Small business funding in Montgomery County

Verified against the administering organizations. Last updated September 9, 2026.

Montgomery County's business funding runs through the county Commerce Department and the Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority in Norristown, which together administer MontcoForward, the county's flagship loan program, and the county's share of the Pennsylvania Catalyst Loan Fund. The two are designed to work together: a Catalyst loan needs a separate non-governmental loan to cover half the project, and MontcoForward can be that other half. Neither appears on Philadelphia's or the state's program lists, which is why businesses in Conshohocken, Norristown, King of Prussia and Lansdale so often miss them.

The programs below are a sample of what applies in the county. The count underneath is everything else in the database for a Montgomery County business.

Programs for Montgomery County businesses

MontcoForward Loan Program

LoanParticipation and agriculture loans up to 50% of project costs to $1,000,000; sole-lender loans up to 80% of project costs to $500,000Rolling — applicants are encouraged to discuss the project with MCRDA or Commerce before applying

Montgomery County's flagship loan program, run with the county Redevelopment Authority: participation loans up to half of project costs to $1,000,000, or sole-lender loans up to 80 percent of costs to $500,000. Talk to MCRDA before you apply.

Pennsylvania Catalyst Loan Fund

Loan$10,000 to $200,000, toward total projects of up to $5 millionRolling — apply through your county's certified economic development organization

Term loans of $10,000 to $200,000 for small businesses in nine southeastern Pennsylvania counties including Montgomery, Chester, Bucks and Delaware, underwritten by CCEDC with a 1.5 percent origination fee. A separate private loan has to cover half the project; MontcoForward can be that half.

Cost to participate: Origination fee of 1.50% of the loan amount at closing; deposits may be required for underwriting and closing costs

Santander X Cultivate Small Business Program and Grants

GrantUp to $20,000Annual round; applications typically open in spring · Next opens November 1, 2026

A free 12-week business program for early-stage food businesses, taught virtually by Babson College faculty, with grants of $2,500 guaranteed on completion and up to $20,000 for selected participants. Aimed at founders in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods. Applications open in the fall.

Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)

GrantUp to 75% of practice cost, capped at $50,000 per yearApplications accepted on a continuous basis; ranking dates are set at key times throughout the year

NRCS pays up to 75 percent of the cost of conservation, diversification or marketing practices, capped at $50,000 a year. Applications are taken continuously and ranked at set dates; start with your local NRCS office.

Global Access Program (GAP)

Grant$10,000Rolling

Reimburses small and mid-sized Pennsylvania companies up to $10,000 per award period for export promotion costs such as trade shows, market research and translation. Worth pairing with the federal STEP grant if you export.

more active programs for Montgomery County businesses, including 30 grants, 8 tax credits, 5 loans and financing, 2 rebates and 17 free resources and technical assistance. Tell FundBug what you do, where you are and who owns the business, and twice a month you get a digest of the ones you actually qualify for, with deadlines before they pass.

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Common questions

Can a Montgomery County business use Philadelphia programs?

No. Philadelphia's programs require a city address. Montgomery County has its own lenders, and statewide and national programs apply.

Who do I call first?

The Montgomery County Commerce Department or MCRDA; both encourage a conversation about the project before an application is filed.

Stop finding out too late. Programs in Montgomery County open and close on their own schedules, and nobody sends a reminder. FundBug does.

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