Home/South Carolina

Small Business Grants in South Carolina

South Carolina has positioned itself as one of the most competitive states in the Southeast for business growth. With major automotive and aerospace manufacturing, a booming tourism industry along the coast, and growing technology sectors in Charleston and Greenville, the state offers diverse opportunities for small business grant funding.

Economic Overview

South Carolina has approximately 430,000 small businesses employing over 760,000 workers. The economy has been transformed by major investments in automotive (BMW, Volvo, Mercedes-Benz vans), aerospace (Boeing), and advanced manufacturing. Charleston has emerged as a significant tech hub. Tourism along the coast generates billions in revenue. The state's cost of living and business operating costs are among the lowest in the Southeast.

State Grant Programs

The SC Department of Commerce offers the Closing Fund for business recruitment, workforce training through readySC, and various tax incentives. The SC Launch program provides funding for innovative startups. The SC SBDC has offices across the state. The SC Research Authority (SCRA) supports technology companies. Charleston Digital Corridor and Greenville's NEXT Innovation Center provide local startup support.

How to Apply

Contact the SC SBDC and visit the SC Department of Commerce website. Tech startups should connect with SC Launch and SCRA. readySC provides customized, free workforce training. In Charleston, the Digital Corridor is a key resource. 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 South Carolina offer?

SC offers SC Launch startup funding, readySC workforce training, SCRA technology support, tax incentives through the Department of Commerce, and federal SBIR/STTR and USDA programs.

Filter by City in South Carolina

lugoffabbevilleaikenallendaleandersonandrewsarcadiaarialawendawbambergbarnwellbatesburgbatesburg leesvillebeaufortbeltonbelvederebennettsvillebereabishopvilleblackvilleblacksburgblufftonblythewoodboiling springsboiling springsbonneau beachbrookdalebuffaloburnettownburtoncalhoun fallscamdencane savannahcatawbacaycecentervillecentervillecentralchapincharlestoncherawcherryvalechesterfieldchestercity viewclearwaterclemsonclintonclovercolumbiaconwaycowpensdalzelldarlingtondenmarkdentsvilledillondue westduncanduneaneasleyeast gaffneyeast sumteredgefieldedistoelginelginestilleureka millfairfaxfairforestfive forksflorencefolly beachforest acresforestbrookfort millfountain inngadsdengaffneyganttgarden citygastongeorgetownglovervillegolden grovegoose creekgranitevillegreat fallsgreenvillegreenwoodgreerhamptonhanahanhardeevillehartsvillehilton head islandhilton headholly hillhollywoodhonea pathhomeland parkhopkinsindia hookinmaninman millsirmoirwinisle of palmsivajacksonjoannajohnsonvillejohnstonjudsonkershawkiawah islandkingstreeladsonlake citylake secessionlake wylielakewoodlancasterlancaster milllandrumlangleylattalaurel baylaurensleesvillelesslielexingtonlibertylincolnvillelittle riverlorislymanmanningmarionmauldinmayomccollmccormickmeggettmoncks cornermount pleasantmullinsmurphys estatesmurrells inletmyrtle beachnew ellentonnewberrynewportninety sixnorth augustanorth charlestonnorth hartsvillenorth myrtle beachnorthlakeoak groveoaklandorangeburgpacoletpagelandpamplicoparkerpendletonpickenspiedmontpineridgeport royalpowdersvilleprivateerprosperityravenelred bankred hillred hillridgelandridgevillerock hillroebucksaint andrewssaint georgesaint matthewssaint stephensaludasangareesans soucisaxonseabrook islandsenecaseven oaksshell pointshell pointsimpsonvillesocasteesouth congareesouth sumtersouthern shopsspartanburgspringdalespringdalestateburgsullivans islandsummervillesumtersurfside beachtaylorstega caytigervilletimmonsvilletravelers restunionuticavalley fallsvarnvillewade hamptonwalhallawalterboroware shoalswarrenvillewedgefieldwedgewoodwelcomewellfordwest columbiawestminsterwhitmirewilkinson heightswilliamstonwillistonwinnsborowinnsboro millswoodfieldwoodruffyork

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