One NC Small Business Program — SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds

The One NC Small Business Program’s SBIR/STTR Phase I Incentive Funds track sits under the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation and is run by the Office of Science, Technology & Innovation at the North Carolina Department of Commerce. It supports North Carolina small businesses before the federal award by reimbursing part of the cost of preparing and submitting an SBIR or STTR Phase I proposal. The reimbursement is 75% for businesses in Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties and 50% for Tier 3 counties, up to $12,000 per application. Eligible costs include consulting, technical writing, market research, and directly related travel. The program is annual, uses CyberGrants, and is limited to one incentive grant per year with a lifetime maximum of 10. The median actual award in the available data is $8,213. This track is meant to raise the number and quality of federal applications, not just subsidize paperwork. It is strongest for a North Carolina company that is preparing a serious Phase I submission and can use a modest reimbursement to cover the last mile of proposal development. Distressed counties receive the better reimbursement rate, which shows how directly the program is tied to place-based innovation policy.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.