Small Business Grants in Las Vegas (2026)
Las Vegas's small business economy extends well beyond hospitality — with a growing tech scene around UNLV and downtown's Innevation Center, a diversifying manufacturing base in North Las Vegas and Henderson, and specialized sports and entertainment technology emerging around the Strip's new venues. For bootstrapped founders, the City of Las Vegas Economic and Urban Development Department runs corridor and small business programs, while Clark County's Department of Comprehensive Planning and the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) coordinate regional support. At the state level, the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) runs the Battle Born Growth Escalator program and sector-specific initiatives. Nevada's Knowledge Fund supports tech commercialization from the state's research universities. Federal SBIR/STTR activity flows through UNLV and the Desert Research Institute. Bootstrap Directory indexes Las Vegas-eligible grants, competitions, and founder perks so you can compare programs across city, county, state, and federal layers without reading ten different RFPs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nevada Knowledge Fund?
The Knowledge Fund is a Nevada state program that supports research commercialization at UNLV, UNR, and DRI. For Las Vegas founders working in partnership with UNLV researchers — particularly in engineering, biomedical, and clean energy areas — the Knowledge Fund creates pathways to matched capital and non-dilutive translational support.
Are there grants for entertainment or hospitality tech?
Direct grants specifically for hospitality or entertainment technology are limited, but partnerships with Las Vegas's major venues and operators can unlock corporate innovation programs and pilot-style non-dilutive funding. Federal SBIR/STTR programs with use cases in safety, AI, or venue operations also flow through local researchers.
Who helps Las Vegas founders find and apply for grants?
StartUpNV, the Nevada SBDC network (with centers across Clark County), the Urban Chamber of Commerce, and UNLV's Blackstone LaunchPad all provide free or low-cost grant counseling. LVGEA and the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce also connect founders to broader economic development programs.