E-Commerce Grant

Take your business beyond the storefront—or your front door. This grant helps Mecklenburg County businesses, including eligible home-based businesses, develop or improve the tools needed to sell products and services online. Up to two grants will be awarded.

Purpose

The E-Commerce Grant is designed to help businesses reach more customers and create new sales opportunities through e-commerce.

What It Covers

This is a 1:1 matching grant, providing up to $10,000 per business. Funding may support the development of a new e-commerce website, online store, or mobile application, or the addition of online sales capabilities to an existing platform. Eligible features may include product or service catalogs, shopping carts, online ordering, payment processing, and point-of-sale integrations that directly support online sales.

Qualifications

  • Must currently be a small business physically located in Mecklenburg County, and in operation for at least one year prior to the application.
  • Must have a current business license (if one is required at your location) at the time of grant application. License must remain paid and active until three years after the date grant funds are received.
  • Work cannot have started before application approval.
  • Business cannot be in default or non-compliance with any county programs, ordinances, or taxes.
  • Must sign up for the county’s email listing, which provides business resource information including educational opportunities.
  • Must complete approved projects within one year of grant approval.
  • Must be a small, locally owned business (located in Mecklenburg County). Note:
  • If you are a local franchisee with no corporate support, you are still eligible to apply.
  • The project must establish a new website, online store, or mobile application where none currently exists, or add meaningful e-commerce functionality to an existing website, application, or social media platform. Eligible improvements may include online payment processing, a product or service catalog, a shopping cart, online ordering, or other features that allow customers to purchase products or services online.

Details & Exclusions

  • General website redesigns, cosmetic updates, or social media improvements that do not add or significantly improve online sales capabilities are not eligible.
  • Recurring expenses do not qualify (e.g. hosting, monthly maintenance).
  • Receipts must be paid in full by the applicant and presented to Mecklenburg County once the project is complete to be eligible for up to 50% reimbursement.
  • Non-profit entities are not eligible.

How to Apply

  1. Complete, sign, and submit the grant application. Include at least two quotes, a copy of your current business license, and a signed IRS Form W-9. Submit via email, mail, or in person to the Mecklenburg County Economic Development & Tourism Office.
  2. Applications close on November 30. The committee reviews will take place in December, and awards will be announced in January. *
  3. Begin the work once you return the signed performance agreement.

*If funds related to this grant are not fully expended in this grant round, there is potential for a 2nd round of grant applications.

Prepare for your submission
Review a pdf of the application that will be available to submit online from September 1 – November 30. This sample pdf application is not for submission and will not be accepted as a valid application.

Download the Sample Application