LivingSocial and Chase Launch $250,000 Business Grants Program

A new program, sponsored exclusively by Chase and LivingSocial, is giving entrepreneurs a chance to compete for $250,000 in small business grants. The competition requires them to convince a panel of peers and small-business mentors that they deserve the funding by answering a series of questions that identify their motives and outline their plans.

Because the program is intended to help small firms with immediate growth potential get their hands on the capital and marketing resources that they need, contestants will be required to share why their business is unique, outline a proposed plan for utilizing the grant to grow their business, and describe how the business is involved with its community.

Brother Small Business Grant Program Announces Winners

Brother International Corporation, a leader in small business technology, has officially announced the five winning applicants for its first small business grant program, launched on January 10, 2012 in collaboration with entrepreneurial online resource, StartupNation.

The grant program awarded a total of $25,000 to five small business owners, five $5,000 grants to each winner, who can use the grant money to launch their business or initiate a new project within their established small business.

Canadian Government Releases Ontario Business Grants

Every April, the Canadian government releases several business grant programs for Ontario residents. The funding is available for all small business owners who have been incorporated for at least two years.

One such program is the Canadian Business Grants for Human Resources and Training. This program looks to help businesses in need of young talent in the science and technology fields to help them solve a technical problem or commercialize a new innovation. Up to $25,000 in non-repayable business funding grants towards the graduate’s salary are available.

2012 HSBC Business Growth Grants For UK Businesses

The 2012 HSBC Business Growth Grant competition is offering funding to help grow up to four deserving businesses. The 5 most compelling applicants for each grant category will be invited to pitch to a panel of judges to showcase what sets them apart from the competition.

Up to two Growing Business Grants (worth £50,000) will go to businesses using innovative ideas to grow within the UK. And up to two Overseas Trade Grants (also worth £50,000) will go to businesses that have the aspiration and motivation to develop new opportunities overseas.

Green Training Grants Available for Minnesota Businesses

The Minnesota State Energy Sector Partnership (MSESP) is accepting innovative proposals from Minnesota-based businesses and organizations to train Minnesotans in occupational skills, support career pathways and achieve successful job placement in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industry.

MSESP, an initiative of the Governor’s Workforce Development Council, is funded by a three-year, $6 million U.S. Department of Labor grant to provide training, job placement and related activities in the energy-efficiency and renewable energy industry. 

Coca-Cola Foundation Pledges $500K in Business Grants For Atlanta Women

Coca-Cola has pledged $500,000 to the Atlanta Women's Foundation (AWF) to support economic empowerment initiatives impacting Atlanta's women and girls. The grant will also fund support programs to empower girls between the ages of 8 and 18 to make positive choices about education, careers and lifestyle.

The Atlanta Women's Foundation has granted more than $10 million to 250 nonprofit organizations since it was founded in 1986. It awards grants to nonprofit organizations serving women and girls, develops leadership programs for women, educates the public on challenges facing women and girls and advocates on their behalf.

Small Business Marketing Mini-Grants For Women In Maine

Are you a woman entrepreneur in Maine? Could your business use a marketing boost? A marketing mini-grants program, sponsored by Women, Work, and Community (WWC), is helping small businesses in the Midcoast put their best foot forward through the funding of professional, effective marketing materials and projects.

WWC will make mini-grants of up to $400 to help entrepreneurs promote their businesses through targeted marketing projects. The call for applications is open to entrepreneurs throughout the state of Maine (specially in Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo counties). Applications are welcomed from individual entrepreneurs and small businesses as well as business partnerships. Nonprofit groups are not eligible for the mini-grant program.