Hiring Our Heroes’ Small Business Grant Program 2025

The Hiring Our Heroes’ Small Business Grant Program is now accepting applications for 2025! This initiative celebrates and supports small businesses owned by veterans and military spouses, recognizing their contributions to local economies and the nation’s overall growth.

Thanks to the generosity of the FedEx Founder’s Fund, a program of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, and USAA Small Business Insurance, this grant aims to provide financial assistance to eligible small businesses, empowering them to expand and thrive.

Grant Details

Five selected businesses will each receive a one-time grant of $10,000 to help fuel their growth, sustain operations, and strengthen their impact.

Who Can Apply?

To qualify for the Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Be a legal U.S. resident currently residing in the contiguous 48 states, Alaska, or Hawaii.
Own at least 51% of a for-profit business with between 3 and 20 employees (including full-time, part-time, and independent contractors).
Be an honorably discharged veteran or a military spouse. Eligible individuals include:
- Veterans who have served in active duty, the National Guard, or the Reserve components of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, or Coast Guard with an honorable discharge.
- Current members of the National Guard or Reserve in any military branch.
- Spouses of active-duty service members or members of the National Guard or Reserve.
Operate a business with annual revenue under $5 million that is located in an economically vulnerable community or can demonstrate financial hardship. A community qualifies as economically vulnerable if it has a Distressed Communities Index stress score of 40 or higher.