Wyoming Small Business Grants, Loans and Funding: 50/50 Loan, Kickstart Grant, SBDC and Which Programs Are Unused
Wyoming's state funding for small businesses is smaller and more specialized than most owners expect. Most of what the state offers is a loan, a loan participation, or a program limited to specific applicants. This guide covers the programs that matter, the dollar limits we could verify, the free advising available through the Wyoming SBDC, and the programs the Wyoming Business Council (WBC) lists as unused, so you can skip them.
Program status reflects WBC's May 2026 program catalog, checked on October 29, 2026. Programs may change after the 2026 interim legislative review, so check wyomingbusiness.org before you apply.
Informational only: This guide is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Before you take on debt, accept an investor, or make a tax decision based on a program, talk with a qualified attorney or CPA.
Start Here: What Wyoming Does and Does Not Require
Understand the baseline before you chase funding. Wyoming has no general state business license, no corporate income tax, no personal income tax, and no franchise tax. Your core state filing is with the Wyoming Secretary of State at sos.wyo.gov. Other licenses come from the city clerk where you operate or from the agency that governs your activity. Funding programs are separate from those filings, and most of them will ask for your formation documents, so register your entity first.
The 50/50 Loan
The 50/50 Loan is the most active WBC financing tool. It has run since 2022. WBC co-lends with a bank, and its participation covers up to 50% of the loan, up to $2.5 million. That makes it a bank loan with a state share, not a grant. You will work with a participating bank that is also part of the deal, so start those conversations early.
WBC has proposed raising the cap to $10 million. That is a proposal, not a current rule. Ask WBC which cap applies at the time you apply.
The Kickstart Grant
The Kickstart Grant ranges from $5,000 to $50,000. Eligibility is narrow. You must be one of the following:
- A regional pitch finalist
- An accelerator graduate
- A seasoned, high-growth entrepreneur
If none of these describes you, the Kickstart Grant is not your route today. Watch for regional pitch events and accelerator programs, since those are the entry points the eligibility rules name.
Other Active Programs
WBC's active list includes the programs below. The catalog gives no award sizes beyond those cited in this guide, so confirm terms with WBC before you plan around any of them.
- Succession Loan
- Economic Disaster Loan
- Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (in transition)
- SBIR matching grants, tied to federal Small Business Innovation Research awards
- Market Expansion Grant
- State Trade Expansion Program
- Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Support and Wyo BizLink
- Wyoming Venture Capital
- Opportunity Zones
- Building Resilient Communities, a public infrastructure program
Emergency Bridge Loan After a Disaster
The small business emergency bridge loan is a narrow tool under W.S. 11-52-101 through 11-52-103. The Office of State Lands and Investments runs it through registered banks. It opens only after the governor declares a natural disaster in designated counties. It is for businesses already operating, where the owner holds at least 50%. The maximum is $750,000 per business under W.S. 11-52-102(d). Short-term rentals and several other listed activities are excluded.
If you are a startup or your county is not covered by a declaration, this loan will not help you. Confirm coverage with the Office of State Lands and Investments before you contact a bank.
Programs WBC Lists as Unused
WBC's May 2026 catalog lists the programs below as unused. Do not build a funding plan around them without confirming they are open to new applicants.
| Program | WBC status |
|---|---|
| Contract loan | Listed as unused |
| Large Project loan | Listed as unused |
| Natural Gas Infrastructure loan | Listed as unused |
| Value-Added Agriculture loan | Listed as unused |
| Agriculture Processing Bonds | Listed as unused |
| Partnership Challenge Loan | Listed as unused |
| Main Street Loan Participation | Listed as unused; WBC recommends consolidating some of these into the 50/50 Loan |
Several other programs are dormant or have ended:
- Small Business Investment Credit: two users since 2014. WBC suggests sunsetting or redesigning it.
- Community Facilities programs: dormant.
- Workforce Housing: has sunset.
Wyoming SBDC: Free Advising Before You Borrow
The Wyoming SBDC Network offers no-cost, confidential advising through wyomingsbdc.org. Use it before you apply for any program. An advisor can review your plan and numbers and help you figure out which program you actually qualify for. Advice costs nothing, and it can keep you from spending weeks on an application that will not fit.
Ask your SBDC advisor about licensing as well. Wyoming does not issue a state contractor, plumber, or HVAC license. The state licenses electrical trades, and contractors are licensed city by city.
For federal programs and counseling tied to SBA, contact the SBA Wyoming District Office at 150 E. B St., Room 1011, Casper, (307) 261-6500, or visit sba.gov/district/wyoming.
Tax Incentives That Lower Your Costs
Tax incentives are not grants, but they reduce what a project costs:
- Manufacturing machinery sales and use tax exemption: runs through December 31, 2042 under W.S. 39-15-105(a)(viii)(O)(IV). Confirm eligibility with the Wyoming Department of Revenue, Excise Tax Division, at excise-tax-div.wyo.gov.
- Industrial sovereign zones: terms vary, so confirm current requirements with WBC before relying on them.
- $75,000 business-property exemption: available starting in 2026. Confirm how it applies to your property with the Department of Revenue.
Before You Apply: A Short Checklist
- Form your entity. An LLC or corporation filing carries a $100 filing fee. Wyoming LLCs and corporations pay a $60 annual report license tax, due the first day of the anniversary month of formation.
- Reserve a name if needed. An LLC name reservation costs $60 and lasts 120 days. It is available on paper only.
- Register a trade name if you use one. Registration is optional. It costs $100 for a 10 year term and is filed with the Secretary of State, not the county clerk. Applications are mail-only and must be notarized.
- Get a sales and use tax license if you make taxable sales. The Department of Revenue charges a $60 non-refundable application fee. Wyoming's state sales tax rate is 4%, with county option taxes on top.
- Get city licenses where you operate. Ask the city clerk which licenses your activity requires.
- Gather your documents and book an SBDC session. Bring your formation papers, financial statements, and a clear description of how you will use the funds.
Bottom Line
For most Wyoming businesses, the realistic paths are the 50/50 Loan, a Kickstart Grant if you fit one of its three eligibility groups, and the emergency bridge loan if a declared disaster covers you. Start with free SBDC advising, check the status of every program on the WBC catalog, and confirm figures with the agency before you commit. Because a loan carries personal and business risk, have a qualified attorney or CPA review the terms before you sign.