Grant | Amount | Who qualifies | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Small Business Digital Ready | $10,000 (10 grants a month) | US for-profit businesses that finish 2 Digital Ready courses between Jan 1 and Dec 7, 2026 | Open, rolling. Monthly picks through December; final decisions by Jan 12, 2027 |
| Amber Grant (WomensNet) | $15,000 monthly; three $75,000 year-end grants | Women-owned businesses | Open, monthly |
| NYSERDA Small Commercial Energy Assessment | Free energy audit (not cash) | 10 or fewer workers, 100 kW or less of electricity use | Open, ongoing |
Recurring grants to prepare for now
These are closed today but run on a yearly or twice-yearly cycle. Most reward businesses that apply in the first week, so have your documents ready before they reopen.
| Grant | Amount | Who qualifies | Last cycle / next |
|---|---|---|---|
| CitizensNYC Neighborhood Business Grants | Up to $5,000 | NYC business, 2+ years operating, 10 or fewer employees, profitable | Second 2026 cycle ran May 4 to Jul 27; next date not posted |
| NYSTAR Innovation Matching Grants (Empire State Development) | Up to $100,000 (SBIR Phase I) or $200,000 (Phase II), max 50% of the federal award | NY small businesses with 100 or fewer employees holding or applying for an SBIR/STTR award | Round 6 window closed Oct 20, 2026; rounds open each April and October |
| Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge (QEDC) | Up to $20,000 each, 5 winners | Early-stage businesses with impact in Queens | 2026 winners named Apr 28; new cycle usually starts in late September |
| QEDC Flash Grants | $1,000 (5 grants) | Queens businesses, home-based included | Closed Sept 30, 2026 |
| Lifting Up Small Businesses in the Bronx (Optimum + Bronx Chamber) | 25 grants of $5,000 plus one $20,000 prize | Bronx storefronts in Optimum’s service area, 10 or fewer employees, open 1+ year | Closed Sept 1, 2026 |
| Ignite Brooklyn (Brooklyn Made) | 10 grants of $25,000 plus pitch prizes | Brooklyn-based or Brooklyn-connected businesses | Closed Feb 2, 2026; pitch held Apr 14 |
| SBS Storefront Improvement | Up to 75% of costs: $20,000 (Downtown Jamaica) or $50,000 (Tremont) | Property owners and businesses on the target corridors | Closed; corridors change by round |
Maximum award, NYC small business grants in 2026
Largest single award to one business, log scale. Green: accepting applications in October 2026. Gray: closed now, most reopen on a yearly cycle.
Coming soon
- Emergency Microgrant Fund for home-based child care: $1,000 to $10,000 grants from a $3 million fund for licensed home-based child care providers facing emergencies. The city is choosing an administrator; launch is planned before the end of 2026.
Grants that are not for individual businesses
Several large NYC programs show up in grant searches but only fund organizations. Avenue NYC (up to $350,000 over 3 years) and the city’s August 2026 round of $8.4 million in BID and community grants go to business improvement districts, local development corporations and merchant associations. The state’s $100 million Child Care Capital Construction program excluded for-profit providers. If you run a storefront, the useful step is to contact your local BID, which often passes these funds through as free marketing, sanitation or storefront help.
Programs to skip
- FedEx Small Business Grant Contest: no longer offered.
- Comcast RISE: recent rounds targeted other cities, and Comcast does not serve most of NYC.
- Any “guaranteed” grant that charges a fee: real grants never ask you to pay to apply. Report these to the FTC.
How to win a small business grant
- Keep a ready file: EIN letter, business certificate or articles, last two tax returns, a one-page summary, and photos of your storefront or product.
- Answer the funder’s goal, not yours: CitizensNYC funds community impact; Verizon funds digital skills; NYSTAR funds research. Say how the money serves that goal.
- Be specific about use: “$5,000 for a new display case that lets us sell 30% more baked goods” beats “general expenses.”
- Apply early and to many: award rates are low, often under 5% for national contests.
When a grant is not enough
Most NYC grants top out at $5,000 to $25,000 and take months. If you need more or need it sooner, low-cost loans are the next step: SBA loans by borough, nonprofit lenders such as BOC Capital and Accompany Capital, and the NYC SBA lender finder. New York State’s Main Street Capital Loan Fund lends up to $100,000 to new and early-stage businesses, and NYSERDA finances energy upgrades through your utility bill.
We recheck every program on this page monthly. Last checked October 20, 2026.
Where to go next
Frequently asked questions
Are there grants to start a business in NYC?
Few. Most NYC grants require 1 to 2 years of operating history. Startups usually do better with the NYSTAR matching grant (if they have an SBIR award), pitch competitions such as Ignite Brooklyn and the Queens Tech + Innovation Challenge, or a small loan from a nonprofit lender.
Does New York City give free money to small businesses?
Yes, but in small amounts. CitizensNYC grants go up to $5,000, borough programs range from $1,000 to $25,000, and SBS storefront grants cover up to 75% of improvement costs on selected corridors.
Are there grants for women-owned businesses in NYC?
The Amber Grant awards $15,000 a month to a woman-owned business, plus three $75,000 year-end grants. It is national, so NYC businesses compete with applicants across the country.
Is there a 2026 NYC grant for restaurants?
We found no open restaurant-only grant from the city or state as of October 2026. Restaurants can apply to general programs such as CitizensNYC and Verizon Digital Ready.
How do I spot a grant scam?
Real grants never charge an application or processing fee and never ask for bank login details. Check that the program appears on the sponsor’s own official website.
Want to see what you may qualify for? Send one short request and a funding partner will contact you about options. This is a request for information, not an application, and approval is never guaranteed. We may be paid when you submit a request; see how this site is funded.
General information. Grant terms and deadlines change; confirm every detail on the sponsor’s official page before applying.