Can a Texas veteran get a business grant?
Texas Woman's University — Center for Women Entrepreneurs
TWU Veteran Entrepreneur Grant: $5,000
Yes. Texas Woman's University awards five $5,000 grants a year to veteran-owned Texas businesses. Any veteran owner qualifies, not only women, and you put in a 10% match.
The Center for Women Entrepreneurs at Texas Woman's University awards five $5,000 grants annually to veteran-owned businesses in Texas (any veteran owner, not only women). The program helps scale, stabilize, or systematize business growth through marketing, technology, inventory, equipment, or other business-related investments. Awardees must complete a small business training course, submit an approved business plan, and receive three hours of advising.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount
- $5,000
- Realistic amount
- $5,000 fixed award
- Deadline
- Applications closed February 27, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
- Status
- between-intakes
- States
- TX
Who qualifies
- Veteran-owned business in Texas (any veteran owner, not only women)
- Business owned and controlled by one or more U.S. citizen or permanent-resident veterans
- Business is a for-profit corporation, partnership, LLP, LLC, or sole proprietorship
- Business is set up as a legal entity
- Business located and operated within Texas
- All taxes, property taxes, permits, and licenses current
- No felonies or convictions for crimes of dishonesty or breach of trust
- No pending or current litigation
Who is not eligible
- Nonprofit organizations
- TWU faculty/staff and immediate family members
- Current TWU students
- Prior grant winners of any CWE grant program
- Applicants who participated in any CWE program in the last year
- Current consultants with a CWE contract
- Anyone who has served as a judge for any CWE grant program
- Applicants who change formation documents to Woman-Owned after the grant is announced
Questions veterans ask next
Do you have to be a woman to apply?
No. The program sits inside TWU's Center for Women Entrepreneurs, but TWU's FAQ says the grant is open to any veteran-owned business in Texas. Men and women veterans both qualify. You do not need any tie to the university either, and TWU staff, trustees and students are the ones who cannot apply.
Which veterans count?
Honorably discharged veterans, plus three other groups. TWU's guidelines also accept a general discharge under honorable conditions, active-duty members in a transition assistance program with an approved discharge date, and Reservists or National Guard. The business must be for-profit, already set up as a legal entity, and run in Texas. The owners who are veterans must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and control the company.
What can the $5,000 pay for?
Things that grow sales, not running costs. Equipment, technology, inventory, display fixtures, property improvements and marketing are covered. Wages, salaries, sales tax and regular monthly bills are not, and the award is a fixed $5,000, not a range. TWU's FAQ lists a lathe, a POS system and a vehicle to pull a food trailer among past winners' purchases in its grant programs.
What is the 10% match?
You contribute at least 10% of your own money or equipment, with no debt behind it. TWU says the owner investment can be cash, start-up costs or licensing, supplies, or equipment for the project, and it must be committed when you apply. A loan cannot count as your share.
What if applications are closed?
Wait for the next yearly round and use the time. TWU runs one round a year; the Deadline row above shows where this one stands. Meanwhile, compare other options in our guide to veteran-owned business grants, the PenFed Foundation program or SBA Veterans Business Outreach Centers, or browse Texas small business grants.
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Purchase of machinery, equipment, or technology
- Inventory or raw materials
- Merchandising fixtures and display units
- Professional business certifications
- Property improvements that increase sales
- Marketing, advertising, and social media campaigns
Ineligible expenses
- Wages, salaries, bonuses, or compensation of any kind
- Real property including land or buildings
- Regular monthly bills
- Sales tax
- Expenses incurred before grant award
How to apply
-
1
Review grant guidelines and FAQ
Read the Veteran Grant Guidelines and watch the grant writing videos on the TWU Center for Women Entrepreneurs website.
~1.0 hrs
-
2
Prepare required documentation
Gather legal formation documents showing veteran ownership (TWU's guidelines require veteran ownership; ask TWU if anything about your ownership is unclear), DD-214 or equivalent, quotes/estimates for project expenses, and the Company Background & Project Narrative.
~3.0 hrs
-
3
Submit online application by the deadline
Complete the online application and upload all required PDFs before 5:00 p.m. on the published deadline.
~2.0 hrs
-
4
Complete training and advising if awarded
Awardees must complete a small business training course, submit an approved business plan, and receive 3 hours of small business advising to receive the full grant.
~8.0 hrs
The grant requires a 10% owner cash/equipment match at the time of application and splits payment into two installments tied to training and receipt documentation — start the business plan and advising requirements early to avoid forfeiting the second half.
Deadline & timing
Annual cycle; 2026 applications closed February 27. Next cycle expected January–February 2027 (verify at twu.edu/center-women-entrepreneurs/veteran-grant).
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Required documents
- Complete online application
- All pages of signed and dated business formation documentation showing ownership
- Texas Veteran Commission document or DD-214 showing veteran status and 51%+ ownership
- Company Background and Project Narrative PDF
- Vendor proposals, quotes, estimates, or preliminary invoices for proposed expenses
- Budget showing grant funds and owner investment
Related programs
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