The Norwalk Innovations Initiative is a financial assistance program that provides grants to entrepreneurs, start-ups, and existing businesses located in Norwalk.
Donor Name: City of Norwalk
State: Connecticut
City: Norwalk
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/15/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Norwalk Innovations Initiative has been established to provide entrepreneurs, start-ups, and existing businesses with grant funding to support initial establishment, expansion efforts, and growth within the City of Norwalk. Limited, one-time financial assistance will be available to Norwalk entrepreneurs, start-ups, and existing businesses that employ or plan to employ between 2 and 50 individuals. The goals of the Initiative are to support entrepreneurs, start-ups, and existing businesses and decrease vacancy rates and decrease unemployment rates.
Funding Information
There is currently $50,000 available for the 2025 round of the Norwalk Innovations Initiative via capital funds. Grants awarded will range between $5,000 and $15,000. Norwalk Innovations grants are reimbursable in nature.
Uses of funds
Funds are intended to support start-up and initial business costs. They are also intended to support job growth opportunities and expansion into physical commercial spaces in Norwalk. As such funds may be used for a variety of expenses, including but not limited to the following:
- Business registration and licensing fees;
- Local permitting and licensing fees;
- Physical space improvements and build out;
- Rent;
- Utilities;
- Machinery;
- Capital expenditures;
- Payroll;
- Insurance;
- Health and safety improvements;
- Others (priorly approved by the Department of Business Development and Tourism).
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to participate in the Norwalk Innovations Initiative, participants must:
- Be a Norwalk business or plan to register a business in Norwalk
- Employ or plan to employ between 2 and 50 employees
- Have been a client or participant in an educational, financial, or mentorship program with the City of Norwalk or any of its affiliated partners.
- Be current on all local, state, and federal tax obligations
- Have no unresolved zoning or blight violations.
For more information, visit City of Norwalk.
