Women play a major role in Kentucky’s small business community. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 Kentucky Small Business Profile, women-owned businesses account for 42% of businesses in the state. If you’re looking for ways to start or grow your business, there are several funding programs worth exploring. From small business tax credits and agricultural funding to export assistance and grants for women-owned businesses, these programs can help with everything from buying equipment to expanding into new markets. Here are the available funding opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Kentucky.
1. Kentucky Small Business Tax Credit
Award: $3,500 to $25,000 per year
Focus: Job creation and investment in equipment or technology
If your business is growing and you have recently added an employee or invested in new equipment, the Kentucky Small Business Tax Credit (KSBTC) could help reduce your state tax bill.
Most businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees can qualify, and the program covers a wide range of industries, including retail and service businesses. To qualify, the company must have hired and kept at least one new full-time employee and invested at least $5,000 in qualifying equipment or technology. The amount of the tax credit depends on the number of jobs created and the size of the investment.
This is not a grant or cash payment. It is a tax credit that is applied to the Kentucky state tax return for the year it is awarded. Applications received by November 1 would be considered for the 2026 program.
2. Kentucky State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) Grant
Award: Up to $10,000 in reimbursements
Focus: Exporting and international market development
Selling products or services outside the United States can open up a much larger customer base, but getting into international markets can be expensive. The Kentucky STEP Grant helps eligible small businesses cover some of those costs.
The program reimburses approved expenses related to export development. Eligible activities can include international trade shows, foreign-market sales trips, export training, international marketing, website development and translation, compliance testing, and certain legal and trade services.
The program is intended for established Kentucky small businesses that are ready to begin exporting or expand their international sales. Earlier program materials specify that eligible businesses must generally have been operating for at least one year, meet SBA size standards, and have products or services containing at least 51% U.S. content or that qualify as U.S.-origin.
Because STEP works through reimbursements, you should understand the approval process before taking on expenses you plan to claim.
Related post: Can You Get a Business Grant With No Revenue? What Women Entrepreneurs Need to Know
3. Kentucky Proud Promotional Grant
Award: Up to $8,000 per year
Focus: Marketing and advertising Kentucky agricultural products
Women running farms, food businesses, agritourism businesses, and other companies that promote Kentucky agricultural products can look into the Kentucky Proud Promotional Grant.
The program reimburses up to 50% of eligible future marketing and advertising expenses that promote products with a direct Kentucky farm connection. The maximum grant is $8,000 per calendar year, subject to the program’s limit based on the applicant’s direct Kentucky farm impact. The lifetime cap is $36,000.
You must be a Kentucky Proud member to be considered. Eligible expenses can include advertising, marketing materials, and efforts to reach consumers at the point of purchase. The grant is not retroactive, so expenses incurred before approval are not eligible.
4. Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund
Award: Varies by project
Focus: Agricultural diversification, rural development, and value-added agriculture
For women working in farming and agribusiness, the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund (KADF) is worth exploring because it supports a wide range of agricultural projects rather than one specific type of business.
The fund supports projects that help Kentucky agriculture become more diverse and profitable. Depending on the project, funding can support areas such as agricultural diversification, value-added production, food processing, agricultural technology, farm infrastructure, farmers’ markets, and other projects that strengthen local agricultural businesses.
There is no single award amount because funding depends on the project and whether the money comes from a county, multi-county, or state allocation. Recent 2026 awards show how wide the range can be. For example, the board has approved cost-reimbursement grants, forgivable loans, and other forms of assistance for projects involving commercial kitchens, agricultural facilities, processing, and other business investments.
Kentucky has also allocated $35.4 million for FY2026 and $32.7 million for FY2027 to the Agricultural Development Fund, supporting grants, incentives, and low-interest loans.
5. County Agricultural Incentives Program (CAIP)
Award: Varies by county
Focus: Farm improvements and agricultural diversification
The County Agricultural Incentives Program (CAIP) gives Kentucky agricultural producers cost-share assistance for projects that improve or diversify their farm operations.
The program covers 11 areas, including farm infrastructure, livestock, fencing and water, horticulture, poultry, forage and grain improvement, agricultural technology, energy, marketing, and value-added production.
There is no single statewide award amount because funding is handled at the county level. Recent 2026 approvals show significant variation between counties, with individual county programs receiving amounts ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars for producer projects. Application periods are announced locally.
6. Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation Beginning Farmer Loan Program
Award: Up to $250,000
Focus: Farm purchase, expansion, equipment, livestock, and working capital
Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation (KAFC) Beginning Farmer Loan Program is designed for people with farming experience who want to develop, expand, or buy into a farming operation. Financing can be used for livestock, equipment, farm facilities, working capital, farmland, or an investment in a farm partnership or LLC.
A beginning farmer generally must not have owned a farm or ranch for more than 10 years, must have participated in a farm operation for at least three years, and must substantially participate in the proposed operation. KAFC can finance up to $250,000 or 50% of project costs, subject to the program’s requirements.
How to apply: Work with a participating lender and review KAFC’s current Beginning Farmer Loan Program requirements.
7. Kentucky Small Business Credit Initiative 2.0
Award: Loan support and seed-stage equity investment
Focus: Access to capital for small businesses
The Kentucky Small Business Credit Initiative (KSBCI) 2.0 is another option for women business owners who need more capital than a grant can provide.
Kentucky has been allocated $117 million over 10 years through the program. The funding is used to expand access to business financing through loan support and early-stage venture capital. A portion of the funding is targeted to very small businesses and businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
The state uses the program to reduce some of the risk for participating lenders, which can help creditworthy businesses that might otherwise struggle to qualify for conventional financing.
8. Minority & Women Business Enterprise Certification
Cost: Certification program
Focus: Government and business contracting opportunities
If you are a woman-owned business, Kentucky’s Minority & Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) Certification Program can open another route to revenue.
The program certifies qualifying women- and minority-owned businesses and helps them compete for government and other contracting opportunities. Certified businesses can pursue small-purchase opportunities with the Commonwealth, construction and subcontracting opportunities, and gain visibility through Kentucky’s SMALL BUSINESS CONNECTion database.
Certification can also help a Kentucky woman-owned business meet home-state certification requirements when pursuing MWBE certification in other states.
To qualify as a woman-owned business, the woman or women must generally own, control, operate, and manage at least 51% of the company.
9. Amber Grant
Award: $10,000 monthly
Focus: Women-owned businesses and startups
You shouldn’t limit your funding search to programs offered by the state. The Amber Grant, one of the most well-known business grants for women, is available to eligible entrepreneurs in the U.S. and Canada.
WomensNet awards three $10,000 grants each month through its general Amber Grant, Startup Grant, and Business Category Grant programs. The Startup Grant is designed for women who are still in the idea stage or whose businesses have made less than $10,000 in sales. Monthly winners can also qualify for three $50,000 year-end grants.
One application is used for the monthly grant categories, which makes the program relatively straightforward to enter. An application fee applies.
Our Amber Grant for women guide provides more information about eligibility and the application process.
Related post: Amber Grant Application Mistakes to Avoid in 2026
10. Hey Helen Grant
Award: $10,000 monthly
Focus: Women-owned, mission-driven businesses
The Hey Helen Grant awards $10,000 each month to a woman or nonbinary entrepreneur running a qualifying woman-owned, for-profit business in the United States.
The grant is unrestricted, meaning the money can be used for ordinary business needs such as marketing, hiring, technology, inventory, and operations. The business must be at least 50% women-owned and registered in the U.S., with annual revenue below $1 million. Pre-revenue businesses can also apply, making this one of the best business grants for women to consider if you have no revenue.
Applications remain on file for 12 months, and a $15 administrative fee applies.
How to apply: Complete the online application through Visionaries and review the current eligibility requirements before submitting.
11. HerRise MicroGrant
Award: $1,000 monthly
Focus: Under-resourced women entrepreneurs, including women of color
The HerRise MicroGrant gives $1,000 each month to qualifying women-owned businesses in the U.S. The program focuses on under-resourced women entrepreneurs, including women of color.
Your business must be at least 51% women-owned, registered in the U.S., and have less than $1 million in gross revenue. The application also allows businesses to indicate that they are pre-revenue, making this a potential option for some newer companies.
There is a $15 administrative fee, and applications are due by the last day of each month to be considered for that month’s grant.
12. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant
Award: $10,000
Focus: Small business growth and digital skills
The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Grant is awarding $10,000 grants to small businesses through monthly selections. To unlock the grant application, business owners first need to create a free Digital Ready account and complete any combination of two eligible courses or events.
The program is open to eligible for-profit small businesses in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Priority is given to businesses in under-resourced and low-to-moderate-income communities.
Conclusion
There are many funding opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Kentucky, whether you are starting a business, investing in new equipment, entering international markets, or growing an agricultural operation. Some programs provide direct grants, while others offer tax credits, financing, or support that can reduce the cost of growing a business.
The key is to look for opportunities that fit your business and its current needs. Alongside state and local programs, national grants can give Kentucky women even more funding options. Keep checking program requirements and deadlines, as funding opportunities can change throughout the year.
