Grants, bids and deadlines, every Monday

One email at 5:30am your time lists open grants, public contracts and filing dates, each linked to its source.

One email a week. A confirmation link comes first. Unsubscribe in one click.

3 minto read each issue

5:30amMonday, your time zone

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WHAT'S IN EACH ISSUE

💰 Grants and Funding

Grants, rebates and tax credits open to small businesses, with who can apply and when it closes.

📋 Contracts Up for Bid

Open contracts from cities, school districts and state agencies, such as janitorial, landscaping and audit work.

📅 On the Calendar

Tax and filing due dates, including the ones that move when the deadline lands on a weekend.

Every item is a 2 to 4 sentence summary, and its headline links to the original program or bid page.

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FROM ISSUE #1

Virginia's state microloan lends up to $150,000 without a bank (No bank needed)

The Virginia Small Business Financing Authority makes the loans itself, for equipment, working capital or buying a business. Terms run 5 to 7 years. Businesses in good standing with a credit score of 650 or higher can apply. They must meet one size test: fewer than 250 employees, $10 million or less in annual revenue, or a net worth of $2 million or less. The application fee is $150.

Virginia's SWaM certification is free and lasts five years (Free)

State buyers use the SWaM directory to find small, women-owned and minority-owned vendors, and many localities also use it. A business may qualify as small with 250 or fewer employees or $10 million or less in average revenue. It may qualify as micro with 25 or fewer employees and $3 million or less in average revenue. Review takes about 60 business days for the assigned certification officer to review a file.

Employers with 100 or fewer employees may qualify for a retirement plan startup credit (Tax credit)

Employers with 100 or fewer employees who each received at least $5,000 in compensation the preceding year may qualify for a credit of up to $5,000 a year for three years. The credit applies to the cost of starting a SEP, SIMPLE IRA or 401(k) plan, and the plan must have at least one participant who is not a highly compensated employee. Employers that add an auto-enrollment feature can claim another $500 a year for three years. Businesses with 50 or fewer employees may also get a credit of up to $1,000 per employee toward their contributions. The credit is claimed on Form 8881.