NATIONWIDE – Small business owners across the United States are getting a significant boost to fuel growth and community engagement with the launch of the Amex Shop Small Grants Program. A partnership between Main Street America and American Express will provide an initial $5 million pool to fund 250 $20,000 grants to eligible small, independent businesses.
The initiative aims to help business owners grow, innovate, and strengthen the vitality of their local communities. Applications for the program opened today and are already attracting attention from local entrepreneurs ready to invest in their future.
Eligibility and Application Details
To qualify for the $20,000 award, businesses must meet specific criteria designed to support the “brick-and-mortar” cornerstones of local economies.
Key eligibility requirements include:
- Ownership: Must be a for-profit, independently owned small business.
- Location: Must operate out of a physical “brick-and-mortar” storefront and be located in one of the 50 U.S. states or Washington, D.C. (U.S. territories are not eligible). The physical location must have been operational as of January 1, 2025.
- Size: Must employ 20 or fewer Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employees.
- Project Plan: Applicants must submit a detailed and ready-to-execute project plan with a corresponding itemized budget. The project must be completed within the six-month grant period, which runs from April to September 2026.
Ineligible businesses include franchises, non-profits, home-based businesses, online-only businesses, and businesses located in shared spaces.
Grant funds can be used for initiatives like large capital projects, marketing refreshes, new revenue stream development, and crucial community-centric improvements, such as creating gathering spaces or hosting local events. Businesses that do not already have a focus on community support must dedicate a portion of the grant toward this purpose. Funds may not be used for past expenses, debt repayment, rent, payroll, or personal uses.
Application Link
The deadline to apply is Friday, January 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT.
A Focus on Community Impact
The program is a national extension of American Express’s long-standing “Shop Small” movement, which was founded with Small Business Saturday. To further amplify the initial funding, American Express pledged to donate an additional $1 toward the grant fund for every qualifying transaction made with an eligible American Express Card at a participating small business on Small Business Saturday, November 29, 2025.
Applications will be evaluated based on the proposed project’s feasibility, local relevance, and its projected impact on both the business and the wider community. Selected grantees will be notified in March 2026.
Organizers are urging local officials and community partners to help spread the word about this high-impact opportunity.
For More Information: Small business owners and community advocates can direct inquiries to the program administrators at smallbizgrant@mainstreet.org or call 1-708-515-4889.
