Good news for Arizona business owners: You’ve got access to lots of state-specific funding opportunities! Keep reading to see a full list of grants and loans that are only available to Arizona businesses.
Department or Agency: Growth Partners Arizona
Loan or Grant title: Small Business Success Loans
Growth Partners Arizona makes loans to small businesses in an effort to provide access to affordable financing and drive economic development in underserved areas. Loans range from $10,000 to $100,000, and can be used toward equipment, working capital, business expansion, and consolidation of more expensive debt. To be eligible, borrowers must have been in business for at least two years, operate in the state of Arizona, and have annual revenue of at least $50,000.
Department or Agency: Growth Partners Arizona
Loan or Grant title: Kiva Tucson Small Business Success Loans
Growth Partners Arizona also partners with Kiva Tucson to give zero-interest loans to qualifying small businesses in Southern Arizona. These community-backed loans range from $1,000 to $15,000 and have flexible repayment plans.
Department or Agency: Local First Arizona
Loan or Grant title: Southeastern Arizona Microloans
Businesses and startups located in Graham, Greenlee, or Cochise counties may be eligible for a Southeastern Arizona Microloan. The maximum loan amount is $25,000 at a flare 7% interest rate.
Department or Agency: Local First Arizona
Loan or Grant title: Green Loan Fund
Graduates of Local First Arizona’s Green Business Bootcamp may be eligible for the Green Loan Fund, which is part of Local First Arizona’s Green Microloan program for businesses that plan to improve their environmental impact. Eligible businesses must be located in Yavapai or Maricopa counties. Loans are made up to $10,000 at 3% interest for up to three years. Need more info about Green Business Bootcamp? Check out Local First Arizona’s SCALE UP program.
Department or Agency: Local First Arizona
Loan or Grant title: Green Community Fund
Local First Arizona also runs the Green Community Fund, a microloan program for graduates of the Green Business Bootcamp who want to improve their environmental impact. Eligible businesses must be located in Pima County. Loans are made up to $15,000, with 0-5% interest for up to three years.
Department or Agency: PPEP Microbusiness and Housing Development
Loan or Grant title: Microloan Program
PPEP’s microloans range from $500 to $50,000. The funds can be used for working capital, equipment, construction, and other business assets. Businesses that are registered in Arizona and in good standing with the State of Arizona Corporation Commission may be eligible.
Department or Agency: PPEP Microbusiness and Housing Development
Loan or Grant title: Small Business Loan Program
PPEP’s small business loans range from $1,000 to $225,000, and can be used for working capital, equipment, construction, business real estate, and expansion. Businesses that are registered in Arizona and in good standing with the State of Arizona Corporation Commission may be eligible.
Department or Agency: Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization (VVREO)
Loan or Grant title: VVREO Revolving Loan Program
VVREO Revolving Loans are for business owners starting or expanding a business in the Verde Valley region, as well as those relocating a business to the region. Loans are made in amounts up to $25,000 and can be used for working capital, supplies, inventory, renovations, and more.
Department or Agency: Clearinghouse CDFI
Loan or Grant title: Arizona Small Business Lending
In partnership with the Arizona State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), Clearinghouse CDFI offers tailored small business loans from $500,000 to $5 million. The loans must be real-estate based in nature, used for acquisition, renovations, expanding operations, or refinancing.
Department or Agency: Prestamos CDFI
Loan or Grant title: Micro Loans
As part of the Arizona SSBCI, Prestamos CDFI offers microloans from $500 to $50,000 for qualified new and existing small businesses. Businesses can use the funds for working capital, inventory or supplies, furniture and fixtures, machinery or equipment, and debt refinancing. To be eligible, businesses need to demonstrate that they can either create or retain jobs.
Department or Agency: Prestamos CDFI
Loan or Grant title: Small Business Loans
Prestamos CDFI also offers small business loans from $50,000 to $1 million from $500 to businesses that have been operating for at least two years. Businesses can use the funds for a variety of purposes, including working capital, inventory or supplies, furniture and fixtures, machinery or equipment, and real estate acquisition.
Department or Agency: Arizona Venture Development Corporation
Loan or Grant title: AVC Ignite
The Arizona Venture Development Corporation invests in early-stage tech startups in Arizona specializing in enterprise, software, consumer, climate-tech, and bio/health tech. They prioritize companies that are owned by Socially or Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (SEDI), or that cater to underserved populations.
Department or Agency: Arizona Commerce Authority
Loan or Grant title: Arizona Advanced Manufacturing Facilities Grant (AMF)
In partnership with Arizona State University, the Arizona Commerce Authority offers an advanced manufacturing facilities grant to startup companies in the semiconductor and hard materials industries. The grant provides a one-to-one match of ASU’s established core facilities, up to $75,000.
Department or Agency: Arizona Commerce Authority
Loan or Grant title: Arizona Innovation Challenge
The Arizona Innovation Challenge is a grant competition that awards 10 companies up to $150,000 in funding. To be eligible to apply for the competition, your business needs to have between two and 29 employees, no more than $10 million in assets, and belong to one of these industries: Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace and Defense, Bio and Life Sciences, Clean-tech and Renewable Energy, or Information Technology.
Department or Agency: Mesa Office of Economic Development
Loan or Grant title: Business Export Assistance Program
The city of Mesa has a Business Export Assistance Program that reimburses qualified Mesa-based businesses for up to 50% of expenses related to starting or increasing international exports. To qualify, you need to be headquartered in Mesa and have no more than $25 million in annual sales.
Department or Agency: City of Phoenix
Loan or Grant title: Phoenix Flash Grants Program
Phoenix’s Flash Grants Program gives small grants up to $3,500 to eligible arts and culture businesses. To be eligible, you need to be a registered LLC in the arts and culture industry, and have a prior income below $250,000.
Department or Agency: City of Phoenix
Loan or Grant title: Vacant Storefront Improvement Assistance Program
Phoenix’s Vacant Storefront Improvement Assistance Program gives up to $250,000 to Phoenix-based businesses that were adversely impacted by the COVID-19 business closures and slowdowns. To qualify, you need to meet one of the following criteria: have experienced a 25% revenue loss or 10% vacancy increase when comparing 2019 to 2020 and 2021; be located in or immediately adjacent to a Qualified Census Tract (QCT); or have an adaptive reuse development opportunity created by the pandemic.
Department or Agency: Town of Pinetop-Lakeside
Loan or Grant title: Facade Grant Program
The town of Pinetop-Lakeside has a Facade Grant Program that provides matching grants to local retail, restaurant, theater, and service businesses that invest in improving their business exterior. Qualified businesses can get up to $2,500 in matching funds to use for signage, painting, or restoration projects.
Department or Agency: Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
Loan or Grant title: Health and Food Entrepreneur Microloan
The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona partnered with Community Investment Corporation to offer microloans to businesses involved in health or food-related business. The loan amount ranges from $500 to $10,000 with a 3-5% interest rate.
