Wyoming Small Business Grants 2026: What's Open Now
Quick Answer: Wyoming small business grants are few, and every one reimburses approved costs.
Full answer and how we checked it
On October 18, 2026, Grantsights found Business Training Grants open year-round ($3,000 or $4,000 per trainee, up to $75,000 a year), the Market Expansion Grant (75% up to $4,000), the STEP export grant (75% up to $5,000), and SBIR matches of up to $200,000 for federal award winners. There's no general federal or state grant for an ordinary business. Most Wyoming owners use Business Council loans through their bank, WyoMicro, and the free Wyoming SBDC.
This guide is for: Wyoming owners in Cheyenne, Casper, Laramie, Gillette, Sheridan, and the state's smaller towns who want to know what pays cash this year and what's a loan.
Data note: On October 18, 2026, Grantsights checked every program in this guide on its official page: the Wyoming Business Council's grant, loan, equity, Market Expansion, STEP, SBIR, and Kickstart pages and program guidelines; the Department of Workforce Services' training grant page; the Wyoming Energy Authority; the Wyoming Department of Agriculture; Laramie Main Street; WyoMicro, Wind River Development Fund, Wyoming Capital Access, and Wyoming Smart Capital; the Wyoming SBDC Network; and Treasury's SSBCI summaries. Federal award figures come from the public USAspending.gov API, pulled the same day.
In this guide (10 sections)
- Wyoming small business grants open or recurring in 2026
- Loans, equity, and free help for Wyoming small businesses
- Business Training Grants: Wyoming's most useful grant for an existing business
- Market Expansion and STEP: small grants for selling outside Wyoming
- SBIR matching and Wyoming's startup gap
- Which federal grants reached Wyoming small businesses in FY2025
- What the Wyoming Business Council's website doesn't tell you
- SSBCI in Wyoming: $58.4 million of equity
- How to apply, step by step
- Sources
Wyoming small business grants open or recurring in 2026
Grantsights verified 6 Wyoming grant programs that a for-profit business can apply to and that were open, rolling, or scheduled on October 18, 2026, plus one local facade grant. That's a short list, and the reason is written on the Business Council's own grants page: the agency "is not statutorily able to loan or grant state funds directly to private businesses or individuals," except in specific situations.
| Wyoming program | Who runs it | Amount | Who qualifies | Status | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Training Grants (Workforce Development Training Fund) | Wyoming Department of Workforce Services | $3,000 per trainee a year, $4,000 in preferred industries; $75,000 per business a year | Wyoming businesses with a physical address training workers already on payroll, in good standing with UI and workers' comp | Rolling | Apply 30 to 110 days before training starts | DWS training grants (opens in a new tab) |
| Market Expansion Grant | Wyoming Business Council | 75% of approved costs, up to $4,000; 2 per fiscal year | For-profits with a physical Wyoming presence, over 50% of employees in Wyoming, and under $5 million in revenue, selling into new markets outside Wyoming | Open (guidelines updated July 1, 2026) | At least 30 days before the activity | WBC Market Expansion Grant (opens in a new tab) |
| State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) | Wyoming Business Council, with SBA funds | 75% of eligible export costs, up to $5,000; 2 per grant period | Small businesses operating in Wyoming with at least 1 full-time employee besides the owner and products with 51%+ U.S. content | Open; grant period July 1, 2026 to September 29, 2027 | At least 45 days before the event | WBC STEP (opens in a new tab) |
| SBIR Matching Grant | Wyoming Business Council (Startup: Wyoming) | Up to $100,000 for Phase I, $200,000 for Phase II; 4 matches per business | Wyoming companies with an active federal SBIR or STTR award and at least 50% of employees in Wyoming | Open year-round | None | WBC SBIR match (opens in a new tab) |
| Wyoming Energy Dominance Fund | Wyoming Energy Authority | Grants and loans; no published maximum | Companies with coal, oil and gas, pipeline, uranium, critical mineral, or transmission projects; 1:1 match | Rolling, with three review dates a year | Next review November 1, 2026, then March 1 and July 1, 2027 | WEA Energy Dominance Fund (opens in a new tab) |
| Specialty Crop Block Grant | Wyoming Department of Agriculture | $10,000 to $24,500 for 1 year; up to $100,000 for 2 to 3 years | Producers, processors, and groups, for projects that benefit more than one business | Next round expected | Next request for proposals opens January 2027 | Wyoming Agriculture (opens in a new tab) |
| Downtown facade grants (local) | Laramie Main Street Alliance | Up to $1,100 for signs and lighting, $2,200 for maintenance, $5,500 for renovation | Businesses and building owners in downtown Laramie | Rolling while funds last | Monthly design review | Laramie Main Street (opens in a new tab) |
Left out: the Kickstart grant ($5,000 to $50,000), which the Business Council says is "currently paused until further notice"; Building Resilient Communities grants, formerly Business Ready Community, which only cities, counties, and tribes can apply for; the Wyoming Rare Earths Fund, which is limited to commercial rare-earth processing; the USDA meat processing round that closed August 7, 2026; and Arts Council grants, which go to nonprofits and individual artists. An International Trade Incentive Grant still appears on one Business Council page, but the Market Expansion Grant and STEP appear to have replaced it, so we didn't list it. We couldn't find business grants from Casper, Sheridan, or Gillette.
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Loans, equity, and free help for Wyoming small businesses
These are loans, investments, or advising, not grants. In Wyoming they're where most of the state's support for small businesses actually sits.
| Wyoming loan or help option | Who runs it | Amount | Who qualifies | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loan: 50/50 Loan | Wyoming Business Council, with your bank | Lesser of $2.5 million or 50% of the project; owner puts in 15%+; up to 10 years | Wyoming businesses financing real estate, equipment, or working capital | Active; ask your bank | WBC loans (opens in a new tab) |
| Loan: Succession Loan | Wyoming Business Council, with your bank | Lesser of $500,000 or 50% | Buyers of a Wyoming business at least 7 years old | Active | WBC loans (opens in a new tab) |
| Loan: Contract Loan | Wyoming Business Council (direct) | Up to $200,000 for materials on a large contract; 10% borrower share | Businesses with 2 bank denial letters | Active | WBC loans (opens in a new tab) |
| Equity: Wyoming Venture Capital Direct (SSBCI) | Wyoming Business Council | Lesser of $5 million or 50% of a round; targets about 20% | Wyoming startups with 200 or fewer employees and a lead investor already secured | Active | WBC equity direct (opens in a new tab) |
| Loan (SBA microlender): WyoMicro | WyoMicro, Laramie | $500 to $50,000 at 6.5% to 9.5% fixed, up to 6 years | Wyoming small businesses and startups, with free advising | Rolling | WyoMicro lending (opens in a new tab) |
| Loan (Native CDFI): Wind River Development Fund | Wind River Development Fund | $1,000 to $400,000, up to 15 years, typically 6% to 9% | Businesses on the Wind River Reservation and in Fremont and Hot Springs counties; enrollment not required | Rolling | WRDF loans (opens in a new tab) |
| Loan: SBA 504 | Wyoming Capital Access | Long-term fixed-rate loans for buildings and equipment (6.97% on 20- and 25-year terms when checked) | Growing small businesses buying fixed assets | Active | Wyoming Capital Access (opens in a new tab) |
| Loan: Growth Capital Program | Wyoming Smart Capital Network | Buys up to 25% of a bank loan in a subordinate position | Small businesses with a lender | Active | Wyoming Smart Capital (opens in a new tab) |
| Help: Wyoming SBDC Network | Wyoming Small Business Development Center Network | No-cost, confidential advising; up to $5,000 of help each on SBIR Phase I and II proposals | Any Wyoming small business | Ongoing | Wyoming SBDC (opens in a new tab) |
Last updated: 2026-10-18
Wyoming's state support for small businesses runs mostly through banks, communities, and training. To see which Wyoming routes fit your county and industry, run the free eligibility checker, or browse open listings in the Grantsights grant database. The small business grants by state hub compares Wyoming with the other 49 states and DC.
Business Training Grants: Wyoming's most useful grant for an existing business
Business Training Grants pay $3,000 per trainee per fiscal year, or $4,000 in preferred industries, up to $75,000 per business, according to the Department of Workforce Services (opens in a new tab). The preferred industries are construction, energy, manufacturing, health care and social assistance, finance and insurance, technology, and hospitality and tourism, which covers a large share of Wyoming employers.
The rules are practical. Trainees must already be on your payroll, the business must have a physical Wyoming address, and it must be in good standing with unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, the Secretary of State, and HireWYO. Businesses under a year old need a support letter from their local economic development organization. You apply 30 to 110 calendar days before training begins, and since January 1, 2026, applications are accepted on any day of the month.
The money can't replace a training budget you already have, and DWS says plainly that grants won't reimburse costs without a fully executed contract, which you must sign within five business days of receiving it. For example, one company in Wyoming, say a 12-person HVAC contractor in Casper, could send four technicians to a certification course and claim up to $16,000 at the $4,000 construction rate, as long as the contract was signed before the course started.
| Training grant rule | What DWS's page says |
|---|---|
| Amount | $3,000 per trainee a year; $4,000 in preferred industries |
| Cap | $75,000 per business per fiscal year |
| Trainees | Current employees on payroll |
| Timing | Apply 30 to 110 days before training |
| Payment | Reimbursement under a signed contract |
| New businesses | Under 1 year old: local EDO support letter required |
Market Expansion and STEP: small grants for selling outside Wyoming
The Market Expansion Grant pays 75% of approved costs, up to $4,000, for selling into markets beyond the state line: trade shows, marketing campaigns, and similar activities. Lodging is shared at up to $100 a night for 10 nights. A business can win two per fiscal year and fund the same activity three times at most. Revenue must be under $5 million, more than half the workforce must be in Wyoming, and retail, consulting, multilevel marketing, law firms, and real estate developers can't apply.
STEP is the export version. It pays 75% of eligible international costs, up to $5,000, twice per grant period, with a 25% cash match. According to the Business Council's STEP guidelines, the program's total for the current period is $233,333, of which $175,000 is federal, so it's a small pool. Approval takes 5 to 10 business days, and the state contract can take up to 30 working days after that. Anything you spend before the contract is signed isn't reimbursable, and you can't combine STEP and the Market Expansion Grant for the same activity.
SBIR matching and Wyoming's startup gap
Wyoming's SBIR Matching Grant is unusually generous: up to $100,000 for a federal Phase I award and $200,000 for Phase II, according to the Business Council's SBIR page (opens in a new tab). Applications are open year-round. You pitch virtually, get a decision within two weeks of the pitch, and then wait about 45 days for the contract. In return, you report annually for three years and keep a Wyoming presence.
The gap is for companies before that first federal award. Kickstart, which paid $5,000 to $50,000 to early-stage companies, is paused. What's left is the Wyoming SBDC's innovation program, which offers up to $5,000 of assistance with a Phase I proposal and another $5,000 for Phase II, and SSBCI equity for startups that have already found a lead investor. Our SBIR grants complete guide covers how federal Phase I awards are scored.
Which federal grants reached Wyoming small businesses in FY2025
Wyoming small businesses received $3.37 million in federal grant obligations in FY2025, across 12 awards to 7 recipients, according to USAspending.gov records. That's from a Grantsights analysis of USAspending.gov (opens in a new tab) FY2025 grant awards to small-business recipients in Wyoming, pulled from the public USAspending.gov API (opens in a new tab) on October 18, 2026, for grant award types 02 to 05, the "small business" recipient type, a Wyoming recipient location, and October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.
| Assistance listing | Program | FY2025 obligations to Wyoming small businesses | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81.049 | DOE Office of Science Financial Assistance | $1,256,718 | Mostly DOE SBIR/STTR |
| 93.847 | NIH Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Research | $907,860 | NIH SBIR/STTR |
| 47.084 | NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships | $899,726 | NSF SBIR/STTR |
| 93.283 | CDC Investigations and Technical Assistance | $265,850 | Public health project work |
| 93.084 | CDC Prevention of Infectious Diseases | $41,022 | Public health project work |
By agency, DOE sent $1.26 million, HHS $1.21 million, and NSF $0.90 million. No single recipient dominated; the largest took about 33%, and just 5 recipients ended the year with positive net obligations. All of it is research or narrow public health work. A Wyoming business without a funded research project won't find a federal grant here, which is why the state SBIR match matters to the few that do.
Limits: "small business" is self-reported in each recipient's SAM.gov registration (opens in a new tab), and the figures are obligations net of deobligations, not payments. With only 12 awards, one new grant can swing the total by a third.
What the Wyoming Business Council's website doesn't tell you
The Business Council's pages are thorough about rules. These are the points that catch Wyoming owners anyway.
A Wyoming address isn't enough. Wyoming is a favorite home for out-of-state LLCs, and the Market Expansion and STEP guidelines both rule out businesses whose only Wyoming presence is a registered agent or mailbox. You need real operations and most of your employees in the state.
Everything is approved first and paid later. Every grant in the table reimburses, and every one requires approval before you spend. A common mistake is booking a trade show booth, then applying; the Market Expansion Grant wants 30 days' notice and STEP wants 45.
The loans run through your bank. The Business Council's loan page says its loans need a partner such as a bank or local development group, with the Contract Loan as the only direct one. Its 50/50 page even warns that if you don't mention the program up front, your bank might just offer regular terms.
Job creation decides the community grants. Building Resilient Communities money goes to a city or county, not to you, and the Council expects "the creation of great jobs at levels that can justify the state's involvement." Plan on about six months from application to spending.
Grant fees are a red flag. The Wyoming Attorney General's consumer education page (opens in a new tab) lists government grant scams, and the Wyoming Department of Health has warned about fake grant offers that ask for a processing fee. No program in this guide charges to apply.
SSBCI in Wyoming: $58.4 million of equity
Wyoming is one of a few states that put all of its SSBCI money into equity. Treasury's SSBCI capital program summaries (opens in a new tab) list $23.4 million for Wyoming Venture Funds and $35.0 million for Wyoming Venture Direct, both run by the Business Council.
| Wyoming SSBCI program | Allocation | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Wyoming Venture Direct | $35.0 million | Lesser of $5 million or 50% of a round; lead investor required; WYVC never leads |
| Wyoming Venture Funds | $23.4 million | Invests up to $5 million or 50% of a fund; at least 80% of the fund's investments in Wyoming companies |
This helps a software or energy-tech startup raising a seed round. It doesn't help a ranch supply store, a restaurant, or a contractor, which is why the Business Council's bank loans and WyoMicro matter more to most owners than SSBCI does.
How to apply, step by step
- Confirm your Wyoming presence: physical operations and most employees in the state.
- For training, apply to DWS 30 to 110 days before the course.
- For out-of-state sales, apply to the Market Expansion Grant or STEP before you book anything.
- For SBIR companies, apply for the state match once your federal award is active.
- For capital, ask your bank about a Business Council participation, or call WyoMicro.
- Book a free Wyoming SBDC session to check your plan, projections, and loan package.
Owners near the borders can compare. The Colorado small business grants guide covers a neighbor with more state grant programs, and the Utah small business grants guide covers one with a similar focus on loans and training.
Sources
- Wyoming Business Council grants (opens in a new tab)
- Wyoming Business Council loans (opens in a new tab)
- WBC Market Expansion Grant (opens in a new tab)
- WBC State Trade Expansion Program (opens in a new tab)
- WBC SBIR Matching Grant (opens in a new tab)
- WBC Kickstart (paused) (opens in a new tab)
- WBC equity direct (opens in a new tab)
- DWS Business Training Grants (opens in a new tab)
- Wyoming Energy Authority Energy Dominance Fund (opens in a new tab)
- Wyoming Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Program (opens in a new tab)
- Wyoming Attorney General consumer education (opens in a new tab)
- Treasury SSBCI capital program summaries (opens in a new tab)
- Wyoming SBDC Network (opens in a new tab)
- SBA microloans (opens in a new tab)
- USAspending.gov API (opens in a new tab)
- SAM.gov entity registration (opens in a new tab)
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there small business grants in Wyoming?
A handful, and all of them reimburse costs you've had approved first. When Grantsights checked official pages on October 18, 2026, the Department of Workforce Services' Business Training Grants paid $3,000 per trainee, or $4,000 in preferred industries, up to $75,000 a year per business. The Wyoming Business Council's Market Expansion Grant covered 75% of out-of-state marketing costs up to $4,000, and its STEP export grant covered 75% up to $5,000. The Business Council also says it can't, by law, grant state money directly to private businesses except in specific cases, which is why most of its help is bank loans.
How do I get a small business grant in Wyoming?
Pick the activity, then apply before you spend. For training current employees, apply to Workforce Services 30 to 110 days before training starts. For a trade show or out-of-state marketing push, apply to the Market Expansion Grant at least 30 days ahead, or to STEP at least 45 days before an international event. Companies with a federal SBIR or STTR award can apply for the Business Council's SBIR Matching Grant any time of year. Retailers and service firms that don't fit should talk to their bank about Business Council loan participations and to the Wyoming SBDC.
Are there startup grants in Wyoming?
Not right now for most startups. The Business Council's Kickstart grant, which paid $5,000 to $50,000, is paused until further notice. The SBIR Matching Grant pays up to $100,000 for a Phase I award and $200,000 for Phase II, but only to companies that already won federal SBIR or STTR money. The Wyoming SBDC's innovation program offers up to $5,000 of help with a Phase I proposal and another $5,000 for Phase II. Early-stage tech companies with a lead investor can also seek SSBCI equity through Wyoming Venture Capital.
Does Wyoming have grants for women- or minority-owned businesses?
Grantsights didn't find a verified Wyoming grant limited to women- or minority-owned businesses. The former Wyoming Women's Business Center now operates within WyoMicro, which makes loans of $500 to $50,000 and offers free advising and coaching calls. Wind River Development Fund, a Native CDFI serving the Wind River Reservation and Fremont and Hot Springs counties, lends $1,000 to $400,000, and its site says it doesn't provide grants.
What loans can a Wyoming small business get?
Most Wyoming Business Council loans are made with your bank. The 50/50 Loan covers the lesser of $2.5 million or 50% of a project with at least 15% from the owner, the Succession Loan helps buy a Wyoming business at least seven years old (up to $500,000), and the Main Street Loan funds historic downtown building work (up to $100,000). WyoMicro lends $500 to $50,000 at 6.5% to 9.5%, and Wyoming Capital Access offers SBA 504 real estate and equipment loans.
Does Wyoming have a state income tax for businesses?
No. The Wyoming Business Council's business resources page says the state has no corporate or personal state income tax. That's a real advantage, but it also means Wyoming has fewer income tax credits for hiring than states that tax income. Its incentives come instead as training grants, loan participations, and community infrastructure grants made to local governments.
Last updated October 18, 2026. Published by Grantsights from public sources. See our editorial policy, how we build and check guides, corrections and how we make money.
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