Deadline: 10 March 2025
The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is inviting applications for the Ignite Grant Program, which offers grants of up to $10,000 to qualified women-owned small businesses in Connecticut.
Ignite is designed to help women-owned businesses grow!
Funding Information
- Grants between $2,500 and $10,000 will be awarded for clearly defined projects that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth and profitability.
Ineligible Expenses
- The grant funds cannot be used towards operating expenses (e.g. inventory, on-going marketing expenses, salaries), real estate improvements (e.g. construction costs), reimbursement for past purchases or debt repayment.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible, the business must:
- Be 51% or more woman-owned
- Be headquartered in CT, registered in the state of CT, and owned by a CT resident
- Have been in business for at least two years before the application round deadline, with a record of sales
- Have a record of annual sales/revenue in the last twelve months greater than $25,000 and less than $2,000,000
- Be in good standing with the CT Department of Revenue Services (DRS)
- Have an established business bank account
- Currently utilize a formal, digital bookkeeping/financial system (e.g. QuickBooks, Sage, FreshBooks, Wave Accounting)
- Be a for profit business
- Be owned by a woman at least 18 years old
- Have invested at least $2,500 into your business in the last 12 months, unless the business is located in a distressed municipality
Ineligibility Criteria
- The following businesses are not eligible:
- Childcare businesses are not eligible for the Ignite Grant.
- Any individual or business that has already received an Ignite Grant, Equity Match Grant or WBDC Municipal Grant is not eligible.
- Non-profit organizations are not eligible.
- Businesses established as sole proprietors are not eligible; business must register as an LLC or other structure
- Current vendors or contractors of WBDC are not eligible. (Former vendors are eligible to apply a year after working with WBDC.)
- Medical marijuana; liquor stores and alcohol distributors; adult businesses such as strip clubs; vape retailers; tobacco shops and smoking lounges; businesses having to do with gambling; gun stores and ranges; cash advance, check cashing, or pawn shops; bail bonds; collection agencies or services; and auction or bankruptcy or fire or “lost-their-lease” or “going-out-of-business” or similar sale.
For more information, visit WBDC.
