GRANT for Business: Deadline Jan. 23 Amex Shop Small Grants Program

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Amex Shop Small Grants Program, in partnership with American Express®, will fund more than 500 grants of $20,000 each, empowering small businesses to grow, innovate, and support their local communities. The program was initially launched with a $5 million contribution, and as a result of its giving pledge for eligible transactions made on Small Business Saturday®, American Express will now contribute an additional $5.1 million to the program – totaling over $10 million in grants.

The Amex Shop Small Grants Program reflects the shared commitment of American Express and Main Street America to champion small businesses that strengthen communities and help local economies thrive.

Recipients will have a 6‑month period in which to complete their projects, so applicants are encouraged to prepare a “ready-to-execute” project plan and a detailed, itemized budget. During that period, Main Street America will provide opportunities for grant recipients to connect and network with each other, complete self-guided e‑learning courses, and share the story of their business and their Amex Shop Small Grants Program project journey with a variety of audiences.

DEADLINE:  Friday, January 23, 2026 at 11:59 CT.

What types of businesses are eligible?

Applicants must:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Be an owner of an eligible small business.
• Have been an owner of that business on or before January 1, 2025.

Small businesses must:

• Be a for-profit, independently owned business.
• Have a start date on or before January 1, 2024.
  • The start date refers to the date that the business first was in operation providing goods or services and had the potential to generate income.
• Operate out of a physical “brick-and-mortar” location, which must be:
  • Located in one of the 50 U.S. states or Washington D.C. (excludes U.S. territories).
  • A permanent structure.
  • Solely used by that same business operating within it.
• Have operated out of that eligible physical location on or before January 1, 2025.
• Currently employ 20 or less FTE (Full Time Equivalent) employees.
• Meet all federal, state, and local requirements to legally operate.
  • Businesses must maintain up-to-date licenses and permits required dependent on business activities.
  • If the business is required to be registered with the Secretary of State or similar organization, the business must be registered and In Good Standing (or of a similar status in their locality).

An application must:

• Be submitted via MSA’s application submission portal Submittable, which requires you to create an account and login.
• Be submitted within the application open period beginning on November 29, 2025 and ending at 11:59 p.m. CT on January 23, 2026.
• Be submitted in English.

The following are NOT eligible to apply for this program:

• Nonprofits
• Franchises
• Businesses located outside of the 50 U.S. states or Washington, DC (Businesses located in U.S. territories are not eligible)
• Online-only businesses
• Home-based businesses
• Businesses solely operating from within a mobile vehicle, trailer, or other temporary structure
• Businesses who operate, or operate within, shared spaces (e.g. pop-up spaces, coworking spaces, indoor marketplaces)
• Businesses seeking to use grant funds for a location which they own, but which a different business is operating out of, or which is vacant and/or intended for resale

What types of grant expenses are eligible?

Grant funds must be used to help the small business grow and/or innovate and support their local communities. If a business already supports its local community, the grant can be used for growth and/or innovation. If not, a portion of the grant must be dedicated to a community-focused initiative, in addition to business growth and/or innovation. All proposed project plans must be implemented and operational by the end of the grant spending period.

Proposal examples for inspiration:

• Large capital expense projects, a physical or marketing refresh, or adding new revenue streams.
• Creating or improving a community-centric space within the business such as a patio, performance stage, or area used for community gatherings, or hosting events in existing spaces.

All grant funds must be spent during the grant spending period, April-September 2026. All recipients will receive a grant of $20,000.

If the project’s total budget is greater than $20,000, the application must clearly show how the business will source the additional needed funds.

If the primary project is budgeted for less than $20,000, any remaining funds may be used on equipment and inventory, marketing expenses, or other operational expenses, as long as all spending occurs during the grant period. These items should be included in the budget submitted with the application.

Grant funds may NOT be used towards:

• Payment of invoices/credit card purchases made before the grant period
• Debt/loan repayment
• Rent/utilities
• Payroll/staffing/labor (with the exception that grant funds may be used to cover contracted labor being performed by the employee of another business, e.g. contracting a branding consultant or an electrician)
• Personal or non-business-related expenses

How will recipients be selected?

Applications will be reviewed based on (please see FAQs for details):

Eligibility

• Are all eligibility requirements met, both for the applicant and for the project plan?

Business Impact

• What are the expected outcomes of the project to help the business grow and/or innovate?

Community Impact

• Does the small business already support their local community, or have a clear plan as to how the project will positively affect their local community?

Local Significance

• Is the business exemplary in how it represents and/or interacts with the local community?

Feasibility

• Can the project be completed (or substantially completed) with the $20,000 grant within six months?