6 tips on how Miami’s small business owners can win free money

Business admin July 23, 2026 0 Comments

6 tips on how Miami’s small business owners can win free money

Running a business can be expensive. For 36 South Florida business owners, free money in the form of grants can go a long way.

The Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust recently announced the 18 recipients of its $10,000 Small Business Capitalization grants and the 18 recipients of its $2,500 Business Resource and Education grants.

Both grants are offered to businesses on an annual basis. To qualify for the $10,000 grant, businesses must meet a list of criteria that includes being in business for at least three years, having a physical Miami-Dade business address on Sunbiz.org and providing the three past years of business tax returns.

Applicants can apply for the annual grants online . The next round of grant applications will open at a date to be determined.

Co-Space South Florida owner Joy St. Clair, one of the recipients of the Small Business Capitalization grant, agreed to share her insight on what worked for her.

Here are her six tips:

Make time for your application

Using time wisely was a big help for St. Clair to complete her application and get selected. As the owner of Co-Space, a content creator and small-business-owner coach, she is busy and recognized the importance of carving out time for her grant application.

“I always tell people that you have to make time,” she said. “The second the packet becomes available you have to start. Read the whole thing from the start to the finish.”

Break the application down into parts

Grant applications can be daunting and may have many parts. St. Clair recommends that business owners break them down into smaller sections to complete the application.

“If it’s 20 parts, give yourself 20 hours,” she said. “Have a plan and know what each step entails. A lot of people won’t look at the document until it’s time to apply.”

Create your own deadline

As a final resort, St. Clair recommends that grant applicants plan for a deadline a week ahead to make sure they have plenty of time to apply.

“If it’s due one June 1st, give yourself a reminder,” she said. “That way, worst case scenario, I know the week before I have a whole day blocked out to get it done.”

All criteria must be addressed

Grant applications can have long lists of criteria and St. Clair recommends carefully providing everything that is requested before submitting your application.

“They’re not playing,” she said. “They’re giving away money. It’s 100% or nothing and they’re very clear about that.”

Earning the grant is only one benefit

For St. Clair, winning the grant money is important, but the support that comes with being selected for a grant is equally important.

Applying for a grant will quickly show a business owner whether their paperwork and business is in order.

“The money is a great thing, but taking your business seriously is a benefit of the grant,” she said.

Know how you will use the money

St. Clair recommends that business owners have a list of ways they will immediately use the grant money that they receive. She self-funded Co-Space and already plans on using her $10,000 grant to improve on her new location’s construction and buy new equipment.

“As business owner, you should have favors you need and things you need.,” she said. “People may not give you money, but they will give you things that you need.”