The following is reprinted with permission of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation. For details, visit https://nwmf.org/grants-scholarships/grants/
December 15, 2025 (Bemidji, MN) – The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is now accepting grant applications from small businesses and nonprofits to invest in existing operations or planned growth.
Through the PROMISE Act (Providing Resources and Opportunity and Maximizing Investments in Striving Entrepreneurs), created and funded by the Minnesota Legislature, NMF, in partnership with the Department of Employment and Economic Development, has been awarded $1.3 million to disburse one-time grants up to $50,000 to small businesses and qualified nonprofits. Businesses can use funds for working capital to support payroll expenses, rent or mortgage payments, utility bills, equipment, and other similar expenses that occur in the regular course of business. 
The PROMISE Act program is intended to drive fair economic recovery by boosting small, rural, and minority-owned businesses, which face the largest barriers to accessing capital and resources. DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency, promoting business recruitment, expansion and retention, workforce development, international trade and community development.
Applications will be accepted through Jan. 30, 2026. Grants will not be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. NMF expects to receive more eligible applications than available funding; in that case, eligible applications will be scored using the preference criteria established by the PROMISE Act legislation, and a random assignment process will be utilized as necessary to select the final awardees.
For details, visit https://nwmf.org/grants-scholarships/grants/