Grants for small businesses in California
Federal agencies awarded $3.0 billion in 3,650 grants to small businesses in California from fiscal 2021 to 2025. The largest source was Office of Science Financial Assistance Program. 26 open or forecast federal grants are good fits for small businesses.
- California ranks 1st of the 50 states and DC for federal grants to small businesses.
- Grants to small businesses made up 0% of all federal grant money to recipients in California.
- That is 18% of all federal grant money to small businesses nationwide.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$3.0 billion
- Grant awards3,650
- Good fits open nationwide26
Federal programs that fund small businesses in California
| Program | Awarded to small businesses in California |
|---|---|
| Office of Science Financial Assistance Program | $266 million |
| Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chain Demonstrations and Commercial Applications | $253 million |
| Aging Research | $208 million |
| Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships | $174 million |
| Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy | $141 million |
| Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research | $140 million |
| Renewable Energy Research and Development | $137 million |
| Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs | $135 million |
| Cardiovascular Diseases Research | $121 million |
| Biomedical Research and Research Training | $120 million |
Open federal grants for small businesses, best fits first
- FY27 Small Business Development Center State of Kansas Network Rebid
Open Closes November 19, 2026 (12 days left)
Open to colleges and universities and small businesses only - Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources SBIR/STTR (UNLOCK SBIR/STTR)
Open Closes November 20, 2026 (13 days left)
Small business research (SBIR or STTR) - Unlocking New Levels of Output and Capacity for Key Subsurface Resources (UNLOCK)
Open Closes November 20, 2026 (13 days left)
Small businesses won 36% of the money in its program over five years - Advanced Nuclear Energy Licensing Cost-Share Grant Program
Open
Small businesses won 29% of the money in its program over five years - Accelerating Scale-up and Pre-piloting of Emerging Chemical Technologies (ASPECT)
Open
Small businesses won 26% of the money in its program over five years - Silcon Carbide Cladding Lead Test Rod Development-Phase 1
Open
Small businesses won 29% of the money in its program over five years - Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, Phase I
Forecast
Small business research (SBIR or STTR) - The Genesis Mission: Transforming Science and Energy with AI
Open
Small businesses won 17% of the money in its program over five years - Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (Parent R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional)
Forecast
Small business research (SBIR or STTR) - Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (Parent R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional)
Forecast
Small business research (SBIR or STTR) - Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) Phase II
Forecast
Small business research (SBIR or STTR) - Deployed Warfighter Protection FY27
Open
Small businesses won 28% of the money in its program over five years - NIH, CDC and FDA Small Business Innovation Research Grant (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Optional)
Open
Small business research (SBIR or STTR) - NIH Small Business Technology Transfer Grant (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Optional)
Open
Small business research (SBIR or STTR) - Promoting Population Health through Increased Capacity in Alcohol Epidemiology & the Prevention of Excessive Alcohol Use
Forecast
Small businesses won 17% of the money in its program over five years - Change of Recipient Organization (Type 7 Parent Clinical Trial Optional)
Open
Small business research (SBIR or STTR) - Successor-in-Interest (Type 6 Parent Clinical Trial Optional)
Open
Small business research (SBIR or STTR) - FY 2027 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program
Open
Small businesses won 17% of the money in its program over five years - Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)
Open
Small business research (SBIR or STTR) - F24AS00298 Cooperative Agriculture
Open
Open to small businesses and individuals only - SBIR/STTR Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) Program (Parent SB1 Clinical Trial Optional)
Open
Small business research (SBIR or STTR) - NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award (Parent [R44] Clinical Trial Optional)
Open
Small business research (SBIR or STTR) - SEEDING CRITICAL ADVANCES FOR LEADING ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES WITH UNTAPPED POTENTIAL (SCALEUP) READY
Open
Small businesses won 36% of the money in its program over five years - RFI - DOE R
Open
Small businesses won 29% of the money in its program over five years - RFI - DOE Infrastructure Work Scope Development
Open
Small businesses won 29% of the money in its program over five years
See all 748 open grants for small businesses