Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority logo
Funder · State agency

Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority

Funds Kentucky economic development with business financing, industrial expansion support, and workforce competitiveness programs.

United Statesced.ky.gov
Key stats
Annual funding—
Programs9
Active grants7
Total grants9
About

Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) is Kentucky's statutory business-incentive authority, operating under the Cabinet for Economic Development. It approves and administers the state's core finance tools for companies that create or retain jobs, while the Kentucky Department of Revenue handles the back-office tax processing after approval.

Its portfolio spans tax credits, loans, bonds, and grant reimbursements. Active routes include Kentucky Business Investment, Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act, Kentucky Reinvestment Act, Kentucky Entertainment Incentive, angel and investment-fund credits, a direct loan program, Bluegrass State Skills Corporation training aid, and the Kentucky SBIR/STTR matching funds program. The small-business loan route runs from $15,000 to $100,000, and the SBIR/STTR match reaches $100,000 for Phase I and $150,000 for Phase II.

KEDFA meets on the last Thursday of each month, with projects due by the last Friday of the prior month. The best fit is a Kentucky company with a capital project, training plan, or federal SBIR/STTR award that fits a structured state incentive, especially in manufacturing, agribusiness, services, technology, or related high-tech sectors.

Programs & grants under this funder
Bluegrass State Skills Corporation — Grant-in-Aid (GIA)

Provides Cash reimbursement grants for occupational and skills-upgrade training at new expanding or existing Kentucky businesses.

1 grant
BSSC Grant-in-Aid
Open
— pool
KEDFA Small Business Loan Program

Funds Fixed-rate direct loans for small Kentucky manufacturers and service firms that create at least new full-time.

1 grant
KEDFA Small Business Loan Program
Discontinued
— pool
Kentucky Angel Investment Tax Credit (KAITC)

Administers transferable tax credit for qualified investors making cash equity investments in eligible Kentucky startups.

1 grant
Kentucky Angel Investment Tax Credit (KAITC)
Paused
$3M pool
Kentucky Business Investment (KBI) Program

Administers Income-tax credits and wage assessments for companies establishing or expanding operations in Kentucky.

1 grant
Kentucky Business Investment (KBI) Program
Open
— pool·Rolling submission
Kentucky Entertainment Incentive (KEI) Program

Administers Refundable tax credit for qualifying TV and entertainment-production expenditures in Kentucky.

1 grant
Kentucky Entertainment Incentive (KEI) Program
Open
$75M pool·Rolling submission
Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA)

Administers Sales-and-use-tax refund on construction materials and science and innovation equipment for qualifying new/expanded facilities.

1 grant
Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA)
Open
— pool·Rolling submission
Kentucky Investment Fund Act (KIFA)

Funds tax credits to individuals and corporations investing in KEDFA-approved venture capital funds targeting Kentucky small businesses.

1 grant
Kentucky Investment Fund Act (KIFA)
Open
— pool·Rolling submission
Kentucky Reinvestment Act (KRA)

Administers tax credits for existing Kentucky manufacturers and industrial operators investing in eligible equipment.

1 grant
Kentucky Reinvestment Act (KRA)
Open
— pool·Rolling submission
Kentucky SBIR/STTR Matching Funds Program

Provides Non-dilutive state matching grant or for Kentucky federal small-business innovation/small-business technology transfer awardees.

1 grant
Kentucky SBIR/STTR Matching Funds
Open
— pool
Last verified: 29 May 2026Source: ced.ky.gov