Small Business Grants in New Hampshire
New Hampshire's open state grants suit very different firms. STEP pays back 80 percent of an export project, up to $7,500 or $8,000 depending on the award year.
New Hampshire's open state grants suit very different firms. STEP pays back 80 percent of an export project, up to $7,500 or $8,000 depending on the award year. WorkInvestNH pays half the cost of training your staff. CDFA's Small Business Energy Audit Fund covers 75 percent of an energy audit for rural firms and farms. All three take applications all year, so applying early beats waiting for a deadline. The rest of the state money runs through two agencies, and not all of it is a grant, so each card says which it is. If you run a tourism body, the Joint Promotional Program takes its next round on 23 September 2026.
Which New Hampshire grants fit your business?
Answer 7 quick questions and we sort the 13 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.
New Hampshire Small Business Grant Programs
State-administered funding programs available to New Hampshire small businesses. Verify deadlines directly with the granting agency before applying.
State Trade Expansion Program (STEP)
NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs
$7,500 - $8,000
RollingReimburses up to 80% of eligible export promotion costs, including trade show participation, international marketing materials, website translation, and export consulting services.
WorkInvestNH Job Training Grant
New Hampshire Employment Security
50% of training costs, over $70,000 needs Governor and Council sign off
RollingPays half the cost of training your existing staff, and staff you hire before the training starts. You need a New Hampshire place of business and you must pay quarterly unemployment tax to the state. There is no published ceiling. Requests of $70,000 or more have to go to the Governor and Executive Council, which adds about three months. Budget 60 days from applying to a signed contract, and no training can start until that contract is signed.
Small Business Energy Audit Fund
Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA)
75% of the audit cost, CDFA publishes no cap
Rolling, first come first servedA small grant that pays for finding out where your energy money goes. CDFA covers 75 percent of the cost of a comprehensive energy audit for New Hampshire rural small businesses and agricultural producers, and the audit is meant to lead into efficiency or renewable work rather than sit in a drawer. Two eligibility points decide most applications. You must be a for-profit business in good standing with a New Hampshire place of business, small by the SBA size standard for your industry, and in a rural area under the USDA rural eligibility map. Agricultural producers are exempt from the rural test. Funds cover commercial space only, though a mixed use building can claim the commercial share. Applications sit on CDFA's grants management system all year and money goes first come, first served, so applying early in the year matters more than any deadline. CDFA does not publish an award cap.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Microenterprise Program
Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA)
$2,000 - $2,500
RollingProvides grants to microbusinesses with five or fewer employees for training, working capital, and technical assistance. Funds are distributed through local organizations such as the Hannah Grimes Center and River Valley Community College.
CDBG Economic Development Grants
Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA)
Up to $500,000
RollingSupports job creation and economic development projects including land and building acquisition, commercial construction, equipment purchases, and employee training. Funds are awarded through municipalities.
Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) Catalyst Program
Northern Border Regional Commission
Up to $1,000,000
Deadline Oct 16, 2026Supports infrastructure, workforce development, and economic development projects in eligible northern New Hampshire counties. Multi-jurisdictional projects may receive up to $3 million.
New Hampshire Joint Promotional Program (JPP)
NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs
Varies
FY2027 rounds, September 23 2026, November 18 2026 and January 27 2027Provides funding to invest in tourism promotional initiatives developed by groups and organizations encouraging quality out-of-state and in-state promotion projects.
CDFA Tax Credit Program
Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA)
Up to $5,000,000 annually (total pool)
RollingAwards approximately $5 million in tax credits annually to nonprofits for community and economic development. NH businesses can purchase credits and receive a 75% state tax credit against their contribution.
Paper and Pulp Manufacturing Industry Stabilization Program
NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs
Varies
Closed March 15, 2024, the programme has endedThis program has closed. Applications for New Hampshire's Paper and Pulp Manufacturing Industry Stabilization Program shut at 4pm on March 15, 2024, and awards were notified that same month. It was a one time reimbursement program for pulp, paper and paperboard manufacturers, covering equipment, construction, energy and environmental remediation costs. It has not reopened.
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.
Learn moreSBA 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.
Learn moreSBIR/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.
Learn moreMinority 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.
Learn moreGet Grant-Ready
Before you apply, most New Hampshire grant programs expect these basics to be in place.
Form your business entity
Most New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire.
Women-owned Business Grants
No state grant here is women only. WomensNet gives three $10,000 Amber Grants a month to women-owned firms across the country. Three of its monthly winners take $50,000 at year end. The NH SBDC advises for free.
- ›WomensNet Amber Grant
- ›NH Small Business Development Center
Rural Business Grants
Start with the energy audit fund. CDFA pays 75 percent of an energy audit for rural firms. Farms skip the rural test. Northern counties sit inside the NBRC Catalyst Program, but a town or a non-profit applies for that, not a business.
- ›CDFA Small Business Energy Audit Fund
- ›NBRC Catalyst Program
Minority-owned Business Grants
No state grant here is minority only. CDBG money can reach minority owners. Your town applies for it, not you. The federal MBDA runs business centres that advise and help with bids.
- ›CDBG Microenterprise Program, through your town
- ›Minority Business Development Agency
Technology/Innovation Business Grants
There is no state innovation grant. Federal SBIR and STTR money is the main door for research. The state Business Finance Authority backs venture funds instead. Two are Vox Health Fund and Millworks Fund II, both in life sciences and digital health.
- ›Federal SBIR and STTR programs
- ›NH Business Finance Authority
Tips for Applying in New Hampshire
Increase your chances of approval with these state-specific tips.
- 1Get a State of New Hampshire vendor number before you apply for any state grant.
- 2CDBG money goes to your town, not to you. Ask your municipality, or a partner like the Hannah Grimes Center, whether it holds an award.
- 3Call the NH Small Business Development Center first. The advising is free and an adviser will sharpen your application.
- 4For STEP, get your quotes and export budget together before you apply. Trade show costs and marketing quotes are what they ask for.
- 5Apply early in the year. CDFA works through its online system and its deadlines are 4pm sharp.
State Economic Development Agency
New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA)
BEA serves as New Hampshire's single point of contact for businesses at all stages, managing grant programs for export assistance, workforce training, tourism promotion, and economic development.
Funding While You Wait
Grant applications in New Hampshire can take weeks or months to process. These options can bridge the gap.
Grants in Other States
All state grant guidesFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. STEP pays back 80 percent of an export project, up to $7,500 or $8,000. WorkInvestNH pays half the cost of training your staff, with no published ceiling. CDFA's Small Business Energy Audit Fund covers 75 percent of an energy audit for rural firms and farms. None of the three is repaid. CDBG microenterprise money is a grant too, but your town applies for it and decides who gets it.
For exporters it is STEP, which pays back 80 percent of a project up to $7,500 or $8,000. For anyone training staff it is WorkInvestNH, which covers half the bill. Rural firms and farms should look at the energy audit fund. People name the CDBG microenterprise grant most often, and the thing to know is that CDFA awards that money to towns, so you apply through your municipality.
No. STEP, WorkInvestNH and the energy audit fund are open to any eligible New Hampshire business, whoever owns it. Certification can help with some federal programmes and with the MBDA business centres, but no state grant here asks for it.
Plan on 60 to 120 days. WorkInvestNH says 60 days from applying to a signed contract, and about three months more if you ask for $70,000 or over, because that needs the Governor and Council. STEP and the energy audit fund both pay on reimbursement, so you spend first and claim it back. CDFA runs its applications through an online system with hard 4pm deadlines.
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 New Hampshire small business grants
1 comment
Perrin Hatch
September 14, 2026
One item here is $2,000 to $2,500 and the one under it is up to $1,000,000. Those cannot be aimed at the same kind of business. How do I tell which half of this list is meant for a company my size?
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