Economic Assistance Grant (EAG)

Economic Assistance Grant

Supports Utah businesses in targeted industries with competitive grants for projects that build jobs and local economic opportunity.

The Economic Assistance Grant (EAG) is administered by the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) and directs competitive grant funding to Utah-based businesses pursuing projects in the state's five Targeted Industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace and Defense, Financial Services, Life Sciences and Healthcare, and Software and IT. The FY2026 cycle allocates a total of $4.5 million in grant awards, with individual grants reaching up to $200,000. The program is structured into three competitive tiers: Tier 1 covers requests up to $50,000, Tier 2 covers $50,001 to $100,000, and Tier 3 covers $100,001 to $200,000, with applications reviewed and scored within each tier.

Eligibility is limited to for-profit and nonprofit businesses with a principal place of business in Utah that are registered and in good standing with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Government entities are explicitly excluded. Scoring criteria emphasize measurable project outcomes, thorough project planning, the degree to which applicants leverage matching funds or additional sources, and sound budgets. All funded projects must be completed within 18 months of the award date. As of June 2026, the FY2026 application portal had not yet opened; GOEO has signaled a Fall 2026 launch, and new applicants must request portal credentials approximately one business day before applying.

Organizations that want to compete strongly should begin preparing project documentation, budget narratives, and measurable outcome metrics well in advance of the Fall 2026 portal opening. Leveraging matching funds from other sources is a scored criterion, meaning proposals that pair EAG funding with federal grants, private investment, or other state programs will score higher than those relying solely on EAG dollars. Because tiers are competitive within each funding band, selecting the right tier for the requested amount is a strategic decision that affects the field of competition an applicant faces.