To our knowledge, there is no free money available for starting a small business. Neither the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center nor the U.S. Small Business Administration provides grant funding to small businesses. The ASBTDC does not recommend you base your small business financing objectives on obtaining grant funding.
Small companies can win grants for a special purpose, such as innovative research and development by technology-based businesses. However, most small business owners have to look to personal resources and loans to finance their ventures.
If you are interested in searching for specific grants, consider the following resources.
Central Arkansas Library System (main library located at 100 Rock St., Little Rock) offers grant indexes and other resources related to grants and grant writing. Also available is an online database called the Foundation Center. Similar resources are available at other public libraries.
Arkansas Early Childhood Commission, located at 700 Main in Little Rock, oversees grant programs to further childcare services in Arkansas.
Arkansas Economic Development Commission Division of Science and Technology, formerly the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority, provides state grants through a competitive application process to Arkansas enterprises in applied research, technology transfer, and development of innovative technology-based businesses and projects that stimulate economic growth and industrial competitiveness in Arkansas.
The Catalog of Federal and Domestic Assistance is an online catalog that gives you access to a database of all federal programs available to state and local governments (including the District of Columbia); federally-recognized Indian tribal governments; territories (and possessions) of the United States; domestic public, quasi-public, and private profit and nonprofit organizations and institutions; specialized groups; and individuals.
Grants.gov is your source to find and apply for federal grants.