NE 2nd Avenue between 54th and 71st Street is the commercial spine of Little Haiti, and it is the stretch the neighborhood's own grant program says it wants to help first. For small storefront owners there and across the neighborhood, the Little Haiti Revitalization Trust has reopened the money. On Oct. 28, 2026, the Trust announced that its fourth quarter funding is open, including a Small Business Grant of up to $20,000 for commercial improvements or up to $10,000 for equipment, operations and technology.
The official program details, application package and program manual sit on the City of Miami's Little Haiti Revitalization Trust grant programs page, and the Trust's new site at littlehaititrust.com grant programs page carries the same program. For help, the office lists 305 960 2964 and LHRT@miamigov.com.
Is there a deadline for the Little Haiti small business grant?
No deadline is published for the fourth quarter 2026 round on the City of Miami page, the Trust's new site or the Oct. 28 announcement. The program manual says the Trust's CEO sets the application deadline and accepts applications only during that period, so owners who qualify should apply early and call 305 960 2964 to ask.
What the Trust Announced on Oct. 28
The announcement came alongside the launch of the Trust's new website, which the Trust says was built so residents and business owners can review program details, check eligibility, find application steps and follow public board meetings from one mobile friendly place. Joann Milord, the Trust's President and CEO, said the platform "will make it easier for residents, small business owners and community organizations to access information about our programs, resources and funding opportunities."
The fourth quarter round covers five programs. For owners, the main one is the Small Business Grant Program. The others are the Community Education Placemaking Grant, with awards of up to $5,000 for organizations running free, multi session programs on culture, education and community engagement; the Home Rehabilitation Program, with up to $100,000 through a 10 year forgivable loan; the Homebuyer Assistance Program, with up to $200,000 through a forgivable second mortgage; and a College and Trade School Scholarship of $2,500 for eligible residents.
The Trust also shared its track record. Through the Small Business Grant Program it has approved $330,000 in awards, and its scholarship program has awarded and disbursed $22,500 to date. The announcement does not say how much money is available in this quarter's round or how many grants the Trust expects to make. Neither the city page nor the announcement publishes that figure.
Who Qualifies
The program manual sets seven eligibility tests. The business and the property must meet all of them:
- The business was registered with the State of Florida before Jan. 1, 2022.
- The business holds a City of Miami Certificate of Use and is current on its Business Tax Receipt payments.
- The business is open now within the Little Haiti boundaries of the City of Miami.
- The business is current with all financial obligations to the City of Miami.
- None of the owners is suspended or debarred from contracting with federal, state or local governments.
- The business did not have annual revenue above $500,000 in calendar year 2022.
- The business is a micro enterprise with five or fewer employees.
The manual excludes religious institutions, adult entertainment businesses, national chains and liquor stores. The city page says the program serves brick and mortar businesses, both for profit and not for profit, so a home based or online only business does not fit the program as written.
Preference goes to three kinds of applicants: those whose use of funds best meets the Trust's objectives, legacy businesses that have operated for seven or more years inside Little Haiti, and businesses on the NE 2nd Avenue corridor between 54th and 71st Street.
Where the Little Haiti Boundaries Run
The boundary is defined in City of Miami code and repeated on the city page and in the manual. In plain terms, it starts at NE 54th Street and NE 4th Avenue, runs west to Interstate 95, follows I 95 north to the city line, then runs east along the NW 79th Street frontage to North Miami Avenue. From there it follows North Miami Avenue north to the Little River, tracks the river east to NE 2nd Avenue, and comes back south along the east side of NE 2nd Avenue to Little Haiti Park and NE 4th Avenue.
Because the line follows midblock lines and street frontages in several places, an address near an edge can fall on either side. The city page links an interactive map. Owners near a boundary should check the map and confirm with the Trust before spending time on a full package.
What the Money Covers
There are two tracks. The city page describes a one time award of up to $20,000 for commercial improvement or up to $10,000 for innovation, so plan around one track.
The commercial improvement track pays up to $20,000. The manual lists eligible work that includes exterior or interior lighting and painting, siding, masonry or stucco, parking lot surfaces, roof repairs, fences and gates, exterior signs, window and door replacement, awnings, canopies and shutters, improvements required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, storefront restoration, landscaping and irrigation, additions or expansions, demolition, and art or streetscape items attached to the building or on the property.
The innovation and operations track pays up to $10,000. Eligible items include manufacturing equipment and tools, computers and software, specialized furniture used to make products or serve customers such as barber chairs or welding tables, equipment used to test or demonstrate products, websites and web applications, marketing and advertising, and real estate lease payments.
The manual rules out day to day operating expenses and salaries, any debt costs, mortgage payments, rental deposits, inventory for resale, consultant or service fees such as cleaning, late fees, alcohol, tobacco or medicine, utility bills and any illegal activity. It also says the Trust may request a match from the applicant. The match amount is not published; the Trust sets it for each award.
How to Apply
The process in the manual is simple on paper. Download the business grant application and the program manual from the city page, complete the full package and submit it by email to LHRT@miamigov.com, or drop it off at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex on Tuesdays and Thursdays, excluding holidays, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Appointments are available by calling 305 960 2964. The Cultural Complex is at 212 to 260 NE 59th Terrace.
The Trust notes the date and time each application arrives and reviews it for completeness. It may decline to process an incomplete package or send it back for completion. The city page says applicants are helped on a "first come, first ready, first serve basis" and that submitting an application does not guarantee funding. The application package lists the documents to attach, so read it in full before gathering paperwork.
What Happens After Approval
Winners sign a contract and covenant agreement with the Trust. Payment works on a reimbursement basis or goes directly to the contractor or vendor on the grantee's behalf, so owners should not expect a lump sum deposit.
For commercial improvements, the owner must collect three formal written quotes from licensed contractors. The Trust reviews them for reasonable cost before any contract is signed, and contractor selection is subject to the City of Miami procurement process. Contractors need a Class A or B general or building contractor license under Florida Statute 489. All permits must be pulled before work starts. The manual is direct on this point: work started without proper permits, or without sealed plans where structural changes need them, will not be reimbursed. Final payment comes after the certificate of occupancy and final inspection.
For equipment, software and marketing, payment requires a vendor invoice listing the goods or services, a signed W 9 with the vendor's federal tax number when the vendor is paid directly, and a signed Authorization to Release Funds form. Vendor names must match on every form.
A Practical Checklist for Little Haiti Owners
The best time to start is before a deadline appears. A short list:
- Confirm the address is inside the boundary using the city's interactive map.
- Pull the Certificate of Use and Business Tax Receipt and make sure both are current.
- Check for any open city balances, liens or fees and clear them first.
- Gather the state registration record showing a date before Jan. 1, 2022, plus 2022 revenue records and a headcount.
- Choose one track, commercial or innovation, and match the project to the eligible list.
- For a storefront project, start collecting three contractor quotes and ask each contractor about permits.
- Email LHRT@miamigov.com or call 305 960 2964 with any questions before submitting.
Owners who do not qualify for this program, or who sit just outside Little Haiti, have other options in Miami-Dade, including county grant programs and Community Redevelopment Agency grants across the region.
Why It Matters
Little Haiti grants are small next to a county budget, but for a micro business with five employees, $10,000 can be a new point of sale system, a website and a season of advertising, and $20,000 can be a new awning, sign and storefront. Combined with the preference for legacy businesses and the NE 2nd Avenue corridor, the program is aimed squarely at the long running shops that give the neighborhood its character.
The open question is timing. With no posted deadline and a first come, first ready review, a complete package submitted in November is in a stronger position than a perfect one submitted after the window quietly closes.
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Sources
- City of Miami, Little Haiti Revitalization Trust page, grant programs, boundaries and contacts
- Little Haiti Revitalization Trust, Business Grant Program Manual
- Little Haiti Revitalization Trust, Grant Programs
- Little Haiti Revitalization Trust release, Oct. 28, 2026, via Community Newspapers
Related
- South Florida Business Grants and Incentives Guide
- Miami-Dade MDEAT Small Business Grants Owner Guide
- Miami-Dade Artist Access Grant, Spring 2027
Key Facts for Owners and Search
How much is the Little Haiti small business grant?
The Little Haiti Revitalization Trust Small Business Grant pays up to $20,000 for commercial improvements such as signs, awnings, roofs and storefronts, or up to $10,000 for innovation and operations items such as equipment, computers, software, websites, marketing and lease payments. The city page describes it as a one time award. The Trust may request a match, and the match amount is not published.
What is the deadline for Little Haiti business grants?
No deadline is published for the fourth quarter 2026 round, which opened Oct. 28, 2026. The program manual says the Trust's CEO sets an application deadline and accepts applications only during that period, and the city page says applicants are served first come, first ready. Owners should apply early and call 305 960 2964 to confirm timing.
Who is eligible for the Little Haiti Revitalization Trust grant?
Eligible applicants are brick and mortar businesses open inside the Little Haiti boundaries, registered in Florida before Jan. 1, 2022, with a City of Miami Certificate of Use, a current Business Tax Receipt, no city debts, 2022 revenue of $500,000 or less and five or fewer employees. National chains, liquor stores, religious institutions and adult businesses are excluded.
How do I apply for the Little Haiti small business grant?
Download the business grant application and program manual from the City of Miami Little Haiti Revitalization Trust page, then email the completed package to LHRT@miamigov.com or drop it off at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, 212 NE 59th Terrace, on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 305 960 2964 for an appointment.
How are Little Haiti grant funds paid out?
Grants are paid by reimbursement or directly to the contractor or vendor after the owner signs a contract and covenant agreement with the Trust. Storefront projects need three written quotes from licensed contractors and all permits before work starts. Equipment and marketing purchases need a vendor invoice, a signed W 9 and an Authorization to Release Funds form.
