Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program

The Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program (SmBIZ) in North Carolina offers $55 million in funding for local governments to rebuild infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene. It aims to assist small businesses by restoring vital services, enhancing customer access, and supporting economic recovery. Local governments can apply starting May 1, 2025, to fund projects that serve businesses with 150 or fewer employees, ensuring they can resume operations and contribute to community resilience.

Note: Funding is awarded on a first come, first served basis. A full and complete application, including all necessary supporting documentation, can be submitted beginning May 1, 2025.
Local governments in North Carolina located in areas impacted by Hurricane Helene will soon be able to apply for grants from the new Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program (SmBIZ), a $55 million dollar fund designed to rebuild the damaged infrastructure that small businesses rely on to operate and thrive.
Commerce's Rural Economic Development Division will administer the program, funded through legislation recently passed by the North Carolina General Assembly (House Bill 47/Session Law 2025-2).
The SmBIZ fund is not related to a pending federal Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery grant, which we expect will include a Commercial District Revitalization component. This separate, federal grant will be managed by another Commerce business unit, the Division of Community Revitalization.
Purpose of the SmBIZ Fund
Provide financial assistance for community recovery and resilience to communities specifically impacted by Hurricane Helene, helping to bring back vital services for small businesses and entrepreneurs.Restore and repair critical infrastructure, allowing small businesses to resume function and operations to support economic recovery and sustainability.Assist in restoring or expanding small businesses’ ability to attract customers to business districts to help retain business, expand access, spur private investment to create stability, and leverage resources to create resiliency and economic growth.
The SmBIZ program will offer grants to local governments, and the related infrastructure projects will target and support small businesses that employ 150 or fewer employees.
Qualifying infrastructure must serve one or more businesses within the identified project area and must have been damaged by Hurricane Helene. The infrastructure cannot be owned by the small business, nor can it be such that the small business is responsible for maintaining it. Infrastructure may include but will not be limited to water, sewer, gas, telecommunications, high-speed broadband, electrical utility, sidewalk and curb infrastructure, and other repairs that remove barriers and restore or increase access to impacted small businesses.