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

The One NC Small Business Program’s SBIR/STTR Phase I Matching Funds track sits under the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology & Innovation and is administered through the Office of Science, Technology & Innovation at the North Carolina Department of Commerce. It is the follow-on side of the state’s SBIR/STTR support system, built for companies that have already won federal Phase I support and need a state match to keep the project moving. Awards equal 50% of the federal Phase I award, capped at $75,000, with 75% paid at the start and the final 25% released when the Phase II proposal is submitted. The program is annual, operates through CyberGrants, and uses the same statewide eligibility frame each year: North Carolina small businesses, with preference for distressed counties and certain smaller Tier 3 firms. The median actual award in the available data is $72,285. The program’s value is in bridge financing rather than open-ended support. It works best for companies that can point to a real federal Phase I win, a credible Phase II path, and enough operating discipline to keep the project active through the next proposal cycle. The state has used the track to widen SBIR/STTR participation across North Carolina rather than concentrate awards in a few large metros.

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