*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 go through our Rural Woman Grant Checklist. 

Purpose:  This grant program aims to foster greater economic development activity in Rural Texas by encouraging and enabling rural women-owned, small businesses to undertake new and innovative projects.   

A total of ten $5,000 grants for a total of $50,000 are available for this round of funding. 

Who can apply? Eligible businesses must satisfy all of the following conditions:  

• Existing rural, woman-owned businesses (at least 51% directly owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens). The business owner must reside in Texas.
• The business must currently be set up as a legal business entity. 
• 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.
• If the business or business owner owns the premises where the company is, all property taxes must be current.
• All sales, payroll, and other taxes must be current.
• The business must be located and operated within Texas in an eligible rural county. 
• The business, 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.
• Previous grant winners cannot apply.
• The business must be in one of the eligible rural counties in Texas.  
• The business, business owner and applicant operate with all required permits and licenses and conform to all 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.

• TWU faculty/staff (or any immediate family member of the applicant's family, including spouse, child, parent), trustee, and advisory committee member.
• TWU Students are not eligible to apply.
• Prior grant winners.
• Applicants who participated in any CWE program in the last year, including AccelerateHER, TechFW, or NTEETC awardees.

What can the funds be used for?  

• 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 result in increased sales and revenue.
• Marketing or advertising campaigns.
• Any other business-related activity that CWE deems is aligned with the stated purpose of this program (Please email cwegrants@twu.edu to see if something is eligible.) 

Funds can’t be used for:  

• Wages, salaries, bonuses, or any kind of compensation are ineligible under this program and won't be funded. 
• Real Property, including Buildings, Land, etc., will not be funded. 
• Monthly bills or any recurring bills. 

What are the grant requirements?  

The successful applicant will receive two installments of the award:

· $2,500 after signing the grant agreement, a photo release, and all required paperwork for payment. 

· $2,500 following completion of a small business training course hosted by the Center for Women Entrepreneurs, 3 hours of small business advising/mentoring, and submission and approval of a completed business plan with three years of financials. 

• itemized receipts or proof of purchases made with initial grant funds of $2,500 (costs must have been incurred after receiving grant funding) must be provided to CWE to receive the remaining $2,500.
• Meet with CWE staff to talk over the grant specifics and ask any questions you have.
• Use the spreadsheet the CWE provides for documentation.

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

Application requirements  

• Applications will only be accepted electronically via our online application site by 5:00:00 p.m., July 5, 2024. Revisions are not permitted following submission and second applications are not allowed. Applications received after 5:00:00 p.m. will be automatically rejected. Winners will be notified on July 23,  2024.
• Include documentation that your business is 51% or more woman-owned and controlled. The following are      acceptable:                               
  • Any woman-owned certification
  • Sole proprietor/assumed name/DBA filings.
  • LLC or LLP documentation showing owner name(s). 
  • Certification of organization, articles of incorporation, partnership agreement showing members and percentage of the business owned. 

Do not send an LLC or other entity document with only a business name – (must show owners & percentages), EIN, sales & use tax permit, income taxes, driver's license, credit card, or passport. If you don't see it listed above send an email to cwegrants@twu.edu to see if your paperwork will count. Most apps are rejected because proof of ownership isn't shown.

• Background on your company and describe the project the grant would be used for (must use the template below).
• All required information and documentation must be uploaded (for example:  proposals from a vendor, quotes or estimates, preliminary invoices, etc.). Incomplete applications will be automatically rejected.

Company Background & Project Narrative Copy & Paste this information into 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 we have to search for this information.  

• Description of the company’s current operations, including products, services, markets, etc.
• Description of the company’s current operating facilities – both owned and leased (even if it is your home.)
• 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 (please see the example in 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

After you’ve been awarded  

• The successful applicant will receive a $2,500 payment after all required paperwork is submitted
• Awardees are required to submit the following to receive their second $2,500 
• Complete the small business training courses hosted by the Center for Women Entrepreneurs
• Submit and receive approval for a completed business plan
• Send in itemized paid receipts or proof of purchases made with grant funds (costs must have been incurred after receiving grant funding.)
• 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 winners a 1099 for the grant funds received.