Physical Infrastructure Grant Program

About the Physical Infrastructure Grant Program
The Physical Infrastructure Grant Program seeks to ensure entrepreneurs throughout the state have access to the physical infrastructure and resources required to launch and grow their businesses. It was developed following recommendations from the Catalyzing Innovation Report and is designed to replace and expand the MTC’s previous programmatic support of physical infrastructures in the state in a competitive manner. MTC initiated a pilot Physical Infrastructure Grant Program in the spring of 2023. Following the success of the pilot program, MTC is now launching a full Physical Infrastructure Grant Program.

For the most detailed and specific information about the Physical Infrastructure Grant Program, please review the Grant Program Guidelines below. 

Program Goals and Objectives
The objective of the Physical Infrastructure Grant Program is to provide state funding to support the following physical infrastructure needs within the state:

• flexible and below-market-rate commercial office space, including co-working spaces, private offices, meeting rooms, and access to high-speed internet, in regions where entrepreneurs lack access to these resources;
• specialized or sector-specific services, facilities, and other infrastructure, including but not limited to wet lab space or greenhouses to be used by the state’s emerging biotech and agtech companies, that would otherwise be unavailable in an area/region; and
• infrastructure that is broadly recognized as a center for entrepreneurship for the community/region, helping elevate the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in the economy.

Eligible Applicants
All Applicant Organizations must either own or actively manage the physical infrastructure that is the subject of the Physical Infrastructure Grant Program. If the Applicant Organization does not directly (i.e., not through an affiliate) own the physical infrastructure, the Applicant Organization must identify the legal owner and the relationship, if any, of the legal owner to the Applicant Organization.

• Public or private non-profit Missouri research institutions, including institutions of higher education; and
• Non-profit entrepreneurial support or related organizations.

Term of the Program
Grant proposals can be requested with respect to one-, two-, or three-year operational plans. The grant period commences on September 1, 2024. Accordingly, a one-year grant will terminate on August 31, 2025. A two-year grant will terminate on August 31, 2026. A three-year grant will terminate on August 31, 2027.

Budget Restrictions
The request for financial support should closely align with the plan outlined in the application submitted to MTC and should accurately represent the organization’s specific funding requirements. Physical Infrastructure Grant funding will be limited to the lesser of (a) $200,000 or (b) 25% of the Applicant Organization’s average annual operating expenses (see calculations in the Program Guidelines) per year of funding requested.

Key Application Dates:

• Application Period Open – Wednesday, March 6, 2024
• Informational Webinar – 10-11am, Wednesday, April 3, 2024
  MTC Spring Grant Info Session Slides 240403
• Final Submission Deadline – Tuesday, April 16, 2024
• Presentation to Investment Committee – Late June 2024
• Award Notifications – Early August 2024