The Amex Shop Small Grants Program: An Opportunity for Community-Centered Businesses to Grow
For small businesses, growth often happens at the intersection of entrepreneurship and community impact. The Amex Shop Small Grants Program sits squarely at that crossroads—providing capital support to for-profit businesses that are not only building strong operations, but also strengthening the places they call home.
Administered in partnership with Main Street America, the program is designed to support projects that help small businesses thrive while contributing to the vitality of their local communities. While the program carries a “Main Street” label, it’s important to understand what the eligibility requirements actually say—and what they don’t.
You Don’t Have to Be a “Main Street” Program Business
One of the most common misconceptions about the Amex Shop Small Grants Program is that applicants must be located within a designated Main Street district or be part of a formal Main Street America or OCRA Main Street program.
That is not stated in the eligibility criteria.
The program is open to for-profit small businesses with a physical brick-and-mortar presence that are seeking to grow, expand their impact, or provide meaningful community support. While downtown and traditional “Main Street” businesses may be naturally well-aligned with the program’s goals—and may be favored in competitive decision-making—the program itself does not require formal Main Street designation.
In other words: if your business acts like a Main Street business in spirit and impact, you may be a strong candidate.
What Types of Projects Are Funded?
The program’s FAQs provide a thorough overview, but at its core, Amex Shop Small grants support projects that blend business growth with community benefit. Successful applications often show how a business serves as a gathering place, cultural contributor, or community partner—not just a point of sale.
Examples of well-aligned projects include:
Downtown coffee shops that open their space for community meetings, nonprofit gatherings, or educational events
Art-related businesses that host gallery exhibits, workshops, or cultural programming
Restaurants and bars that regularly host community fundraisers, charity nights, or civic events
Retail or service businesses with a clear pro bono or give-back component tied to their core products or expertise
Businesses investing in space improvements that make their location more welcoming, accessible, or usable for public-facing activities
The through-line is intentionality: how the business’s operations, space, and mission intersect with the broader community.
Why This Matters for Local Economies
From an economic development perspective, programs like Amex Shop Small recognize something practitioners have long understood: small businesses are often informal infrastructure.
They host conversations, provide cultural identity, support local causes, and anchor downtowns—whether or not they sit on a street literally named “Main.” When these businesses succeed, communities benefit from increased foot traffic, stronger local networks, and a more resilient local economy.
The grant program is not about charity; it’s about investment—in businesses that understand their role beyond the balance sheet.
A Strategic Opportunity for Community-Minded Businesses
For business owners considering applying, the key is to clearly articulate both sides of the equation:
How the grant will help your business grow or operate more effectively, and
How that growth translates into tangible community benefit
Businesses that already host events, collaborate with nonprofits, support local artists, or serve as informal community hubs may already be doing the work—this program simply offers resources to help them do it better, more sustainably, or at a larger scale.
For communities, the takeaway is equally important: strong local businesses and strong local places are not separate goals. Programs like the Amex Shop Small Grants Program are built on the idea that the two rise together.