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Submit to 2026 Texas Rural Grant

**Please read the Grant Guidelines and FAQs and watch the videos before you apply for the grant.** You can make changes to your application until you hit submit. Once you've submitted your application, you can no longer make changes. Before you sign and submit, please review our Rural Woman Grant Checklist to ensure you have included everything we need. 

Texas Rural Grant Guidelines 2026 Texas Rural Woman Grant

 Purpose:   Foster greater economic development activity in Rural Texas by encouraging and enabling rural woman-owned, small businesses to undertake new and innovative projects. 

A total of 10 grants of $10,000 each, totaling $100,000, will be awarded.

   Who can apply?  

  • Existing rural companies (at least 51% directly owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizens).
  • The business owner must reside in Texas.
  • The business must be in one of the eligible rural counties in Texas.
  • The business must have existed as a woman-owned business in Texas for at least three years and been formed before 06/19/2023
  • The business must be a for-profit corporation, partnership, LLP, LLC, or sole proprietorship. Not-for-profit corporations or similar nonprofit entities are not eligible.
  • All property taxes must be current if the business or business owner owns the company's premises.
  • All sales, payroll, and other taxes must be current.
  • The business must be located and operated within an eligible Texas County.
  • The business, the business owner, and the applicant must not be involved in any pending or current litigation.
  • The business owner must not have any felonies or convictions for a crime of dishonesty or breach of trust.
  • The business, the business owner, and the applicant operate with all required permits and licenses and comply with all applicable laws. Please check the Texas Taxable Entity Search page to verify your business is in good standing with the state: https://mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/

Ineligible applicants 

  • Any business that is not on our rural county list.
  • Rural businesses registered from June 19, 2023–present
  • TWU faculty/staff (or any immediate family member of the applicant’s family, including spouse, child, parent), trustee, and advisory committee member.
  • TWU Students.
  • Prior grant winners.
  • Applicants who participated in any CWE program within the last year, including AccelerateHER, NTEETC/Foundations EDC, or FastTrac awardees.

What can the funds be used for? 

  • A project that you will fund right now.
  • Purchase of machinery, equipment, or technology.
  • Farm implements or machinery.
  • Addition or acquisition of new inventory or raw materials.
  • Purchase and installation of fixtures or display units.
  • Property improvements that will increase sales and revenue.
  • Marketing or advertising campaigns.
  • Any other business-related activity that CWE deems is aligned with the stated purpose of this program.

Funds can’t be used for: 

  • Wages, salaries, bonuses, or compensation are ineligible under this program and will not be funded.
  • Real Property – Buildings, Land, etc., cannot be purchased with this grant.
  • Paying your regular monthly bills.
  • Sales tax.

What are the grant requirements?

  • Successful applicants will receive one installment of the award up to 30 days after all required paperwork has been submitted and approved by TWU. 
  • Awardees will receive $10,000 after signing a grant agreement and submitting all required documentation.
  • All receipts must be totaled and submitted for review before Aug. 31, 2026, and cannot include sales tax.

Application requirements  

  • Applications will only be accepted electronically via our online application site by 5:00:00 p.m., June 05, 2026. Revisions are not permitted following submission. Applications received after 5:00:00 p.m. will be automatically rejected. Winners will be notified on June 19, 2026.
  • Send only the formation documents below showing all owners or managers of the business.  The following are acceptable:                    
  • Sole proprietor/assumed name filings
    • LLC or LLP documentation showing all members or owners 
    • Certification of organization, articles of incorporation, or a partnership agreement showing the members. The percentage owned must be included if a male is listed. These documents must be sent with the entity formation document. 

Disqualifying documents include an LLC or other entity document with only a business name (must show owners & percentages), an EIN, a sales & use tax permit, income taxes, a driver’s license, a credit card, or apassport. If you are unsure of your documentation, email cwegrants@twu.edu to see if your paperwork will count. Most applications are immediately rejected because proof of ownership isn’t shown.

Submission Requirements:  

  • Company Background & description of the grant project the grant will be used for (must use the template below).
  • All required information and documentation must be uploaded (for example, vendor proposals, quotes or estimates, preliminary invoices, etc.). Incomplete applications will be automatically rejected.

Company background & Project information

  Copy & Paste this information in a PDF that you will upload to your online grant application — each question must be answered, put N/A if not applicable. This information is mandatory and must be easily found. Do not send a business plan or application that doesn’t include each of these bullets.

   Company Background & Project Narrative 

  • Description of the company’s current operations, including products, markets, etc.
  • Description of the company’s current operating facilities – both owned and leased
  • Summary of the company’s current full and part-time employment
  • Description of the company’s need to undertake the proposed project
  • Budget for the project, including project costs and sources of funds (see FAQ)
  • Physical description of the proposed project, including any business or residential relocation that may result from the undertaking of the project
  • Projected new employment for each of the three years following project completion, including job title
  • Explanation of how your project will contribute to the economy of Texas

Learn more about the Company’s Background and Project Information    After you’ve been awarded  

  • After submitting all required paperwork, the successful applicant will receive the grant funds. Applicants will be required to:                    
    • Complete 3 business training courses hosted by the Center for Women Entrepreneurs.
    • Create a 3-year cash flow showing how the grant will help the business.
    • Send in itemized paid receipts or proof of purchases made with grant funds (costs must have been incurred after receiving grant funding).
    • Spend 3 hours with a Small Business Advisor.
    • Use the spreadsheet that the CWE provides for documentation.  
  • Awardees will need to sign a grant agreement and photo release BEFORE they can access grant funds. 

The University will send the winners a 1099 for the grant funds received.

   

TWU - Center for Women Entrepreneurs