Business Investment Grant, Small and Large (Orange County, North Carolina)
Orange County, North Carolina (Economic Development)
Up to $5,000 (small) or $10,000 (large)
Orange County, NC grant of up to $5,000 (small) or $10,000 (large) for local non-farm businesses, with deadlines in February, June and October.
Orange County's Business Investment Grant helps non-farm businesses physically located in the county grow. The small grant is up to $5,000 for businesses operating and selling for at least 6 months; the large grant is $5,000.01 to $10,000 for businesses operating at least 1 year, with a formal business plan. Deadlines come three times a year: February 28, June 30 and October 31 at 5:00 pm. The October 31, 2026 round has closed (it needed a pre-application meeting by October 23), so the next round is expected at the February 28, 2027 deadline, a date inferred from the recurring schedule, not yet announced.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Municipal
- Amount
- $10,000
- Realistic amount
- Up to $5,000 for newer businesses (6+ months), up to $10,000 for businesses with 1+ year of sales and a business plan.
- Deadline
- The October 31, 2026 round has closed; the program repeats February 28, June 30 and October 31 each year at 5:00 p.m. (the February 28, 2027 date follows that schedule and has not been announced).
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- NC
Who qualifies
- Business physically located in Orange County, NC, in an area zoned for its use
- Non-farm business (farms use the separate Agricultural Grant)
- Small grant: operating and generating sales for at least 6 months before the deadline; large grant: at least 12 months, plus a formal business plan and extra financial information
- No past-due tax, fee or fine owed to Orange County; current on any County small business loan
- At least 6 months since any previous award; no more than $10,000 in County grants over three years
- Required pre-application meeting with Economic Development staff
- Non-profits may apply but only for workforce expansion
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Marketing and advertising
- Inventory and supplies, including computer software
- Equipment and machinery
- Workforce expansion including salary
- Tenant up-fit or leasehold improvements
Ineligible expenses
- See official program guidance
How to apply
-
1
Hold the pre-application meeting
Required before applying; contact Economic Development at 919-245-2325 or edcmail@orangecountync.gov.
~1 hrs
-
2
Prepare quotes and plan
Purchase quotes or invoices for each use; position and wage detail for hires; business plan and financials for the large grant.
~5 hrs
-
3
Submit on Submittable
Apply before 5:00 p.m. on the deadline; staff may ask for more information or a short video.
~3 hrs
The pre-application meeting is required and for the October round had to happen by October 23, so book it weeks before a deadline.
Deadline & timing
Deadlines each year by 5:00 pm on February 28, June 30 and October 31, and may be adjusted if funding runs out. The October 31, 2026 round required a pre-application meeting by October 23. The February 2027 date is inferred from the recurring schedule, not announced for 2027.
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Required documents
- Application on Submittable
- Purchase quote(s) or invoice(s) matching each use of funds
- Position detail and wage information for hiring uses
- Business plan and additional financial information (large grant)
- Evidence of home-based business approval if applicable
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