Small Business Grants in Tennessee
Tennessee has become one of the hottest states for business relocation and startup formation, driven by no personal income tax on wages, a central location, and booming metros in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Nashville in particular has attracted massive investment in healthcare, music and entertainment, technology, and hospitality. The state's grant programs support businesses across all these sectors and beyond.
Economic Overview
Tennessee has approximately 600,000 small businesses employing over 1.1 million workers. Nashville is a healthcare capital (HCA, community health systems), a music industry hub, and a rapidly growing tech and startup center. Memphis is a logistics powerhouse (FedEx headquarters). Chattanooga and Knoxville have growing tech and manufacturing sectors. Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, low property taxes, and a competitive business cost structure.
State Grant Programs
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) offers the FastTrack program (grants and loans for job creation and training), the Tennessee Small Business Development Center network, and various tax incentive programs. Launch Tennessee coordinates the state's startup ecosystem with regional entrepreneur centers across the state. The Tennessee Technology Development Corporation provides venture investments. Nashville, Memphis, and Chattanooga all have active local programs.
How to Apply
Visit TNECD website and contact the Tennessee SBDC. For startups, connect with Launch Tennessee and your regional entrepreneur center. Nashville entrepreneurs should explore the Nashville Entrepreneur Center. Register at SAM.gov for federal grants.
Featured Opportunities63 Active
Award Amount
$4,000 - $4,000
NASE Growth Grant
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
Amber Grant for Women
Award Amount
$275,000 - $305,000
NSF SBIR Phase I (America's Seed Fund)
Award Amount
$10,000 - $500,000
USDA Rural Business Development Grants
Award Amount
$1,000 - $10,000
Skip Monthly Business Grants
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
IFundWomen Universal Grant Application
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
Venmo Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$50,000 - $275,000
DOD SBIR Phase I
Award Amount
$150,000 - $293,297
NIH SBIR/STTR Phase I
Award Amount
$50,000 - $200,000
DOE SBIR/STTR Phase I
Award Amount
$50,000 - $100,000
EPA SBIR Phase I
Award Amount
$75,000 - $750,000
USDA Value-Added Producer Grant
Award Amount
$2,500 - $1,000,000
USDA Rural Energy for America (REAP)
Award Amount
$600,000 - $5,000,000
EDA Public Works Program
Award Amount
$150,000 - $2,500,000
EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance
Award Amount
$250,000 - $2,000,000
EDA Build to Scale (Venture Challenge)
Award Amount
$75,000 - $150,000
SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition
Award Amount
$50,000 - $4,500,000
SBA HUBZone Program
Award Amount
$50,000 - $4,500,000
SBA 8(a) Business Development Program
Award Amount
$50,000 - $4,500,000
SBA Women-Owned Small Business Contracting
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
Hello Alice Small Business Growth Fund
Award Amount
$20,000 - $20,000
Allstate Main Street Grants (Hello Alice)
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
Fund Her Future Grant (H&R Block)
Award Amount
$1,000 - $15,000
Kiva 0% Interest Microloans
Award Amount
$15,000 - $25,000
Amazon Business Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$2,000 - $350,000
Google for Startups Cloud Program
Award Amount
$20,000 - $20,000
Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Hero
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
Ladies Who Launch Program
Award Amount
$500 - $2,500
Freed Fellowship Grant
Award Amount
$25,000 - $100,000
MassChallenge Accelerator (Equity-Free)
Award Amount
$1,000 - $5,000
Southern Smoke Emergency Relief Fund
Award Amount
$30,000 - $100,000
Cartier Women's Initiative (2027 Cycle)
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
EmpowHer Grant
Award Amount
$7,500 - $7,500
Halstead Grant for Jewelry Designers
Award Amount
$15,000 - $15,000
Girlboss Foundation Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $5,000
Red Backpack Fund (Spanx Foundation)
Award Amount
$5,000 - $5,000
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows
Award Amount
$10,000 - $10,000
NAWBO / Mastercard Small Business Grants
Award Amount
$2,000 - $5,000
Second Service Foundation Veteran Awards
Award Amount
$10,000 - $25,000
Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $50,000
PenFed Foundation Veteran Entrepreneur Program
Award Amount
$25,000 - $25,000
NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant
Award Amount
$25,000 - $25,000
NAACP x L'Oreal Beauty Industry Grants
Award Amount
$10,000 - $20,000
Fearless Strivers Grant (Fearless Fund + Mastercard)
Award Amount
$1,500 - $5,000
First Nations Acorn Fund
Award Amount
$10,000 - $40,000
First Nations Native Food Sovereignty Grant
Award Amount
$10,000 - $50,000
NBMBAA Scale-Up Pitch Challenge
Award Amount
$5,000 - $10,000
SoGal Foundation Black Founder Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $5,000
DigitalUndivided Breakthrough Program
Award Amount
$5,000 - $10,000
NDI Small Business Hub (Disability Entrepreneurs)
Award Amount
$5,000 - $25,000
NAACP x BACARDI Backing the B.A.R.
Award Amount
$25,000 - $25,000
NAACP Power Forward Small Business Grant
Award Amount
$5,000 - $15,000
USHCC / Wells Fargo Hispanic Business Grants
Frequently Asked Questions
What grants does Tennessee offer small businesses?▼
Tennessee offers FastTrack grants and loans, Launch Tennessee startup support, regional entrepreneur center programs, workforce training grants, and federal SBIR/STTR and USDA programs. The state has no income tax on wages.
Grants by Group in Tennessee
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