Smart Start Business Development Grant

The Smart Start Business Development Grant Program is designed to provide 金融 support for new and recently established startups and small businesses to assist with expanding entrepreneurial opportunity, 业务弹性, 组织发展.

符合条件的申请者:

• New and recently established for-profit small businesses and non-profit organizations with operations based in the 财富坊cff999市
• Available to businesses that have been in operation for 0-3 years (as evidenced by a 财富坊cff999市 business license)
• Available to businesses with 10 full-time equivalent (FTE) or fewer positions
• 本地实体, 状态, 或者联邦政府, 宗教组织, and residential-use businesses are prohibited from applying.
• Businesses current with 财富坊cff999市 taxes and fees

最高奖助金:2,000美元

格兰特参数:

• Grant funds must be expended within 90 days of award
• Recipients of the Smart Start Business Development Grant may only receive funding one time under the program. No more than two grant applications may be submitted per business principal within a five-year period.
• 完成 Santa Clara University's My Own Business Plan Institute (MOBI) online course or provide documentation of completion of an approved equivalent certification course

应用程序s for the 2024 Fiscal year are accepted according to the submission schedule below.

应用程序s received after the cutoff date will be considered by the Portsmouth EDA in the following round.

第一轮: 2022年7月1日至31日开放
第二轮: 2023年10月1日至31日开放
第三轮: 开放时间为2024年1月1日至31日
轮4: 2024年4月1日至30日开放

The Smart Start Business Development Grant application is a four-step process. All applicants must first complete the Portsmouth@Work Smart Start Entrepreneurship 培训 Program or Santa Clara University's My Own Business Plan Institute (MOBI) online course, or provide documentation of completion of an approved equivalent certification course.

Upon completion of the required coursework, the completed Smart Start Business Development Grant application is to be submitted to Portsmouth Economic Development for review and is not considered submitted if incomplete. Completed applications (those containing all required documentation) will be reviewed to determine completion status and adherence with program guidelines.

Approval or denial of an application lies within the discretion of the Portsmouth 经济发展局's (EDA) Board of Commissioners, considering factors such as the degree to which the business activities contemplated by the application further the goals of the program, the degree of the need for the funding, 所要求的经费数额, the amount of program funds remaining for the fiscal year, and any other factors the Board of Commissioners may deem relevant.

当申请被批准时, the applicant will enter into a Grant Agreement with the Portsmouth EDA, agreeing to accept the approved grant funds. If the grantee needs to make any changes to the use of grant funds as proposed in the application, the grantee must notify Portsmouth Economic Development in writing in advance of the changes.

The Smart Start Business Development Grant is funded entirely by the Portsmouth 经济发展局 (EDA). Eligible activities are only those under Section V of these Guidelines and must directly and primarily benefit the business for which the Grant award is received. The maximum grant amount available for any approved application is $2,000. Recipients of the Smart Start Business Development Grant may only receive funding one time under the program. No more than two grant applications may be submitted per business principal within a five-year period.

Funding is available until the funding pool has been exhausted each fiscal year as appropriated.

All recipients are required to enter into a Grant Agreement with the Portsmouth EDA. Recipients have 30 days to begin eligible business activities and 90 days to complete them. Extensions for an additional 90 days may be granted on a case-by-case basis

• Professional and third-party services to assist in establishing a business including legal, 金融, 会计, 市场营销, 社交媒体, 电子商务, 等.
• Small scale production/manufacturing equipment, machinery, tools, 等.
• Technology and digital infrastructure (hardware, software, digital platforms, 等.)
• 商务家具及固定装置

• 工资、福利、工资费用
• 租金、偿债
• Operating costs (utilities, insurance, 等.)
• 房地产改善
• 供应及存货
• 民用家具
• Decorative items (wall art, decor, 等.)

All documentation must be submitted by the close of the grant application round.

• 填妥的国税局表格W-9
• Copy of 财富坊cff999市 business license
• Copy of "Articles of Organization" from the Virginia SCC
• 完成的文件 Santa Clara University's MOBI online course or of an approved equivalent certification course
• Complete business plan that includes an explanation of use of grant funding and 金融 状态ments using the MOBI商业计划模板 
• Two quotes per product/service you will purchase with grant funding