Veteran business grants by state
By a Navy veteran. Updated November 2026.
Short answer: Yes, but they are few and competitive. We list 5 grant programs open to veterans and military spouses nationwide, and 40 states run their own veteran business programs. Most help comes as loans, contract preferences and free advising.
Never pay to find a grant. Real grants are free to apply for. Most federal grants on Grants.gov go to organizations, not to individual businesses. Anyone who charges a fee to “find” you one is running a scam.
Look up your state
Grants open to veterans in every state
- GrantHiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant
One $25,000 grand prize and four $10,000 grants. Veterans, current Guard or Reserve members and military spouses who own at least 51% of a for-profit business with 3 to 20 workers and under $5 million in revenue. The business must be in a distressed ZIP code or show financial hardship.
Official page → - GrantWarrior Rising
Startup grants, mentoring and a free business-plan course. Veterans and military family entrepreneurs. Its LaunchPoint track is for service-disabled veterans.
Official page → - GrantTadlock Veteran Business Grant (Founders First CDC)
25 grants of $1,000 plus a free growth program. Veteran or military spouse owners with 2 to 100 employees, under $5 million in revenue and at least 1 year in business. Pre-registration opened July 1 this year, so watch for the 2027 round next summer.
Official page → - GrantHire Heroes USA Ripple Grant
25 grants of $10,000. Businesses at least 51% owned and run by a veteran or military spouse that commit to hiring veterans or spouses within 12 to 18 months. Watch for a 2027 round.
Official page → - GrantFarmer Veteran Fellowship Fund
$1,000 to $5,000, paid to vendors for equipment you need. Farmer Veteran Coalition members with a for-profit farm or ranch and a business plan. 2026 awards went out May 1.
Official page →
Federal loans, contracts and research funding
- ContractsSBA veteran certification (VetCert)
Certifies veteran-owned (VOSB) and service-disabled veteran-owned (SDVOSB) small businesses. The federal government aims to award at least 5% of contract dollars to SDVOSBs, including set-aside and sole-source contracts.
Official page → - MoneySBA Express loans
Veteran-owned businesses pay a $0 upfront SBA guarantee fee on SBA Express loans. Apply through an SBA lender.
Official page → - MoneySBIR and STTR research funding
Federal R&D money for small businesses building new technology. Congress reauthorized the programs through 2031 after a six-month lapse. Each agency posts its own topics and amounts.
Official page → - MoneyVA Veteran Readiness and Employment: self-employment track
For veterans with a service-connected rating. VA can help with a business plan, training and some startup costs.
Official page → - MoneyUSDA farm loans for veterans
Farm Service Agency loans, including microloans, with priority for veteran farmers and ranchers.
Official page →
Free help near you
- Free helpBoots to Business
Free SBA entrepreneurship course, offered through the military transition program and open to veterans and spouses.
Find yours → - Free helpVeterans Business Outreach Centers
Free one-on-one counseling, business plan help and training from the SBA.
Find yours → - Free helpAPEX Accelerators
Free help registering in SAM, getting certified and finding government contracts.
Find yours → - Free helpSmall Business Development Centers
Free business advising in every state, usually at a local college.
Find yours →
State programs at a glance
| State | State-run veteran business programs |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Preferred vendor status, Veterans Employment Act credit |
| Alaska | Alaska veteran bid preference |
| Arizona | Federal programs only |
| Arkansas | Service-disabled veteran contract goal, Federal surplus property |
| California | Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), 3% DVBE goal and bid credit, Veteran peddler license exemption |
| Colorado | 3% service-disabled veteran goal |
| Connecticut | 15% price preference, Veterans to Agriculture |
| Delaware | Veteran business certification |
| District of Columbia | Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise |
| Florida | Veteran Business Enterprise, License fee waivers, Veterans Florida entrepreneurship |
| Georgia | Business Certificate of Exemption, Georgia Business Certification, Federal surplus property |
| Hawaii | Federal programs only |
| Idaho | Federal programs only |
| Illinois | Veterans Business Program, 3% contract goal |
| Indiana | Indiana veteran business certification, 3% contract goal |
| Iowa | Targeted Small Business |
| Kansas | 10% bid preference |
| Kentucky | LLC filing fee waiver, Service-disabled veteran certification |
| Louisiana | LaVet Veteran Initiative |
| Maine | Federal programs only |
| Maryland | Veteran small business loans (MPVOLP), 3% VSBE goal |
| Massachusetts | Veteran Business Enterprise, Veteran Hire Tax Credit |
| Michigan | 10% price preference |
| Minnesota | Up to 12% bid preference, Veteran-owned certification |
| Mississippi | Federal surplus property |
| Missouri | 3 bonus points and 3% goal |
| Montana | Federal programs only |
| Nebraska | Tie-breaker preference |
| Nevada | Federal programs only |
| New Hampshire | Veteran-Friendly Business Network |
| New Jersey | 3% disabled veteran set-aside |
| New Mexico | 10% resident veteran preference, Veteran Employment Tax Credit |
| New York | Service-disabled veteran business (SDVOB), Hire a Veteran Credit |
| North Carolina | NC Military Business Center |
| North Dakota | Federal programs only |
| Ohio | Veteran-Friendly Business Enterprise |
| Oklahoma | 3-point bonus and 3% goal |
| Oregon | Veteran Business Enterprise (COBID) |
| Pennsylvania | Business filing and license fee waiver, Veteran Business Enterprise |
| Rhode Island | BankLOCAL, 3% veteran business goal |
| South Carolina | Federal programs only |
| South Dakota | Federal programs only |
| Tennessee | Service-disabled veteran certification, Federal surplus property |
| Texas | 5-year franchise tax exemption, Filing fee waiver, VetHUB |
| Utah | Veterans Business Resource Center, Federal surplus property |
| Vermont | Federal programs only |
| Virginia | SWaM service-disabled veteran designation |
| Washington | Veterans Linked Deposit loans, Veteran-owned business certification |
| West Virginia | 3.5% resident veteran preference, Federal surplus property |
| Wisconsin | 5% bid preference, License fee waiver, Veteran-owned business certification |
| Wyoming | Federal programs only |
Checked November 2026.
Questions
Are there grants for veteran-owned businesses?
Yes, but they are few and competitive. We list 5 grant programs open to veterans and military spouses nationwide, and 40 states run their own veteran business programs. Most help comes as loans, contract preferences and free advising.
Do I have to pay to apply for a veteran business grant?
No. Real grants are free to apply for. Anyone who charges a fee to find you a grant is running a scam.
Know your runway before you start
The free planner puts your retired pay, VA pay and state tax on one 24-month timeline, so you can see how long your savings last while the business gets going.
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