About the bloom business empowerment center
Since the launch of BLOOM Grants in 2018, more than $413,450 has been awarded to 158 small businesses across the City of York, including $261,450 supporting 116 businesses in Downtown York alone.
In 2025, BLOOM distributed $24,000 across two funding rounds, supporting 17 businesses citywide. Of those, 6 businesses received $8,000 in funding, including 2 Downtown York businesses awarded a combined $2,500.
Beyond grantmaking, the BLOOM Business Empowerment Center is designed to build a thriving culture of entrepreneurship in York by providing enhanced technical support, access to attainable capital, and meaningful opportunities particularly focused on increasing business formation among women-owned and BIPOC-owned businesses.
Since its launch, BLOOM has:
- Educated over 750 entrepreneurs through expert-led programming
-
Awarded over $672,000 in grants to 296 York County small businesses
- Facilitated over $1,000,000 in startup and growth capital
- Hosted dozens of networking and engagement events to strengthen York County’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
BLOOM Small Business Grant PROGRAM
The BLOOM Small Business Grant Program was originally created in 2018 by a group of summer interns to offer a unique funding opportunity to small businesses. These micro-grant programs have been utilized by existing small businesses for projects to improve operations or expand services, such as new signage, façade improvements, new equipment, and much more.
Previous grant rounds have been held with a focus on small businesses located in Downtown York, Downtown Hanover, and Trail Town Communities as well as small businesses owned by women, graduates of our small business development program, businesses who are YCEA members, and start-up childcare businesses.
2026 City of York BLOOM Grant Program
This program will award grants up to $1,500 to established small businesses operating and generating revenue in the City of York for a project that will enhance productivity & operations, expand product or service offerings, or otherwise grow to the next level.
Key Dates for 2026 BLOOM Grant Program for Small Businesses in the City of York
- Application Opens – Monday, April 13 at 8:00 AM
- Virtual Information Session – Tuesday, April 21 at 5:30 PM
- Application Closes – Friday, May 8 at 5:00 PM
- Pitch Competition – Monday, June 1 from 4:00-7:00pm
Full eligibility, guidelines, application & registration for the virtual information session can be found here.
Small Business Loans York County, PA
Access to Capital is a vital component for a business’s life span. To help startup and existing small businesses in York County accelerate and maintain their growth, the BLOOM Business Empowerment Center offers a variety of small business loans and financing options that can eliminate barriers to capital.
Through our educational programming services and one on one meetings, BLOOM can offer interested applicants with financial training and a step by step approach to seeking capital for their business.
These small business loans can cover aspects of a startup or existing business including but not limited to: Working Capital, Inventory/Supplies, Equipment Needs, Payroll, and Construction and Renovations.
