Can a Business Get an EDA Grant? How It Works in 2026

Usually not directly. The U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) makes its main grants to states, cities, counties, Indian tribes, nonprofits working with local officials, universities and economic development districts, and its current Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance notice says "Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible." Businesses benefit indirectly: through infrastructure built to serve them, through EDA-funded revolving loan funds that lend to small businesses, and through regional programs.

Last checked: October 25, 2026. This page is general information, not tax, legal, or financial advice.

What is the EDA?

The EDA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It funds economic development in distressed communities and regions under the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965. It doesn't give grants to individuals. EDA's own fraud alert says it "does not provide grants or other forms of financial assistance or benefits (including unemployment benefits) to individuals" and doesn't charge application or processing fees. If someone calls or emails to say you've won an EDA award and asks for a fee, it's a scam.

Who can apply for EDA grants?

For EDA's two core programs, Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance, the current notice of funding opportunity on Grants.gov lists these eligible applicants:

• a District Organization of an EDA-designated Economic Development District
• an Indian Tribe or a consortium of Indian Tribes
• a state, county, city or other political subdivision of a state, including a special purpose unit of government engaged in economic or infrastructure development, or a consortium of them
• an institution of higher education or a consortium of them
• a public or private nonprofit organization or association acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a state

The same notice says, "Individuals and for-profit entities are not eligible for funding under this NOFO." EDA's general regulations (13 CFR 300.3) allow private individuals or for-profit organizations only for Training, Research and Technical Assistance investments.

How do businesses benefit from EDA money?

Three main ways, based on how EDA describes its programs:

• Infrastructure that serves businesses. EDA's Public Works program helps distressed communities "revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure" to attract new industry and encourage business expansion. EDA says this includes land acquisition, development and infrastructure projects that establish or expand industrial or commercial enterprises. In practice, a city or county applies, and the road, water line, site work or facility it builds can serve a company that's locating or expanding there.
• Revolving loan funds. EDA gives Economic Adjustment Assistance grants to eligible organizations to capitalize or recapitalize revolving loan funds (RLFs) that lend to businesses "that cannot otherwise obtain traditional bank financing." EDA describes these loans as gap financing to help small businesses grow and create jobs. This is the most direct route for a business: you don't apply to EDA, you apply to the local RLF lender. EDA publishes a list of RLF recipients by state, with each lender's lending area, on its Revolving Loan Fund page.
• Regional and startup programs. EDA's program list includes Build to Scale, which runs competitions supporting entrepreneurship, company growth and access to risk capital across regional economies, and the Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs program, which funds multi-partner consortia. Businesses usually take part as partners in a regional effort, not as the grant applicant.

Which EDA funding is open in 2026?

On October 25, 2026, EDA's Funding Opportunities page listed these notices:

• Fiscal Year 2025 Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (PWEAA). Grants.gov lists this notice (number PWEAA2023) as open, last updated May 13, 2026. It has no submission deadline: applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until a new notice is published, the notice is cancelled, or funds run out. EDA hadn't posted a separate FY 2026 notice for this program.
• FY 2025 Disaster Supplemental, for communities with major disaster declarations from disasters in 2023 and 2024. Readiness and Implementation grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted or the notice is cancelled; EDA says it's no longer accepting applications for Path 3, Industry Transformation.
• FY 2023 Disaster Supplemental, accepted on a rolling basis.
• Planning and Local Technical Assistance, accepted on a continuing basis.
• Research and National Technical Assistance. EDA notes this program "is not accepting or evaluating concepts at this time."

EDA says applications must be submitted through Grants.gov or EDA's EDGE system, and that its Economic Development Representative for your state or district can help. Awards require cost sharing, and the share depends on the project, so ask your representative. Funding is subject to appropriations. As of October 25, 2026, EDA is funded under the government-wide continuing resolution for fiscal year 2027 (Public Law 119-103), which runs through December 11, 2026, so check the current notice before you plan around it.

What should a business owner do?

1. Find the revolving loan fund that covers your area, if you need financing a bank won't provide on its own. 2. If your project needs public infrastructure, such as a road, utility extension or site work, talk to your city or county economic development office. They're the ones who could apply to EDA. 3. Ask your regional Economic Development District or your state's EDA representative which regional projects are underway. 4. Check direct options too: SBA loans and state incentives are open to businesses directly.

Find programs your business can apply for directly

Most EDA money flows through public and nonprofit partners, but many state and federal programs are open to businesses directly. Incentive Audit's free audit checks your business against a database of 1,700+ federal and state programs. Answer six quick questions and see your top five program matches with confidence badges, at no cost. No email is required to start. Start at incentiveaudit.com.

Important: FundPlenty isn't a tax, legal or financial advisor, and this page isn't tax, legal or financial advice. Program rules and funding change, so confirm eligibility with the agency or lender that runs each program before relying on anything here.