NYC Small Business Grants and Programs
General information about how this works in New York City — not financial, tax, or legal advice, and not an offer of credit. lender.nyc is not a lender or a mortgage broker and is not licensed by NY DFS.
Read this first: status changes faster than any guide
Nearly every program below has an application window, an appropriation, or both — and both close. A program that was funded in the spring can be exhausted by the fall, and a page that still exists may describe a round that has ended. Treat the agency’s own page, linked for each entry, as the only authority on current status. Everything here was checked in August 2026 and is described with the figures the agency itself publishes.
One more framing point that saves wasted effort: most public money reaching an individual NYC small business is subsidized debt, not a grant. The published grant programs at the city level mostly fund business improvement districts and community development organizations, not individual storefronts. Plan around cheap capital and free technical assistance, and treat any true grant you find as a bonus.
NYC Department of Small Business Services
NYC Small Business Services is the front door. Its most consistently valuable offerings are free rather than financial.
NYC Business Solutions Centers. Free, in-person help across the boroughs with financing applications, business planning, hiring and compliance. The financing assistance is genuinely hands-on — staff help assemble the package lenders ask for. Hotline: 888-SBS-4NYC.
Free legal help. SBS connects businesses to no-cost one-on-one legal services covering entity structure, employment law and — most valuably in New York — commercial lease review. If you are about to sign a fifteen-year lease with a personal guaranty, this is the highest-value free service the city offers.
Free business courses. Core entrepreneurship topics including business planning and financing, offered in multiple languages including Spanish, Chinese and Russian, plus the multi-session FastTrac bootcamps.
NYC Future Fund. The city’s flagship small business lending program. Per the Mayor’s Office release of March 2026, the fund was relaunched at $80 million with the minimum loan reduced from $100,500 to $25,000, the interest rate reduced from 9% to 7.5%, and the minimum annual revenue requirement reduced from $300,000 to $50,000. Per the program page, loans run $25,000 to $500,000 at a stated 7.5% annual rate, structured as revenue-based financing where principal repayment scales with monthly revenue. Stated eligibility: at least 12 months in business, at least one year of filed tax returns, and $50,000 or more in historical or projected annual revenue. Funds may be used for working capital, inventory, marketing, hiring, materials, small equipment and refinancing. The city does not lend directly; applicants are routed to a participating lender.
Cannabis NYC Loan Fund. Per an SBS and NYCEDC release dated April 2026, the fund was expanded with a stated application window running through May 25, 2026 and more than $6 million in additional funding expected to deploy. That stated window has passed — check current status on the SBS page before assuming a new round is open.
Small BID Support Grants and Strategic Impact Grants. Both published at up to $100,000 for fiscal year 2027, with application deadlines in May 2026 that have passed. Note the eligibility: these fund business improvement districts and community development organizations for commercial revitalization work, not individual businesses. Check current status for the next cycle.
NYCEDC
Neighborhood Credit Fund. Loans and lines of credit up to $250,000 for small local businesses looking to expand operations and create jobs.
New Markets Revolving Loan Fund. Loans limited to small businesses and micro-entrepreneurs in low-income communities as defined by the U.S. Treasury CDFI Fund, delivered through partner lenders. Check current status and current delivery partners — the listed partners have changed over time.
Empire State Development
ESD’s Division of Small Business publishes a long program list. Most are loans or credit enhancements delivered through banks and community lenders, not direct grants.
| ESD program | Type | Published amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYS Small Business Revolving Loan Fund (Round 2) | Loan | Up to $250,000 | Expenses, payroll, equipment, real estate improvements |
| Regional Revolving Loan Trust Fund | Loan | Up to $100,000 | Working capital for established businesses |
| Main Street Capital Loan Fund | Loan | Up to $100,000 | Startup and early-stage |
| CDFI Revolving Loan Fund | Loan | $500–$25,000 | Working capital via community lenders |
| Loan Guarantee Program | Guarantee | Up to 80% | Reduces lender risk rather than funding you directly |
| Capital Access Program | Portfolio insurance | Not published | Makes bank approval more likely |
| Linked Deposit Program | Interest subsidy | Not published | Lowers the rate on a qualifying bank loan |
| NYS Contractor Financing Program | Loan | Not published | Purchase orders, payroll, supplier bills |
| Surety Bond Assistance Program | Guarantee + assistance | Not published | For government contract work |
| SSBCI Technical Assistance Program | Free assistance | Free | Legal, accounting and financial services |
| Innovation Matching Grants | Grant | Not published | Matches federal SBIR/STTR awards |
| Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers | Free assistance | Free | Training, counseling, technical assistance |
Amounts above are as published on ESD’s program list; confirm on each individual program page, which states current open status.
MWBE programs
New York State MWBE certification is the gateway to a distinct set of state opportunities, principally contracting access. Per ESD’s eligibility page, the firm must be independently owned, operated and controlled by minority group members and/or women who exercise day-to-day control; each owner on whom certification is based must have a personal net worth at or below $15 million after allowable deductions, adjusted annually for inflation; the firm must not employ more than 300 people; it must generally have operated for at least one year; and it must hold Authority to do Business in New York State. Application is free and runs through the Empire State MWBE Hub.
The MWBE Development and Lending Program provides financial assistance to certified MWBEs through linked deposits, revolving loan trust funds, business development and franchise loans, loan guarantees and incubator assistance, delivered with local and regional partners. Dollar ranges are not published on the program page; contact your ESD regional office. ESD also runs the MWBE Business Growth Accelerator, whose current iteration targets construction-sector firms with annual revenues between $500,000 and $5 million — check current cohort status.
Federal: SBA programs delivered locally
SBA does not lend directly. Everything below reaches a NYC business through a local bank, credit union, CDC or nonprofit intermediary.
Microloans. Up to $50,000, with an average loan around $13,000, terms up to seven years and rates generally between 8% and 13% per SBA. Usable for working capital, inventory, supplies, furniture, fixtures, machinery and equipment — but not to repay existing debt or buy real estate. Delivered by SBA-designated nonprofit community-based intermediaries, several of which operate across New York City. The intermediary makes the credit decision and sets the terms.
7(a) and 504. Per SBA’s program pages, 7(a) tops out at $5 million and 504 at $5.5 million. Per an SBA announcement dated July 7, 2026, the cumulative limit across both was raised to $10 million effective July 4, 2026.
Community Advantage SBLCs. These mission-oriented lenders make 7(a) loans up to $350,000 in underserved markets. Per an SBA release dated May 2025, SBA reinstated a moratorium on approving new Community Advantage lending licenses and tightened capital requirements on existing participants. Existing CA SBLCs continue to lend; no new ones are being licensed. Check current SBA policy before relying on this channel.
The CDFI layer
Community Development Financial Institutions are mission lenders that typically lend smaller amounts than banks, accept shorter operating histories and weaker credit, and pair capital with free technical assistance. In New York City this layer does most of the real work.
The authoritative list of who can actually deliver an SBA microloan here is SBA’s own New York intermediary directory. As published there and checked August 19, 2026, the NYC-based intermediaries are Accompany Capital, Ascendus, BOC Capital Corporation, Harlem Entrepreneurial Fund, Pursuit and Renaissance Economic Development Corporation. If a lender tells you it can write you an SBA microloan and it is not on that list, ask what it actually means.
Figures below are as published on each institution’s own site and read on August 19, 2026. Rates and ranges change without notice — confirm before applying.
| Institution | Published product range | Published rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renaissance EDC | Small business loan up to $100,000; SBA microloan up to $50,000 | 4–6% fixed; microloan 8% fixed | SBA microloan intermediary; serves the five boroughs plus surrounding counties |
| Accompany Capital | Microloan $1,000–$50,000; small business loan $50,000–$75,000; NYC Future Fund $25,000–$150,000 | 8% fixed; Future Fund 7.5% fixed | Formerly Business Center for New Americans; SBA microloan intermediary |
| Pursuit | SBA 504 to $5.5M; SBA 7(a) to $5M; microloan to $50,000; SmartLoan to $100,000 | SmartLoan 11.9% fixed, 6-year | Formerly NYBDC; its CDFI arm, Pursuit Community Finance, was Excelsior Growth Fund |
| Brooklyn Cooperative FCU | Start-ups $500–$15,000; established businesses up to $100,000 | Not published on the product page | Branches in Bushwick, Bed-Stuy and East New York; participates in SBA 7(a) Express |
| Accion Opportunity Fund | Term loan up to $250,000; SBA 7(a) $100,000–$350,000 | 7(a) from Prime + 2.25% | National online lender, not NYC-based. In New York it lends only to business entities, not sole proprietors |
| Grameen America | Group microloans starting at $500; first loan up to $2,500 | Not published | Women-only group lending; branches in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan |
| TruFund Financial Services | Products named but no dollar ranges published | Not published | Manhattan office and active NY market page; ask directly for terms |
Two corrections to lists that circulate elsewhere. Business Center for New Americans was renamed Accompany Capital, and the old domain is dead. Excelsior Growth Fund no longer exists as a standalone lender; it is Pursuit Community Finance. And LISC NYC, while very much operating, publishes community-development-scale products with a $100,000 minimum and directs small business inquiries to its national office — it is a capital provider to organizations more than a retail lender for a storefront.
You can also check the CDFI Fund’s Searchable Awards Database by state to see which institutions have received CDFI Fund awards. Note that CDFI certification standards were revised recently, so an institution’s own “certified CDFI” claim may predate the current standard.
How to actually work this list
- Start free. Book a NYC Business Solutions appointment and get the lease and the financials reviewed before you apply anywhere.
- Check MWBE certification eligibility if it applies to you — it is free and it unlocks a separate lane.
- Compare the subsidized city and state debt against conventional and SBA options on total cost, not on the headline rate.
- Re-check every program page the week you apply. Windows close.
This guide is informational and is not financial, tax or legal advice. lender.nyc is a publisher; it does not administer, originate or process any program described here. All figures are as published by the administering agency as of August 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Are there real cash grants for New York City small businesses?
Most city and state money reaching individual small businesses is subsidized debt rather than grants; the published grant programs generally fund business improvement districts, community organizations and specific initiatives instead of ordinary storefronts.
Does it cost anything to get New York State MWBE certified?
No. Per Empire State Development, the New York State MWBE certification application process is free of cost and is submitted through the Empire State MWBE Hub.
Who actually issues an SBA microloan in New York City?
SBA does not lend directly; it funds nonprofit community-based intermediary lenders that make the credit decision and set the terms in their own service areas.
How do I know whether a program is still accepting applications?
Only the administering agency's own page is authoritative, because windows close without notice and appropriated funding runs out mid-cycle.
What free help can I get before applying for financing?
NYC Business Solutions Centers provide no-cost financing assistance, free business courses and free one-on-one legal help including commercial lease review, per NYC Small Business Services.
Sources
- nyc.gov — NYC Department of Small Business Services — NYC Business Solutions Centers, free financing assistance, free legal help, hotline 888-SBS-4NYC.
- nyc-business.nyc.gov — NYC Future Fund program page — revenue-based loans $25,000–$500,000 at a stated 7.5% annual rate, 12 months in business and $50,000 revenue minimums, delivered via participating lenders.
- nyc.gov — NYC Mayor's Office release, March 2026 — $80 million NYC Future Fund launch; minimum loan cut to $25,000, rate cut to 7.5%, revenue minimum cut to $50,000.
- nyc-business.nyc.gov — NYC Business Solutions free business courses — business planning, financing and marketing, offered in multiple languages.
- edc.nyc — NYCEDC Neighborhood Credit Fund — loans and lines of credit up to $250,000 for small local businesses.
- nyc.gov — SBS/NYCEDC release, April 2026 — Cannabis NYC Loan Fund expansion, stated application window through May 25, 2026.
- esd.ny.gov — Empire State Development Division of Small Business — program list with published loan ceilings including the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund and CDFI Revolving Loan Fund.
- esd.ny.gov — ESD MWBE certification eligibility — $15 million personal net worth cap, 300-employee limit, one year in operation, no application fee.
- esd.ny.gov — ESD MWBE Development and Lending Program — linked deposits, revolving loan trust funds, business development loans and loan guarantees for certified MWBEs.
- sba.gov — SBA Microloan program — up to $50,000, average about $13,000, terms to seven years, rates generally 8–13%, delivered by nonprofit intermediaries.
- sba.gov — SBA release, May 2025 — moratorium reinstated on new Community Advantage SBLC licenses; CA SBLC loans capped at $350,000.
- cdfifund.gov — CDFI Fund Searchable Awards Database — authoritative source for which institutions hold CDFI Fund awards, searchable by state.
- legacy.sba.gov — SBA directory of approved microloan intermediary lenders in New York State, read August 19, 2026 — basis for the NYC intermediary names listed.
- renaissancesbs.org — Renaissance Economic Development Corporation loan products, read August 19, 2026 — small business loan to $100,000 at 4–6% fixed, SBA microloan to $50,000 at 8% fixed.
- accompanycapital.org — Accompany Capital (formerly Business Center for New Americans) loan products, read August 19, 2026 — microloan $1,000–$50,000 at 8% fixed, NYC Future Fund $25,000–$150,000 at 7.5% fixed.
- pursuitlending.com — Pursuit NYC lending page, read August 19, 2026 — SBA 504 to $5.5M, 7(a) to $5M, microloan to $50,000, SmartLoan to $100,000 at 11.9% fixed.
- pursuitlending.com — Pursuit corporate page confirming Pursuit Community Finance was formerly Excelsior Growth Fund and Pursuit descends from NYBDC.
- brooklyn.coop — Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union business lending, read August 19, 2026 — $500–$15,000 for start-ups, up to $100,000 for established businesses.
- aofund.org — Accion Opportunity Fund products, read August 19, 2026 — term loan to $250,000, SBA 7(a) $100,000–$350,000 from Prime + 2.25%; New York lending limited to business entities.
- grameenamerica.org — Grameen America program page, read August 19, 2026 — women-only group microloans starting at $500, first loan up to $2,500; no rate published.
- trufund.org — TruFund Financial Services New York market page, read August 19, 2026 — NYC office and product names; no dollar ranges or rates published.
- lisc.org — LISC loan products page — community-development-scale products with a $100,000 minimum, not retail small business lending.