Small Business Grants in Indiana
Indiana's best known small business grant is shut. INTAP closed its 2026 window on February 18.
Indiana's best known small business grant is shut. INTAP closed its 2026 window on February 18. No new cycle is posted. One state grant is still open. It pays back about half of what you spend on staff training. The rest here is a loan, an equity stake or a tax credit. Read the type on each card.
Which Indiana grants fit your business?
Answer 7 quick questions and we sort the 11 programs on this page into likely fits and long shots. Nothing personal is asked or stored, and final eligibility is always decided by the granting agency.
Indiana Small Business Grant Programs
State-administered funding programs available to Indiana small businesses. Verify deadlines directly with the granting agency before applying.
Legend Fund (SSBCI Loan Participation Program)
Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)
Up to $29M distributed statewide
RollingA loan participation program distributing up to $29 million through mission-driven local lenders to increase lending to Indiana small businesses. At least 37% of funding is dedicated to traditionally underserved businesses, including minority-owned and women-owned enterprises.
Status check, Program runs until 2031 or until funding runs out. Rolling applications accepted through participating lenders. Small businesses can pre-apply with compatible lenders.
Automated check, Aug 19, 2026
Community Collaboration Fund (CCF)
Indiana Commerce Office / IEDC
$5,000 - $40,000
RollingMatching grants for entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) to create new community collaborations, services, and programming that benefit Indiana's entrepreneurial ecosystem. In 2026, $925,107 was awarded across 28 community-led projects statewide.
Status check, The 2026 CCF application window ran February 1 to March 2, 2026 at 5:00 PM EST and has closed. No 2027 cycle or new open window has been announced.
Apply / Learn MoreAutomated check, Aug 22, 2026
Skills Enhancement Fund (SEF)
Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)
Typically 50% of eligible training costs
RollingReimburses a portion of eligible training costs, typically 50 percent, over two full calendar years from the start of the project. The IEDC weighs each project on whether the training supports new capital investment in Indiana and the retention or creation of full time permanent jobs. Training has to lead to a post secondary or nationally recognized credential, or be specialized company training, and existing employees have to get a pay rise. One catch the program page does not mention, the IEDC fact sheet says a signed training grant contract carries annual reporting for roughly seven years.
Status check, SEF is active with no fixed deadline, accepting applications on a rolling/project basis. IEDC official page and regional partners describe it as a current incentive with no closure, pause, or sunset language found.
Apply / Learn MoreAutomated check, Aug 19, 2026
EDGE Tax Credit
Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)
Up to 100% of new withholdings (up to 20 years)
RollingA refundable corporate income tax credit for businesses creating new jobs and making capital investments in Indiana. The credit is calculated as a percentage of expected increased tax withholdings from new job creation and can be phased in annually for up to 20 years.
Status check, The EDGE Tax Credit program provides refundable corporate income tax credits for job creation and capital investment. The page describes the program as active with no application deadline specified. Rolling basis confirmed.
Apply / Learn MoreAutomated check, Aug 19, 2026
Indiana Technical Assistance Program (INTAP)
Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Up to $15,000
Deadline Feb 18, 2026An annual program providing up to $15,000 in professional services from a qualified vendor to help small businesses complete growth and improvement projects. Eligible projects include technology development, intellectual property legal assistance, and SBIR/STTR grant writing.
Status check, The 2026 application cycle closed February 18th at 4:59 PM ET. Projects were to be completed July through December 2026. No new cycle announced yet.
View program pageAutomated check, Aug 17, 2026
Manufacturing Readiness Grants
IEDC / Conexus Indiana
Matching grants (1:1 investment match)
ClosedMatching grants for Indiana manufacturers investing in smart technologies such as automation, robotics, 3D printing, and data analytics. Since 2020, $57 million in grants have been awarded through 526 awards in 79 counties. The program is not currently accepting applications.
Status check, The page explicitly states The Manufacturing Readiness Grants program is not accepting applications for the foreseeable future. The program ran through July 2021 to June 2025 per the state budget appropriation.
View program pageAutomated check, Aug 19, 2026
State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Venture Capital
IEDC / Elevate Ventures
Up to $99M allocated statewide
Indiana received $99 million in federal SSBCI funding to expand venture capital investments for early-revenue companies. Investments are made through Elevate Ventures, the state's venture development partner, in pre-seed, seed, and early-stage funding rounds.
Status check, Indiana SSBCI venture capital program is active and ongoing, with IEDC stating it runs until 2031 or until funding is exhausted. No fixed application deadline is posted; access is rolling. No pauses or closures reported.
Automated check, Aug 26, 2026
Federal Grant Programs
These federal programs are available to small businesses in every state.
SBA 7(a) Loan Program
The SBA's primary lending program guarantees loans through participating lenders. This is a loan, not a grant. But the terms favor small businesses that may not qualify for conventional financing.
Status check, This is a loan program, not a grant. The 7(a) Loan Program provides loan guarantees to lenders for small business loans up to $5 million. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis through participating SBA lenders.
Learn moreAutomated check, Aug 25, 2026
SBA Microloan Program
Loans up to $50,000, not grants. You borrow from a nonprofit lender near you, not from the SBA itself. The money can cover working capital, inventory, supplies or equipment. Most people get far less than the cap. The average microloan is about $13,000.
Status check, Verified July 30, 2026 at sba.gov. Rates run 8 to 13 percent. The longest term allowed is seven years. Your lender sets both, not the SBA, so two owners can be quoted very different deals. There is no deadline. You apply through an SBA approved lender in your area.
Learn moreAutomated check, Aug 21, 2026
SBIR/STTR Grants
Competitive federal grants for small businesses doing research and development with commercial potential. Eleven federal agencies take part. Phase I funds proof of concept. Phase II funds full development.
Status check, Verified July 30, 2026 at sbir.gov. Two different figures get quoted for this program and both are real. As of April 2026 an agency may award up to $323,090 at Phase I and up to $2,153,927 at Phase II without SBA approval, and anything above that needs a waiver. Those are ceilings, not typical awards. Each agency sets its own amounts in its own solicitation, and the sbir.gov agency table currently runs from $50,000 to $300,000 at Phase I and $400,000 to $1.83 million at Phase II. There is no single deadline. You apply through a participating agency.
Learn moreAutomated check, Aug 21, 2026
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Programs
Help for minority owned businesses that need capital, contracts or new markets. MBDA runs business centers around the country. They give advice, help with bids, and point you toward lenders.
Status check, The business centers still run. The grants are a different story. Those windows are short, and they fund groups rather than single businesses. The last one we could find closed in February 2025. We found no open MBDA grant that a small business can apply for today.
View program pageAutomated check, Aug 19, 2026
Get Grant-Ready
Before you apply, most Indiana grant programs expect these basics to be in place.
Form your business entity
Most Indiana grant programs require applicants to be a registered LLC, corporation, or nonprofit. If you haven't formed yet, that's the first step.
$39 + state fee. Includes registered agent, business address, and more.
Get your EIN
An Employer Identification Number is free from the IRS and required on nearly every grant application. You can apply online and receive it immediately.
Open a business bank account
Grant funds need to go into a dedicated business account, not your personal checking. Most agencies will ask for your banking details on the application.
Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.
Grants by Business Type
Targeted programs for specific business owners in Indiana.
Minority-owned Business Grants
The IEDC runs a Minority Business Initiative. It helps you get certified and bid for state work. The IEDC also commits at least 37 percent of its SSBCI funding to underserved businesses. The Legend Fund is the main route in. That is a loan, not a grant. Lenders in the program write between $5,000 and $1,000,000.
- ›Indiana Minority Business Initiative
- ›Legend Fund (SSBCI)
- ›Division of Supplier Diversity
Women-owned Business Grants
Start with WBE certification. The Division of Supplier Diversity issues it. It sits inside the Indiana Department of Administration, and the badge opens state contract set asides. The Central Indiana Women's Business Center is the other stop. The SBA runs it with the Indy Chamber. It coaches owners and points them to capital between $1,000 and $50,000. No state program on this page is women only.
- ›Central Indiana Women's Business Center
- ›Division of Supplier Diversity
- ›Legend Fund (SSBCI)
Veteran-owned Business Grants
Indiana certifies veteran owned small businesses. The IVOSB program runs through the Division of Supplier Diversity. It opens state work to you. Federal set asides need SBA VetCert instead. Both are badges, not money.
- ›IVOSB Certification Program
- ›Division of Supplier Diversity
- ›SBA VetCert
Rural Business Grants
The SBDC has 10 regional offices. Signing up as a client is free, and it is the gate to INTAP. Rural manufacturers have lost more ground than most. Manufacturing Readiness Grants are not taking applications. The Community Collaboration Fund closed its window in March, and it paid for rural projects.
- ›Indiana SBDC Regional Offices
- ›Manufacturing Readiness Grants
Technology/Innovation Business Grants
This is where Indiana's real money sits. The state has put $99 million into venture capital. It runs through Elevate Ventures, Indiana's venture partner, at pre seed, seed and early stage. That is equity, not a grant. You sell a piece of the company. SBIR and STTR are the federal grant route for research work.
- ›SSBCI Venture Capital
- ›Elevate Ventures
- ›Certified Technology Parks
Tips for Applying in Indiana
Increase your chances of approval with these state-specific tips.
- 1Register the business first. The Indiana Secretary of State does this through INBiz, at inbiz.in.gov. Every state program expects to see the listing.
- 2Get in with the SBDC early. There are 10 regional offices and they cost nothing. Advisor slots run two to four weeks out. INTAP's 2026 round gave applicants a month, January 16 to February 18.
- 3Certification is leverage. Minority, women and veteran owners can register as MBE, WBE or IVOSB. The Division of Supplier Diversity runs it, and it opens state work.
- 4Have the paperwork ready. Most programs ask for a business plan, recent financials and tax returns. They also want proof the business is registered in Indiana. The windows are short.
- 5Watch the calendar. INTAP opens in January with a February deadline. Manufacturing Readiness Grants reopen only if the General Assembly votes new money.
State Economic Development Agency
Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)
The IEDC is Indiana's primary economic development agency, managing tax credits, workforce training grants, innovation and entrepreneurship resources, and capital access programs for small businesses statewide.
Funding While You Wait
Grant applications in Indiana can take weeks or months to process. These options can bridge the gap.
Grants in Other States
All state grant guidesFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, but most are shut. The Skills Enhancement Fund is the only open state grant. It pays back about half of what you spend on training, so the money leaves your account first. INTAP covers up to $15,000 of a vendor's fee. It closed on February 18 and has no new cycle posted. Manufacturing Readiness Grants are not taking applications. The Community Collaboration Fund closed in March, and it funds support groups rather than businesses.
INTAP is the one most owners want. It pays up to $15,000 straight to a professional vendor for a growth project. It runs once a year. The 2026 round opened January 16 and closed February 18. You have to be an Indiana SBDC client to apply. Advisor slots run two to four weeks out, so the work starts in the fall. The Skills Enhancement Fund is the only state grant open right now, and it suits an employer training staff around new spending.
No. INTAP and the Manufacturing Readiness Grants are open to any eligible Indiana business. Certification does different work. MBE, WBE and IVOSB status opens state contract set asides. The Division of Supplier Diversity runs those badges, and the IEDC advises on getting one.
Longer than most people plan for. INTAP told applicants in mid April. Contracts were signed in May and June. Project work has to finish between July and December. So a February application pays out over the second half of the year. The money goes to your vendor, not to you. It is paid in arrears, for work already done. Anything unspent by year end is lost.
About the Author
Senior Finance & Banking Editor
Richard is the veteran anchor of the site's financial content. Raised in the Midwest and starting his career in Chicago's commercial banking sector, he spent over a decade underwriting small business loans before moving into financial journalism. He doesn't get swept up in startup hype; he cares about unit economics, APYs, and fee structures.
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Grant programs change frequently. Deadlines, eligibility requirements, and funding amounts listed here may be outdated. Always verify information directly with the granting agency before applying. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice.
Questions about Indiana small business grants
2 comments
Lena tabb
July 8, 2026
Is there any grants available to a woman in her 50’s who wants to open a laundromat?
Richard MooreStartupOwl team
Senior Finance & Banking Editor · July 8, 2026
Hi Lena, good question, and I'll give you the honest version rather than the hopeful one. There is no grant anywhere that exists specifically for laundromats, and none of Indiana's open-to-any-industry programs are taking applications right now (we recheck every program on this page weekly, so it will update the moment one reopens). Your age makes no difference at all, no program checks it. Being a woman does help you in one real way here. The Legend Fund, run by the IEDC, is open on a rolling basis and gives priority to women-owned businesses. It is a loan rather than a grant, but honestly that is the realistic path for a laundromat. They are equipment-heavy builds, and most people fund them with an SBA loan (microloans up to $50,000, the 7(a) for bigger build-outs) plus financing from the machine manufacturers, then treat any grant as a bonus on top. The national women-focused grants are collected in our small business grants for women guide in the Fund section. One practical tip before applying for anything, register the LLC and open a business bank account first, every program on this page expects both. Good luck, a well-placed laundromat is a genuinely solid business.
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