$5000 Grants via American Express Backing Small Program

$5000 Grants via American Express Backing Small Program Main Photo

17 Jun 2022


Grants, Inclusion, LGBTQ, Small Business Grants, Covid-19

Inclusive Backing - Small Businesses

The Inclusive Backing program builds on American Express' ongoing "Backing Small" initiative to provide economically vulnerable small businesses with financial support and other resources to address their critical needs and challenges. 

These $5,000 grants can be used for anything from physical improvements to the business space to meet relevant reopening requirements brought on by COVID-19 to payroll and other operating expenses. 

The fourth grant cycle is open to eligible small business owners who identify as Native or Indigenous, Hispanic or Latinx, LGBTQ+ or as immigrants, refugees or forcibly displaced.

As small businesses continue to feel the impact of the pandemic, many still need support to keep their doors open. To back underrepresented small business owners as they navigate the pandemic and plan for long-term success and resilience, American Express has partnered Main Street America on a $2.05M grant program called Inclusive Backing. This program builds on American Express’ ongoing Backing Small initiative to provide economically vulnerable small businesses with financial support and other resources to address their critical needs and challenges

More than 300 grants of $5,000 each will be awarded in four cycles over 12 months to small businesses located in older or historic commercial districts across the country, with priority given to businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and preference given to businesses owned by underrepresented groups, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, Veterans, women and people of color.

Applications for the fourth grant cycle are now open to eligible small business owners who identify as Native or Indigenous, Hispanic or Latinx, LGBTQ+ or as immigrants, refugees or forcibly displaced.

Membership in the National Main Street Center is not required to be eligible for the Program.

Click here for additional eligibility requirements and other details on the fourth grant cycle.