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Small business funding in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania funds businesses through the Department of Community and Economic Development at the state level and then, unusually, through a dense layer of county redevelopment authorities and certified economic development organizations that run their own loan funds. Montgomery County's MontcoForward and the multi-county Pennsylvania Catalyst Loan Fund are examples: the money is partly state and federal, but the underwriting and the phone number are local. Philadelphia adds a third layer with its own Department of Commerce programs that require a city address.
For manufacturers, the largest current opportunity is RISE PA, a $396 million industrial decarbonization program whose small-scale track pays up to half of project costs. Every application needs a technical assessment that PennTAP performs free but that takes up to eight weeks, so the time to start is before a round opens, not after. Below are a few of the programs Pennsylvania businesses can use now; the rest are matched to your business after signup.
Programs for Pennsylvania businesses
Job Creation Tax Credit
A Pennsylvania credit worth 2 percent of annual wages or $5,000 per new job, whichever is higher, for businesses that commit to a job-creation target and hit it within five years. The Department of Revenue audits payroll before certifying the credit, so keep the records clean from day one.
Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program
Pennsylvania grants for businesses adopting alternative fuel vehicles and refueling infrastructure, with awards that can reach $500,000 for the largest projects. Current round closes October 7, 2026.
Santander X Cultivate Small Business Program and Grants
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.
Global Access Program (GAP)
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.
PA Pollution Prevention Assistance Account (PPAA) Loan
Pennsylvania DEP lends up to $100,000 at a fixed 2 percent for up to ten years to small businesses doing pollution prevention, waste reduction or energy efficiency work, covering up to 75 percent of project cost. LED lighting, HVAC, chillers and motors are typical uses. Rolling.
more active programs for Pennsylvania businesses, including 36 grants, 7 tax credits, 8 loans and financing, 2 rebates and 18 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.
See what your business qualifies for →Common questions
Which Pennsylvania counties does FundBug cover?
Programs are tracked statewide, with the deepest coverage in Greater Philadelphia: Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, Bucks, Delaware and Berks counties, plus the Lehigh Valley and southwestern Pennsylvania where county programs exist.
What is the difference between a state program and a county loan fund?
State programs (DCED, PIDA, RISE PA) have uniform rules across Pennsylvania. County funds such as MontcoForward or the Catalyst Loan Fund are underwritten locally, often require a matching private loan, and can move faster because the decision is made by a local board.
Do Philadelphia programs apply to the suburbs?
Usually not. Philadelphia's Catalyst Fund, Quality Jobs and Storefront Improvement programs require a Philadelphia address. Suburban businesses should look at their county's programs instead.
Stop finding out too late. Programs in Pennsylvania open and close on their own schedules, and nobody sends a reminder. FundBug does.
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