Home/Kentucky

Small Business Grants in Kentucky

Kentucky combines a rich entrepreneurial heritage with modern incentive programs designed to attract and grow businesses. The state's central eastern US location, competitive costs, and strengths in manufacturing, logistics, bourbon and distilling, healthcare, and technology create a diverse landscape for small business owners seeking grant funding.

Economic Overview

Kentucky has approximately 360,000 small businesses employing over 750,000 workers. The state's economy spans automotive manufacturing (Toyota's largest US plant is in Georgetown), logistics (UPS Worldport in Louisville), healthcare, bourbon production, agriculture, and a growing tech sector. Kentucky offers competitive tax incentives and one of the lowest costs of doing business in the eastern US.

State Grant Programs

The Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development offers programs including the Kentucky Business Investment (KBI) program, the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA), and workforce training through the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation. The Kentucky Innovation Network connects entrepreneurs with mentors and funding across the state. The Kentucky SBDC is based at the University of Kentucky. Louisville and Lexington both have active local grant and incentive programs.

How to Apply

Contact the Kentucky SBDC and the Kentucky Innovation Network. Visit the Cabinet for Economic Development website for state incentives. In Louisville, explore the Louisville Small Business Development and the entrepreneurial ecosystem around Louisville Forward. Register at SAM.gov for federal grants.

Featured Opportunities17 Active

National Association for the Self-EmployedSmall Business

Award Amount

$4,000 - $4,000

NASE Growth Grant 2025

National, US
Closes: Rolling
WomensNetSmall Business

Award Amount

$10,000 - $25,000

Amber Grant for Women

National, US
Closes: Monthly
National Science FoundationTechnology

Award Amount

$275,000 - $275,000

America's Seed Fund (SBIR Phase I)

National, US
Closes: Rolling
FedExSmall Business

Award Amount

$10,000 - $10,000

FedEx Entrepreneur Fund (Boost Camp)

National, US
Closes: 2025-11-21
USDAAgriculture

Award Amount

$10,000 - $500,000

Rural Business Development Grants

National, US
Closes: Varies
American ExpressSmall Business

Award Amount

$5,000 - $5,000

American Express Backing Small Business

National, US
Closes: 2025-04-07
SkipSmall Business

Award Amount

$1,000 - $1,000

Skip Monthly Business Grants

National, US
Closes: Monthly
IFundWomenSmall Business

Award Amount

$5,000 - $5,000

IFundWomen Universal Grant

National, US
Closes: Rolling
VerizonSmall Business

Award Amount

$10,000 - $10,000

Verizon Small Business Digital Ready

National, US
Closes: Rolling
PayPal / VenmoSmall Business

Award Amount

$10,000 - $10,000

Venmo Small Business Grant

National, US
Closes: Varies
LegalZoom / NBASmall Business

Award Amount

$10,000 - $10,000

LegalZoom Fast Break for Small Business

National, US
Closes: 2025-09-13
CartierSmall Business

Award Amount

$30,000 - $100,000

Cartier Women's Initiative

National, US
Closes: 2025-06-30
Boundless Futures FoundationSmall Business

Award Amount

$50,000 - $50,000

EmpowHer Grant

National, US
Closes: 2026-01-30
American ExpressSmall Business

Award Amount

$20,000 - $20,000

Amex Shop Small Grants

National, US
Closes: 2026-01-23
IntuitSmall Business

Award Amount

$20,000 - $20,000

Intuit Small Business Hero

National, US
Closes: 2026-02-14
SkipSmall Business

Award Amount

$10,000 - $10,000

Skip's $10k Kickoff Grant

National, US
Closes: 2026-01-31
BrevaSmall Business

Award Amount

$5,000 - $5,000

Breva Thrive Grant

National, US
Closes: 2026-01-31

Frequently Asked Questions

What grants does Kentucky offer small businesses?

Kentucky offers KBI incentives, KEIA tax credits, workforce training grants through Bluegrass State Skills Corporation, Kentucky Innovation Network support, and federal SBIR/STTR and USDA programs.

Filter by City in Kentucky

paducahalbanyalexandriaanchorageannvilleashlandauburnaudubon parkaugustabarbourmeadebarbourvillebardstownbardwellbeattyvillebeaver dambedfordbeechwood villagebellevuebentonbereabloomfieldboonevillebowling greenbrandenburgbreckinridge centerbrodheadbrooksbrooksvillebrownsvillebucknerbuechelburkesvilleburlingtoncadizcalhouncalvert citycamargocampbellsvillecamptoncarlislecarrolltoncatlettsburgcave citycentral cityclaryvilleclayclay cityclintoncloverportcoal run villagecold springcoldstreamcolumbiacorbincovingtoncrescent springscrestview hillscrestwoodcrittendencumberlandcynthianadanvilledawson springsdaytondixondouglass hillsdry ridgeearlingtoneddyvilleedgewoodedmontonelizabethtownelk creekelkforkelktonelsmereeminenceerlangerfairdalefalmouthfern creekflatwoodsflemingsburgflorencefort mitchellfort thomasfort wrightfrancisvillefrankfortfranklinfrenchburgfultongeorgetownglasgowgraymoor devondalegraysongreensburggreenupgreenvilleguthriehardinsburgharlanharrodsburghartfordhawesvillehazardhebronhebron estateshendersonhendronhickmanhighland heightshighviewhillviewhindmanhodgenvillehopkinsvillehorse cavehurstbourne acreshurstbournehydenindependenceindian hillsindian hills cherokee sectioninezironvilleirvineirvingtonjacksonjacksonjamestownjeffersontownjeffersonvillejenkinsjunction cityknottsvillela centerla grangelakeside parklancasterlawrenceburglebanonlebanon junctionledbetterleitchfieldlewisportlexingtonlexington fayettelibertylivermorelondonlouisalouisvilleludlowlyndonmadisonvillemanchestermarionmasonvillemassacmayfieldmaysvillemckeemeadsmiddlesboromiddletownmidwayheritage creekmonticellomoreheadmoreheadmorganfieldmorgantownmount olivetmount sterlingmount vernonmount vernonmount washingtonmunfordvillemurraynew castlenewburgnewportnicholasvillenorth corbinnorthfieldnortonvilleoak groveoak groveoakbrookokolonaolive hillorchard grass hillsowensboroowentonowingsvillepaintsvillepark hillsparispewee valleypikevillepine knotpinevillepioneer villageplanopleasure ridge parkprestonsburgprincetonprospectprovidenceprovidenceracelandradcliffreidlandrichmondrussellrussell springsrussellvilleryland heightssaint matthewssaint regis parksalyersvillesandy hookscottsvillesebreeshelbyvilleshepherdsvilleshivelysilver grovesimpsonvillesmithlandsomersetsouth shoresouthgatespringfieldsaint dennisstanfordstantonstearnssturgistaylor milltaylorsvilletompkinsvilleunionvan learvalley stationvanceburgveronaversaillesvilla hillsvine grovewaltonwarsawwatterson parkwest buechelwest libertywestwoodwhitesburgwhitley citywickliffewilderwilliamsburgwilliamstownwilmorewinchesterwindy hillsworthingtonworthington hillsworthingtonwurtland

Don't see a perfect match?

Most businesses rely on lines of credit rather than grants. Check your eligibility for up to $250k in fast funding.

Check Funding Eligibility
google-site-verification: hFvq7Ig-8a8Wzg6HA6uC_oLQn3Qz8UKC-6G2Bau_HWw