Business Grants Kicking Off the New Year in 2026

Kick Off the New Year with fresh momentum, new goals, and funding opportunities that can help your business grow in 2026. A new year brings renewed focus, smarter planning, and a chance to secure grant funding that supports expansion, innovation, and stability. For entrepreneurs and small business owners, especially those watching budgets closely, grants can turn early-year plans into real progress!

Smart nonprofits turn to GrantWatch to find available grants. The GrantWatch database is a trusted, up-to-date resource for finding active business grant opportunities in one centralized place. Instead of searching across dozens of websites, business owners can quickly identify grants that match their location, industry, and eligibility. In fact, there are currently 1700+ viable business grants accepting applications right now. With daily updates and detailed listings, GrantWatch helps entrepreneurs focus less on searching and more on applying for funding that can truly move their business forward in 2026.

Business Grants to Kick Off the New Year

Grants to Promote Internet Privacy, Security, and Accessibility

Grants for businesses to promote privacy, security, freedom, and accessibility in technology. Funding supports accessible and open technology projects that advance human rights, internet freedom, and open societies.

Opportunity to Design Better Grid System Feeders and Circuits

Opportunity for businesses to design better grid system feeders and circuits that respond to the evolving demands of power delivery. This program is intended to spur innovation in the electricity grid to meet the changing energy needs of the 21st century.

Grants and In-Kind Support to Improve Options for Food at Schools

Grants and in-kind support to farmers, small businesses, and food producers, suppliers, and distributors to improve options for food at schools. The awards improve children’s health with school meals and improve the local and regional school food system.

Grants to Enhance Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles

Grants to businesses to enhance infrastructure for electric vehicles. Funding provides public charging points and enhance their usage, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollutants. Workplaces and multifamily housing are highly encouraged to apply.

Emergency Assistance to Compensate Losses Due to Drought or Fire

Emergency assistance to livestock producers in regions impacted by grazing losses due to weather conditions. Eligible applicants are those located in counties affected by severe or extreme drought. Producers will be compensated for grazing losses due to drought or fire conditions.

Opportunity to Participate in a Business Development Program

Opportunity for veteran business owners to participate in a business development program. It assists veterans with successful reintegration into civilian life by providing them with coaching and tools in management, marketing, financial topics, and strategic planning for sustainable business growth.

Grants to Increase Public Engagement and Awareness

Grants to media outlets for reporting news stories. The program promotes the reporting of important but under-reported stories that pertain to all residents in local communities. Funding covers reporting, travel, essential data, or hiring additional staff.

Grants for Financial Assistance During Crises

Grants to booksellers, bookstore owners, and comic store employees and owners for financial assistance during crisis. The funding assists booksellers and comic retailers with unforeseen emergency financial needs. Assistance helps ameliorate a problem and move the individual back to financial equilibrium.

Grants for Projects to Benefit the Environment

Grants to startups and small and medium-sized enterprises for projects to benefit the environment. Funding is intended to support initiatives in the focus areas including renewable energy, sustainable materials, offshore wind, greener industries, and sustainable agrifood.

Contracts to Understand Patient Engagement in Medical Research

Contracts for services to for-profit organizations for research projects to understand patient engagement in medical research. This opportunity is focused on engagement of partners in research, i.e., the life-cycle of planning, conducting and disseminating research projects.

About GrantWatch

Libby Hikind, author of The Queen of Grants: From Teacher to Grant Writer to CEO, founded GrantWatch.com, the largest advanced grant search engine in the United States. The platform features over 10,000 active, verified, and human-curated grant opportunities in more than 60 funding categories. Additionally, it lists grants for nonprofits, grants for small businesses, grants for government agencies, and grants for Individuals.

GrantWatch also offers innovative funding tools like the AI Grant Writing Tool, AI Grant Searching Tool, and My Grant Calendar, making it easier to find grants, track deadlines, and draft proposals. Members can upgrade to MemberPlus+ for complete grant details, eligibility criteria, and application information. With 21 powerful features, live customer support, and weekly GrantTalk podcast episodes, GrantWatch is the go-to resource for finding grants and turning funding opportunities into awarded grants.

Libby is also the author of several children’s books and companion coloring books, available at libbyhikind.com.