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The Backing Small Businesses grant program, supported by American Express, empowers locally significant small businesses, helping them fuel growth and continue to make a meaningful impact in their communities.
The Backing Small Businesses grant program, supported by American Express, provides support to locally significant small businesses with community reach. In 2025, the program provided grants of $10,000 to fund projects that promote sustainable growth, enhance long-term resilience, and increase local impact.
Get information about future grant rounds, as well as other small business resources and opportunities, by subscribing to our “Small Business Resources, Information, and Updates” list.
This program marks the latest effort in American Express’ “Backing Small Businesses” work to equip small businesses with resources to grow and innovate today, prepare for tomorrow, and overcome challenges big and small. Other Backing Small grant programs include Backing Historic Small Restaurants and Backing International Small Restaurants.
In 2021, American Express and Main Street America created the grant program to help economically vulnerable small business owners recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and grow their businesses.
Since launching, Backing Small Businesses has provided more than $14 million in grants to over 1,600 small business owners nationwide.
The grant application is closed. Receive information about future grant rounds, as well as other small business resources and opportunities, by subscribing to our “Small Business Resources, Information, and Updates” list.
Meet 100 resilient small business owners rebuilding with support from our disaster recovery grant program, part of the Backing Small Businesses program supported by American Express.
The 25 small businesses receiving enhancement grants represent 25 states across the country. Earlier this year, each of these recipients also received an additional $10,000 as part of a 500-member cohort.
American Express and Main Street America announced the 500 small business owners who have been awarded $10,000 through the Backing Small Businesses grant program.
Contact SmallBizGrant@mainstreet.org or call (708) 515‑4889 and leave a voicemail with any other questions. Please allow up to two (2) full business days to respond to all inquiries.
Main Street America (the National Main Street Center)‘s Backing Small Businesses Grant Program is supported by American Express. All Applications become the sole property of the Sponsor and information from the Applications may be provided to American Express. Please review the Main Street America privacy policy here: https://www.mainstreet.org/mainstreetamerica/privacypolicy.
Through our Small Business Support work, Main Street America is equipping both small business owners and economic development leaders with tools, resources, and opportunities to build stronger and more resilient local economies.
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