BUSINESS GRANTS
SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS IN MINNESOTA The promise of “free government grant money” for personal expenses or generic business startups is a persistent myth fueled by internet ads, telemarketing, and mailers. Many companies sell worthless “grant guides” or charge fees for non-existent opportunities. These are often misleading or outright scams . The Minnesota Attorney General and DEED both warn that most so-called “government grant” offers—especially those promising money for personal use or offering guaranteed eligibility—are fraudulent. Television and internet ads often misuse the word “grant,” when most government funds are actually public assistance for individuals in need (like food, housing, or disability programs) or are tied to highly regulated business/public sector projects, not personal or general business use. Genuine benefit programs (not business grants) are explained at official sites such as USA.gov- How to start and fund your own business, USA.gov-Government grants and loans, and Grants.gov. Where Government Grants Really Go Actual government grants for small businesses are rare, and almost all go to specific industries, research, or public purpose projects. Most government assistance for business is in the form of loans or grants to third-party nonprofits or agencies, which in turn provide help or funding to end-users. Minnesota Business Grant Programs A handful of competitive state programs do exist for Minnesota businesses, but these: • Are highly targeted (job creation, tech startups, agriculture, environment, exporting); • Have specific requirements (investment, job creation, industry type, innovation); • Do not give out money for general personal or startup use. Minnesota examples include: • Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED): Minnesota Job Creation Fund (JCF): Performance-based grants paid after hitting job creation/investment milestones in manufacturing, warehouse, or tech sectors; EXPORT/STEP Grants: For qualified companies seeking to expand out-of-state/global trade. • Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA): Dairy Business Planning, Specialty Crop Block Grant • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA): Brownfield Assessment Grant. Information on these appears in this publication in the section on “Financing / Tax Credits, State Sources”.
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