Federal
Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC) Program Department of the Commerce Incentive: The Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC) Program is a fee-for-service initiative, providing a wide-range of direct business assistance services to eligible minority business enterprises (MBEs).
The MBEC provides standardized business assistance services to minority firms. Eligibility: Target clients are MBEs with $500,000 or more in annual revenues
and/or “rapid-growth potential” firms. Start-up and/or micro minority firms are served via referrals, strategic partnerships or electronic delivery.
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Funding
U.S. Department of Energy Department of Energy: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) provides a list of financial opportunities for business, industry, and universities. Past opportunities include: solar, geothermal, vehicle technology, biomass, hydrogen and fuel cell research.
To explore current EERE financial assistance solicitations and solicitation-related requests please click here:
Foreign Trade Zone Boards
Foreign Trade Zone Boards Department of Commerce Import Administration Incentive: A foreign-trade zone is a designated location in the United States where companies can use special procedures that help encourage U.S. activity and value added – in competition with foreign alternatives – by allowing delayed or reduced duty payments on foreign merchandise, as well as other savings.
Rural Development Energy Programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA Rural Development Energy Program offer funds to complete energy audits and feasibility studies, complete energy efficiency improvements, install renewable energy systems. Programs that help convert older heating sources to cleaner technologies, produce advanced biofuels, install flexible fuel pumps, install solar panels, build biorefineries, and much more. USDA Rural Development is at the forefront of renewable energy financing, with options including grants, guaranteed loans and payments.
Rural Development Energy Programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture Program assistance is provided in many ways, including direct or guaranteed loans, grants, technical assistance,
research and educational materials. Below are available programs:
SBA Exporting and Importing
Small businesses looking to increase sales and profit are taking their businesses global.
SBA provides counseling, training and financing to support small business export opportunities. >> SBA Exporting and Importing portal.
Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program
Department of Energy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) is soliciting research proposal for funding on topic that address issues related to: • Advanced Scientific Computing Research• Fusion Energy Sciences• Basic Energy Sciences• High Energy Physics• Biological and Environmental Research• Nuclear Physics• Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation For specific list of topics please refer to:
Startup America Partnership
The White House What: “Startup America” is a White House initiative to celebrate, inspire, and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation.
This coordinated public/private effort brings the country’s most innovative entrepreneurs, corporations, universities, foundations, and other
leaders with a wide range of federal agencies to increase the prevalence and success of America’s entrepreneurs. The Small Business Administration
(SBA) will commit $2 billion as a match to private sector investment over the next five years in promising high-growth companies.
Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative (SMI)
Department of the Commerce Incentive: The Sustainable Manufacturing Initiative (SMI) is a publicly accessible Web site that provides resources to help companies implement sustainable business practices that increase energy efficiency, reduce waste, and pollution and help them better manage resource and material inputs.
The SMI Sustainable Business Clearinghouse is the central government portal for businesses to access federal and state-level resources that support U.S. industry’s sustainability needs. And, SMARTs (Sustainable Manufacturing American Regional Tours) educate and inform companies.
Tax incentives in Renewal Communities (RCs) and Empowerment Zones (EZs)
Provides substantial tax incentives for businesses that hire local residents, upgrade their equipment needs, and build or rehabilitate commercial property, in designated Renewal Communities (RCs)
and Empowerment Zones (EZs). For additional information, go to:
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/economicdevelopment/programs/rc/businesses/
The Advocacy Center
The Advocacy Center Department of Commerce International Trade Administration The Advocacy Center provides technical assistance, counseling, and advocacy services to U.S. companies exporting their goods and services overseas. The office advocates on behalf of U.S. firms seeking to win foreign procurements and tenders abroad by bringing all appropriate federal government resources to bare. The Advocacy Center works directly with U.S. Embassy personnel worldwide and other key federal agencies, to ensure that U.S. firms can compete on a level playing field with international competitors.
The Export Yellow Pages (EYP)
The Export Yellow Pages (EYP) program provides affordable export trade advertising for U.S. firms, to attract new export trade contacts. It is an electronic directory of U.S. producers and export service providers. On the EYP online directory, U.S. firms can register basic information from their company profile
for free or they can upgrade their ad for a fee. Company profiles are accessible by international traders worldwide. Eligibility: Any U.S. firm interested in new export trade contacts can take advantage of this Commerce Department referral tool by visiting exportyellowpages.com.
The Office of Intellectual Property Rights (OIPR)
Department of the Commerce Incentive: The Office of Intellectual Property Rights (OIPR) provides counseling, special programs and tools to help U.S. companies to protect their intellectual property (such as patents or trademarks or copyrights) abroad. In addition,
the OIPR supports the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) in U.S. trade negotiations. The OIPR helps companies overcome problems they face protecting and enforcing their intellectual property rights overseas.
The office develops trade programs and tools to help U.S. businesses and citizens protect and enforce their IPR.
Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms
Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) is a federal program that provides financial assistance to manufacturers and service firms affected by import competition. Sponsored by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), this cost-sharing federal assistance program helps pay for projects that improve firms’ competitiveness.
Trade Information Center (TIC)
Trade Information Center (TIC) Department of the Commerce International Trade Administration Incentive: The Trade Information Center (TIC) provides export counseling to U.S. businesses and individuals by phone and via the Web. The TIC provides direct counseling to U.S. exporters and potential exporters. Also, the TIC is staffed by trade professionals with expertise in specific regions and industry sectors dedicated to working directly with U.S. companies to facilitate exports.
Trade Missions Program
Trade Missions Program Department of the Commerce International Trade Administration Incentive: The International Trade Administration (ITA) Trade Missions Program offers a proven, cost-effective tool for helping U.S. companies learn first-hand about global markets. The Trade Missions Program recruits U.S. companies whose goal is to export their products and services. These U.S.
U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs)
U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) Department of the Commerce International Trade Administration Incentive: U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs) provide front-line outreach and service operations for U.S. exporters.
There are International Trade specialists based in more than 100 USEACs located across the United States and Puerto Rico. The centers assist U.S. businesses that are new to exporting, want to expand to additional export markets, or want to increase their market share in existing markets.
U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Program
Through the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Program, a company can reduce their production, transaction, and logistics-related costs. Foreign-trade zones are secure areas under supervision of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection that are considered outside the customs territory of the United States for the purposes of duty payment. Located in or near customs ports of entry, they are the U.S. version of what are known internationally as free trade zones. The FTZ Program licenses local agencies in all 50 states and Puerto Rico to establish FTZ locations where foreign merchandise can be imported.
United States Trade Development Agency (USTDA)
USTDA is an independent U.S. Government foreign assistance agency that is funded by the U.S. Congress. Our mission is to help companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies.
USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries. USTDA provides grant funding to overseas project sponsors for the planning of projects that support the development of.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a Federal tax credit incentive that the Congress provides to private-sector businesses for hiring individuals from twelve target groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment.
The main objective of this program is to enable the targeted employees to gradually move from economic dependency into self-sufficiency as they earn a steady income and become contributing taxpayers, while the participating employers are compensated by being able to reduce their federal income tax liability.
