Last verified: October 14, 2026.
North Carolina has $210,000 available this year for grants that reimburse costs of preparing a federal SBIR or STTR Phase I application, plus $1,920,000 in matching grants for Phase I winners. Applications run until June 30, 2027, or until funds run out.
The SBA says it does not provide grants to start or expand a business, so federal money rarely covers everyday costs. Look to state and city offices, research awards and a few private programs, and never pay to apply.
Grants are only one option. See every way to fund your business.
Want the national picture first? See the small business grants hub.
At a glance: sources in North Carolina
- State agency: North Carolina Department of Commerce (official page).
- Local offices covered: none could be confirmed today.
- Programs below with details checked on their official pages today: 4.
State sources in North Carolina
| Source | Run by | Status | Official link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grants and funding listings | North Carolina Department of Commerce | See official page | https://www.commerce.nc.gov/grants-incentives |
We did not confirm an open direct-to-business grant on these pages as of October 14, 2026. Check them for current programs.
City and county sources in North Carolina
No North Carolina city or county office website could be opened on October 14, 2026. Check your city's official website.
Programs open to North Carolina businesses, verified today
One North Carolina Small Business Program (NC Commerce)
- Amount: $210,000 is available for Incentive grants and $1,920,000 for Matching grants in fiscal year 2027; individual award sizes are in the solicitation, so see official page.
- Who qualifies: North Carolina small businesses preparing a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR application (Incentive) or that already won a federal Phase I SBIR/STTR award (Matching).
- Deadline: applications are accepted until Wednesday, June 30, 2027, or until funds are exhausted.
- Official page: https://www.commerce.nc.gov/grants-incentives/technology-funds/one-north-carolina-small-business-program
NIH Small Business Innovation Research (Parent SBIR)
- Amount: NIH's seed fund page points to $1.4 billion in small business funding; award sizes vary, so see official page.
- Who qualifies: only US small business concerns, as SBA defines them.
- Deadline: Grants.gov lists a close date of Monday, April 5, 2027. NIH uses set receipt dates, so see official page for the next one.
- Official page: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359671
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program
- Amount: see official page. This is a fellowship with coaching and advisors.
- Who qualifies: a woman age 21 or older who owns the largest stake in a for-profit US business that is at least 51% women-owned and earns at least $75,000 a year.
- Deadline: applications close Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
- Official page: https://www.toryburchfoundation.org/fellows/
NASE Growth Grants
- Amount: up to $4,000.
- Who qualifies: NASE members in good standing when they apply and until the award is made.
- Deadline: ongoing. NASE says there is no single annual deadline and reviews completed applications each quarter.
- Official page: https://www.nase.org/become-a-member/member-benefits/business-resources/growth-grants
Other federal options in North Carolina: search Grants.gov and SBIR.gov for research awards.
Free help and tips in North Carolina
Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers and SCORE offer free or low-cost counseling. Find one near you with the SBA local assistance locator.
How to apply
Read the official rules, register where the funder requires, gather documents and submit early. For federal grants, Grants.gov says to allow up to 10 business days for SAM.gov registration. See the full how to apply for a small business grant guide.
Here's a hypothetical. Blue Ridge BioFilters (a made-up business) in Asheville just won a federal Phase I SBIR award. It applies for state matching funds early, before the year's money runs out.
Red flags: grant scams to avoid
- Grants.gov says applying for a federal grant is completely free. A fee to get you a federal grant is a red flag.
- The SBA says it only emails from addresses ending in @SBA.gov.
- Be wary of anyone saying you won a grant you never applied for.
- Report it to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ and read the Grants.gov grant fraud page.
Next: other funding if no grant fits
If no grant fits, the full funding guide linked near the top of this page covers your other options. For other states, start from the small business grants hub.
Sources
All checked October 14, 2026.
- North Carolina Department of Commerce: https://www.commerce.nc.gov/grants-incentives
- One North Carolina Small Business Program (NC Commerce): https://www.commerce.nc.gov/grants-incentives/technology-funds/one-north-carolina-small-business-program
- NIH Parent SBIR on Grants.gov: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359671
- Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program: https://www.toryburchfoundation.org/fellows/
- NASE Growth Grants: https://www.nase.org/become-a-member/member-benefits/business-resources/growth-grants
- SBA grants: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/grants
- Grants.gov applicant registration: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration
- FTC ReportFraud: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/