Small Business Grants in Georgia
Georgia channels its small business support through the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Check the type before you apply.
Georgia channels its small business support through the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). Check the type before you apply. Each card states its funding type and status. The University of Georgia Small Business Development Center (UGA SBDC) provides free consulting through 18 offices statewide to help you identify and apply for funding.
Which Georgia 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.
Georgia Small Business Grant Programs
State-administered funding programs available to Georgia small businesses. Verify deadlines directly with the granting agency before applying.
Invest Atlanta Small Business Improvement Grant (SBIG)
Invest Atlanta
Up to $50,000
RollingGrants for interior and exterior improvements to small commercial properties located within one of seven City of Atlanta Tax Allocation Districts. Awardees must provide a match equal to at least 10% of the grant award.
Apply / Learn MoreOneGeorgia EDGE Fund
OneGeorgia Authority / GA Dept. of Community Affairs
Varies (recent awards: $750,000 to $2,300,000)
RollingProvides financial assistance to eligible rural communities competing with out-of-state locations for business relocation or expansion projects. Applications must be submitted by a local development authority with a recommendation from GDEcD.
Rural Site Development Initiative (RSDI)
OneGeorgia Authority / GA Dept. of Community Affairs
Up to $2,000,000 per community
RollingGrants support site studies, land grading, and infrastructure improvements for the Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) program. Over $21 million has been committed since the program launched in FY 2026.
Cobb County Entrepreneurship Grant Program
Cobb County Economic Development Office
Up to $10,000
Rolling (until funds are depleted)Available to businesses under seven years old operating in Cobb County. Funds can be used for marketing, equipment, furnishings, technology, renovations, and operating costs. Applicants must have completed an entrepreneurial program within the last five years.
Apply / Learn MoreOneGeorgia Equity Fund
OneGeorgia Authority / GA Dept. of Community Affairs
Varies by project
RollingProvides grants and loans to rural counties with high poverty rates for activities that promote economic development, including business support, infrastructure improvements, and job creation.
Athens Downtown Development Authority Grants
Athens Downtown Development Authority (ADDA)
Up to $10,000 (50% matching funds)
RollingOffers facade grants and interior renovation grants for small businesses in the downtown Athens historic district. Programs include the Janey Mae Cooley Facade Grant and the Business Reach Grant for Interior Renovation.
Apply / Learn MoreGeorgia Export Grant (Go Global Georgia)
Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD)
Up to $6,000 per company (75% reimbursement)
Deadline Sep 1, 2026Provides reimbursement funding to eligible Georgia exporters for pre-approved export activities, including trade show travel, marketing materials, and website globalization. Companies can apply for reimbursement on two export activities per grant period.
View program pageFederal 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 Georgia grant programs expect these basics to be in place.
Form your business entity
Most Georgia 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 Georgia.
Women-owned Business Grants
Georgia ranks in the top five states for female-owned firms. Invest Atlanta offers a Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative, and the Go Global Georgia Export Grant provides higher reimbursement rates (90%) for women-owned businesses classified as Small Business Communities.
- ›Invest Atlanta Women's Entrepreneurship Initiative
- ›Go Global Georgia Export Grant
Minority-owned Business Grants
The UGA SBDC provides targeted outreach and procurement assistance for minority entrepreneurs. Georgia law offers a 10% tax credit on payments to certified minority subcontractors, up to $100,000. The NAACP and Leslie's Certification Boost Grant helps cover costs for MBE certification.
- ›UGA SBDC Minority Business Outreach
- ›NAACP & Leslie's Certification Boost Grant
- ›Georgia Department of Revenue
Veteran-owned Business Grants
The Georgia Veterans Education Career Transition Resource Center (VECTR) supports veteran-owned businesses with entrepreneurship training, employment opportunities, and community services. Veteran-owned businesses also qualify for enhanced reimbursement rates under the Go Global Georgia Export Grant.
- ›Georgia VECTR Center
- ›Go Global Georgia Export Grant
Rural Business Grants
Rural Georgia businesses benefit from significant state investment through the OneGeorgia Authority, which offers EDGE Fund grants, Equity Fund grants, and the Rural Site Development Initiative. The OneGeorgia Authority has committed over $21 million to rural site development since FY 2026.
- ›OneGeorgia Authority
Technology/Innovation Business Grants
Tech-focused Georgia businesses can apply for federal SBIR and STTR grants, which fund research and development with commercialization potential. Georgia Tech's Enterprise Innovation Institute provides additional resources for technology commercialization and innovation.
- ›SBIR/STTR Program
- ›Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute
Tips for Applying in Georgia
Increase your chances of approval with these state-specific tips.
- 1Register your business with the Georgia Secretary of State and obtain a Georgia tax ID from the Department of Labor before applying for any state programs.
- 2Contact your nearest UGA SBDC office for free, confidential business consulting and help with grant applications. There are 18 offices across the state.
- 3For the Go Global Georgia Export Grant, submit your application at least 30 business days before your planned export activity. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
- 4Many Georgia programs are location-specific. Check whether your business falls within a qualifying Tax Allocation District, OneGeorgia-eligible rural county, or specific downtown development authority boundary before applying.
- 5Prepare a detailed business plan using the UGA SBDC's StartSmart program. Most grant applications will require financial projections, a clear growth strategy, and documentation of community impact.
State Economic Development Agency
Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD)
GDEcD is Georgia's lead agency for attracting new business investment, supporting small business expansion, locating new markets for Georgia products, and promoting the state for economic development.
Funding While You Wait
Grant applications in Georgia can take weeks or months to process. These options can bridge the gap.
Grants in Other States
All state grant guidesFrequently Asked Questions
Yes, Georgia offers several true grant programs that do not require repayment. The Go Global Georgia Export Grant provides reimbursement grants of up to $6,000 for export-related activities. The Cobb County Entrepreneurship Grant awards up to $10,000 to qualifying early-stage businesses. The Invest Atlanta Small Business Improvement Grant offers up to $50,000 for property improvements in designated Tax Allocation Districts. Unlike loans, none of these require repayment, though each has specific eligibility and usage requirements.
The Go Global Georgia Export Grant, administered by the Georgia Department of Economic Development, is one of the most accessible statewide programs. It reimburses 75% of eligible export expenses for Georgia businesses seeking to expand into international markets. For Atlanta-based businesses, the Invest Atlanta Small Business Improvement Grant (up to $50,000) is widely used. At the county level, the Cobb County Entrepreneurship Grant (up to $10,000) is a popular option for early-stage businesses.
Most Georgia grant programs do not require minority or women-owned certification to apply. However, having an MBE or WBE certification can provide advantages. For example, the Go Global Georgia Export Grant offers a higher reimbursement rate of 90% (vs. 75%) for businesses owned by minorities, women, or veterans. Georgia also provides a 10% tax credit for payments to certified minority subcontractors. The NAACP and Leslie's Certification Boost Grant can help cover the cost of obtaining these certifications.
Processing times vary by program. The Go Global Georgia Export Grant operates as a reimbursement program, so you receive funds after completing your approved export activity and submitting documentation. Invest Atlanta grants require a multi-step review process including a preliminary questionnaire, eligibility review, and committee evaluation, which can take several weeks to a few months. OneGeorgia Authority programs have scheduled application deadlines with pre-applications due 30 days before the full deadline. Plan for 60 to 120 days from application to funding for most programs.
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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 Georgia small business grants
2 comments
Simone Whitaker
August 31, 2026
I have been going round the economic development department's site looking for their small business grant and I cannot find an application anywhere. Am I looking in the wrong place on their site, or is there no such thing?
Richard MooreGeekdiys team
Senior Finance & Banking Editor · September 2, 2026
You are not missing a page. The department does not run a general cash grant for small businesses, which is why there is no form. What it does run is the export programme, plus a lot of connecting and advising, and that is a real offer if you sell overseas or want to. For everyone else the department is the wrong door. The money that a small business in Georgia can actually apply for tends to come from your city, your county or a development authority rather than from the state, so start local. It feels like a downgrade and it is usually the better odds.
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