FOR INVESTMENT IN MICROENTREPRENEURS (PRIME)
🏛 Small Business Administration (SBA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for microenterprise development organizations and intermediaries serving disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, CDFIs, and community development organizations with demonstrated experience delivering microenterprise services. Intermediaries with technical assistance experience, and organizations working with state/local governments or Indian Tribes also qualify. Indian Tribes may apply directly if no private microenterprise organization exists in their jurisdiction. Religious organizations may apply but cannot use federal funds for explicitly religious activities.
Geographic scope is national. Applicants may apply individually or as part of a Collaborative, though all Collaborative members must separately meet eligibility criteria.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
The PRIME Act authorizes the SBA Administrator to establish a program for the purposes of: (i) providing training and technical assistance to disadvantaged entrepreneurs; (ii) providing training and capacity building assistance to microenterprise development organizations (MDOs) and programs; (iii) aiding in Research and development of best practices for microenterprise and technical assistance programs for disadvantaged entrepreneurs; and (iv) for other activities as the SBA Administrator determines.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SBA Form 1920 or Grants.gov application package
- Project narrative describing microenterprise services and target population
- Organization history and demonstrated experience documentation
- Budget and cost-share commitment letters
- Organizational capacity documentation (staff qualifications, infrastructure)
- Collaborative agreement (if applying as group)
Program contact
- 👤 Benee Edwards Grantor
- 📧 PRIME@sba.gov
- 📞 2022723268
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 59.050 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$400,000
-
$400,000
-
$400,000
-
$400,000
-
$400,000
-
$400,000
-
$400,000
-
$400,000
-
$300,000
-
$300,000
Top States by Funding
- DC 10 awards $2.7M
- CA 6 awards $1.6M
- MN 6 awards $1.4M
- TX 3 awards $1.0M
- WA 5 awards $0.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 59.050). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $6,897,000 |
FAQ
What types of organizations can apply for PRIME?
Microenterprise development organizations, CDFIs, intermediaries, Indian Tribes, and organizations working with state/local governments qualify. All must demonstrate experience serving disadvantaged entrepreneurs.
Can religious organizations apply?
Yes, but they cannot use PRIME funds for explicitly religious activities and cannot discriminate based on religion.
What activities does PRIME fund?
Training and technical assistance for disadvantaged entrepreneurs, capacity building for microenterprise organizations, and research on best practices are core activities.
Is cost-sharing required?
Yes, applicants must contribute matching funds alongside the federal grant award.
What is the typical award range?
Awards typically range from $75,000 to $400,000 depending on project scope and organization capacity.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly document your organization's track record serving disadvantaged entrepreneurs with specific metrics and success stories.
- If applying as a Collaborative, ensure all partners independently meet PRIME eligibility criteria and define roles clearly.
- Develop a realistic matching funds plan early; identify committed cost-share sources before application submission.
- Align your proposed activities with the four core PRIME purposes: training, capacity building, research, and related activities.
- Demonstrate strong connections to local communities and existing partnerships that strengthen your microenterprise services.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to document sufficient experience serving disadvantaged entrepreneurs or treating track record as optional. Submitting Collaborative applications where partner organizations don't independently meet eligibility standards. Underestimating the cost-share requirement or securing uncommitted matching funds.
Similar grants
- OPEN Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority- Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization P — Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
- CLOSING SOON Fiscal Year 2026 Small Dollar Loan Program — Community Development Financial Institutions
- OPEN BIA-IBIP-OIED-2026 — Bureau of Indian Affairs
- OPEN Neighborhood Assistance Program and Special Program Priorities (NAP-SPP) — Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
- OPEN Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority (PMBDA) — Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development