Connecticut Receives Funding to Support Local Arts-Related Entrepreneurs

The state of Connecticut recently received the second largest grant in the country which it will use to support local artists. The $500,000 grant came from ArtPlace America, an organization that consists of 13 leading national and regional foundations and six of the nation’s largest banks. The grant was given to support Connecticut's CreateHereNow project.

CreateHereNow is a state project that will begin in July 2013 and continue through 2014. It operates through the Department of Economic and Community Development's (DECD) Office of the Arts. ArtPlace America supports programs in art and culture that transforms communities. The DECD will use the grant money to provide financial assistance to artists, crafters and arts-related entrepreneurs who want to starts small businesses in vacant storefronts.

Rochester NY Offers Grants to High Tech Businesses

The city of Rochester, New York, supports local businesses by offering grants up to $30,000 and low-interest loans up to $250,000. The financial assistance is offered to grow more businesses in the downtown area as well as businesses in the high technology and industrial fields. All programs are offered through the Rochester Department of Neighborhood and Business Development.

For businesses moving into or re-locating to Rochester, the city has a Building Renovation Matching Grant Program that offers 50/50 matching grants of up to $30,000. The grant money can be used for interior and exterior building improvements as well as improvements to security systems.

Small Businesses in Austin, TX May Soon Get Needed Tax Relief

It's called House Bill 500, and it has already been approved by the House. If the Senate also approves the bill, it would result in $667 million in tax relief to small businesses in Austin, Texas.

House Bill 500 will permanently exempt businesses with gross revenues of $1 million or less from paying the margin tax. Marginal tax rates are tax rates set for income brackets. As income gets higher and moves into another bracket, the marginal tax rate will increase. What House Bill 500 will do is exempt businesses from having to pay the marginal rate, applying a standard deduction that will save them money. The purpose is to grow small business and create more jobs.

Small Business Plan Competition Offering $5,000 Grant

The City of Binghamton, New York, for the fifth consecutive year, is offering a $5,000 grant for the best business plan as part of the city's annual Business Plan Competition. Sixty businesses are competing for the prize this year.

The business plan competition encourages ideas for new, viable business recommendations. Not only will the winner receive a $5,000 grant but also free professional services and free advertising.

Among all applicants, ten finalists are chosen. Ideas have ranged from food businesses, health-related services, to technology providers and housing locators. The contest is sponsored by the Binghamton Local Development Corporation and funded through its Urban Development Action Grant fund. All finalists will be required to prepare and present their plans to a panel of judges that includes bankers, business coaches and small business owners.

Binghamton is located in the southern part of New York State where many recognizable high technology companies are located, such as Lockheed Martin, IBM and BAE Systems.

For more information, visit www.binghamton-ny.gov/finalists-announced-bldceap-business-plan-competition

Grants Program Targets Agriculture Businesses

It's called the Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program and its objective is to help small and mid-size family farmers and ranchers with $16.8 million in grants. Over 110 agriculture businesses in 43 states will benefit. The program is offered through the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

The program helps agriculture producers transition to more value-added methods of producing agriculture products. The goal of the program is to generate more bio-based new products that will increase market opportunities and income for agriculture producers. The eligible products are agriculture food products for human consumption.

Vermont Small Business Owners Receive Grants From the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative

The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative is a program sponsored by the Working Lands Enterprise Board in the state of Vermont. The initiative is focused on investing $1 into Vermont agricultural and forest based businesses.

The board was established in 2012 to oversee the program which awards grants and loans to small businesses that add value to farm and forest commodities. In the first round of grants, 20 businesses out of 191 applications received grants ranging from $3,000 to $15,000. The companies represented industries including forestry, forest products, dairy, meat, berries, tree fruit, tree farms, maple, produce, honey, fish, horses, renewable energy, compost specialty foods, fiber, hops, land and soil testing and drainage.

North Carolina Businesses Rewarded With Recycling Business Development Grants

Forty-three companies in North Carolina received Recycling Business Development grants ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The purpose of the grants is to reduce landfill disposal and create more jobs.

Projects funded by the grants included recycling of construction and demolition materials, recycling mattresses, and diverting food waste. Each company not only reduced waste but also created a total of 240 new jobs. A total of $1.1 million in grants was awarded.

South Carolina Grant Program Lends a Helping Hand To Rural Small Businesses

Entrepreneurs in poor areas of South Carolina who want to start their own business but need a little help with start-up costs can turn to New America Corp., a nonprofit organization formed two years ago to help small businesses in Orangeburg County. It's more than a grant; it's a program to help entrepreneurs help themselves.

By utilizing the company's Business Individual Development Account, small business owners can open up a savings account for their business. After six months, the account can begin receiving $3 for every dollar saved, up to $1,000 in savings. So, a small business owner can receive $3,000 for their $1,000 in savings.

22 Small Businesses in Indianapolis Receive Improvement Grants

The city of Indianapolis has a program called Fostering Commercial Urban Strategies (FOCUS) whose goal is to revitalize neighborhood business districts. As an incentive to small businesses located in designated areas of the city, the program offers grants up to $20,000 for facade improvement.

The grant money can be used for store front renovations, paint, window replacement, awnings, signage, and any other improvements to the outside of the building that will improve the neighborhood. The goal is to improve the qualify of life for neighborhood residents and improve the growth of small neighborhood businesses.

Philadelphia Foundation Committed to Helping Local Merchants with Grants

The Merchants Fund is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1854 to support local merchants in Philadelphia. Five percent of its annual assets are distributed in the form of grants to help small local businesses who are facing financial hardship.

The grant awards are called Stabilization Grants. Small enterprises who have been in business at least three years may apply for grants up to $10,000. The business owner must be the sole proprietor of a business that represents their sole source of income. Small businesses who apply must be established businesses who are stable but have been hit hard by the economy and need financial assistance to get back on their feet.