Mission, Texas will put up to $15,000 into a local small business, and the portal shuts Saturday, October 31. The catch: you must be in operation for at least two years, with tax returns for the last two years and a project plan with verified cost estimates.
Here's a hypothetical. Copperleaf Tire & Brake (a made-up shop) has a busted second bay lift and a quote sitting on the counter. That owner already has most of what this grant asks for.
Also below: a $1,000 live pitch in Houston due Wednesday, two Portsmouth, Virginia grants that close Saturday, up to $5,000 in Hyattsville, Maryland, and Tampa microgrants for businesses under a year old.
Grants are competitive. We opened every official page today; trust the page if a detail differs. Listed by deadline, soonest first.
1. Main Street Rising Tour Pitch, Houston (Texas businesses)
- Amount: The page lists $1,000. Selected founders pitch live to a panel of judges, and winners take home a cash prize.
- Who qualifies: Businesses operating in Texas with a venture-scalable or venture-viable product or service that are fully operational, meaning actively conducting business and generating revenue, and tech-enabled.
- The catch: You must register for and attend the event to be considered. It runs Tuesday, November 10, 8:00 am to 12:30 pm CT at The Ion in Houston.
- Also note: Travel costs are not covered.
- Deadline: Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
- Official link: Hello Alice Houston pitch application
2. Ruby Red Ventures - Build Mission Fund (Mission, Texas)
- Amount: Grants of up to $15,000 per applicant, based on your project plan, cost estimates and need.
- Who qualifies: Businesses located within the Mission city limits with fewer than 30 employees and less than $1M in annual net revenue, in good standing with local tax entities, and in operation for at least two years with tax returns for the last two years.
- The catch: You must submit a detailed project plan with verified cost estimates and a timeline.
- Deadline: Saturday, October 31, 2026. The page says to complete your application online before November 1.
- Official link: Mission EDC Build Mission Fund page
3. Smart Start grants (Portsmouth, Virginia)
- Amount: Up to $2,000 (Business Development Grant) or up to $5,000 (Business Acceleration Grant).
- Who qualifies: For-profit small businesses and nonprofits based in the City of Portsmouth with 10 or fewer full-time equivalent positions.
- Which one: Development is for businesses in operation for 0 to 3 years, and Acceleration is for 3 to 10 years, shown by a city business license.
- The catch: Development applicants must first finish the My Own Business Plan Institute online course or an approved equivalent. Acceleration repays 80% of eligible costs after you pay the full bill, so you carry a 20% match.
- Deadline: Saturday, October 31, 2026 for Round 2. Late applications roll to Round 3 in January.
- Official link: Portsmouth EDA business investment grants
4. Corridor Investment Grant (Hyattsville, Maryland)
- Amount: Up to $5,000 for a Business Development Grant, up to $2,500 for public placemaking and up to $1,500 for programming. Grants cover up to 80% of the total project cost.
- Who qualifies: Private and nonprofit partners with creative placemaking projects, programming initiatives and business development strategies. A one-time Commercial Tenant Subsidy is open to small businesses that are a use underrepresented in the marketplace, or are Maryland or Prince George's County certified women-owned or minority-owned businesses.
- The catch: Structural repairs, interior work and roof repairs are not eligible. Check the linked guidelines for location rules.
- Deadline: Friday, November 20, 2026 at 5:00 pm.
- Official link: Hyattsville business incentives page
5. Entrepreneur Microgrants (Tampa, Florida)
- Amount: Up to $1,500 from the BASE Grant for businesses under 12 months old, or up to $3,000 from the STEP Grant for businesses open 12 months or more.
- Who qualifies: Microenterprises with five or fewer full-time equivalent employees, including the owners, operating within Tampa city limits. Household income must be at or below 80% of the Area Median Income, or the business must serve a neighborhood where at least 51% of residents are low or moderate income.
- The catch: You must complete technical assistance and a business plan first, then a partner submits a referral form for you.
- Deadline: Monday, February 15, 2027 for referrals.
- Official link: City of Tampa Entrepreneur Support Hub
Before you apply
A real grant never charges a fee to release money. We saw no application fee on any of these five pages. If anyone asks for a gift card, a "processing fee" or your bank login to unlock a grant, walk away.
Run a shop in Mission or Portsmouth? You have until Saturday, so send #2 or #3 to the owner next door today. For more ways to pay for a business, read our guide to where to get business funding or browse every Grant Finder post.
Verified on each official page: October 26, 2026 (2026-10-26).
