The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 National Grant 2026: Apply for $10,000 in Small Business Funding is currently accepting applications from eligible small business owners across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Through the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform, Verizon is partnering with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to award $10,000 grants to qualifying small businesses throughout 2026.
Unlike previous Digital Ready grant rounds that operated around one fixed application deadline, the 2026 national program uses a rolling selection model.
Business owners need to submit only one application in 2026. Once submitted, that application can remain eligible for subsequent selections through the remainder of the program.
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 National Grant 2026: Key Details
Grant Provider: Verizon
Grant Administrator: Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
Grant Amount: $10,000 per selected business
Number Selected: 10 small businesses each month
Selection Period: June through December 2026
Eligible Locations: United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands
Business Type: For-profit small businesses
Minimum Age: 18 years
Application Model: Apply once and remain eligible for subsequent 2026 selections
Learning Requirement: Complete any combination of two qualifying courses or events
Qualifying Activity Period: January 1–December 7, 2026
Repayment: No repayment required
Final Applicant Decision: By January 12, 2027.
About Verizon Small Business Digital Ready
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is an online platform created to provide entrepreneurs with practical resources designed to help them build and grow their businesses.
The platform offers resources including:
Online courses
Virtual events
Expert support
Business education
Peer networking
and:
Grant opportunities.
Verizon says that since 2021, approximately $15 million in grants has been awarded to small businesses through Digital Ready-related funding programs. More than 1,500 small businesses have received Digital Ready grants.
How the $10,000 Grant Works in 2026
The 2026 process is designed differently from many traditional grant competitions.
Rather than having to submit a separate application every month, eligible businesses can:
Complete the required Digital Ready activities
Unlock the grant application
and:
Submit one application.
That application then remains under consideration for future monthly selections during 2026 if the business is not initially selected.
10 Businesses Selected Every Month
Verizon and LISC plan to select:
10 small businesses each month
from:
June through December 2026.
Each selected business receives:
$10,000.
If a business is not selected during one month’s review, its application can remain eligible for later selections without requiring the owner to submit another application.
Who Can Apply?
The program is open to owners of:
For-profit small businesses
located in:
The United States
Puerto Rico
or:
The U.S. Virgin Islands.
The applicant must also be:
18 years of age or older.
Nonprofit organizations are not eligible for this specific grant.
Verizon Digital Ready Account Required
Applicants must have an account on:
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready.
Registration gives business owners access to the courses, events and resources required before the grant application becomes available.
There is no requirement in the current eligibility information stating that applicants must already be Verizon telecommunications customers.
Complete Two Courses or Events
Before an entrepreneur can access the grant application, they must complete:
Any combination of two eligible activities
on the Digital Ready platform.
Qualifying activities can include:
Online courses
Virtual events
Recorded virtual events
or:
Eligible in-person events.
This makes participation in the Digital Ready learning platform a central eligibility requirement rather than an optional activity.
Important December 7 Date
For the 2026 grant, the qualifying courses and events must be completed between:
January 1, 2026
and:
December 7, 2026.
Entrepreneurs interested in the funding should therefore avoid waiting until the end of December to begin the Digital Ready training requirement.
Once the necessary activities are completed, the grant application should unlock on the applicant’s Digital Ready account.
Applying Only Once
One of the major changes for 2026 is that applicants do not have to repeatedly complete grant applications.
Verizon says applicants can:
Apply once in 2026
and remain eligible for the $10,000 awards offered during the year.
This simplifies the process for small business owners who may otherwise have to monitor several separate application rounds.
Previous Applicants Need to Pay Attention
Businesses that applied for a Digital Ready grant:
Before April 15, 2026
must submit a new application to participate in the current 2026 $10,000 national grant program.
Old applications from previous grant rounds do not automatically carry over.
For the current program, an applicant may submit only one application.
Owners With Multiple Businesses
Business owners operating several companies may apply for:
One business only.
Applicants should therefore choose the business they want considered before completing the grant application.
Previous Grant Winners
Previous Digital Ready grant recipients can still technically apply.
However, Verizon’s current program information states that priority is given to applicants who:
Have not previously received a Digital Ready grant.
Past recipients should therefore understand that they may be less likely to receive a second award.
How Grant Recipients Are Selected
LISC administers the selection process.
The process begins with an:
Anonymous drawing
designed to narrow the applicant pool and provide eligible applicants with an opportunity to advance.
If necessary, an algorithm is then used to help create a balanced mix of:
Industries
and:
Geographic areas.
Priority for Underserved Communities
The program gives priority to businesses located in:
Under-resourced
and:
Low-to-moderate income communities
that may have less access to flexible and affordable capital.
Applicants should provide accurate information about their business and community in the application.
In-Depth Application Review
After the initial selection process, some applications undergo further review.
LISC may review factors including:
Accuracy of information
Community impact
and:
Proposed use of grant funds.
Businesses should therefore provide clear, complete and truthful responses.
Finalist Verification
Being selected as a finalist does not automatically guarantee receipt of the $10,000 grant.
Finalists must complete additional verification before an award is finalized.
This can include providing business and financial information such as:
Tax identification information
W-9 documentation
and:
Banking information for ACH payment.
Applicants should be prepared to respond promptly if contacted by LISC.
No Credit Check
The program’s verification process may include a background review.
However, Verizon’s current FAQ states that this verification:
Does not involve a credit check or credit-score pull.
This can be important for small business owners concerned that applying could affect their credit history.
Do You Have to Repay the $10,000?
No.
The current Verizon Digital Ready grant FAQ states that:
The grants do not need to be repaid.
This means the award is a grant rather than a business loan.
However, recipients remain responsible for any taxes associated with receiving or using the award.
LISC states that it will issue:
Form 1099
for these grants.
How Long Does the Application Take?
Verizon says the grant application is intended to be straightforward and should take approximately:
30 minutes or less
to complete.
Applicants are advised to set aside uninterrupted time and carefully check their information before submission.
Check Everything Before Submitting
Applicants should review their answers carefully because LISC states that:
Applications cannot be changed after submission.
Errors could potentially affect eligibility or the later verification process.
When Will Applicants Hear Back?
Grant applications are reviewed monthly between:
June and December 2026.
Ten businesses are selected each month.
If an applicant is not chosen during a particular month, they will generally not receive a rejection notice at that stage because their application remains under consideration for later selections.
Final Decision Date
All applicants are expected to receive their final status by:
January 12, 2027.
Applicants should therefore monitor the email address connected to their Digital Ready account.
Watch for LISC Emails
Finalist notifications are primarily sent by email.
Official grant-related communications from LISC are expected to use an:
@lisc.org
email address.
Applicants should regularly check their inboxes and spam or junk folders.
Finalists need to respond promptly when additional information is requested.
Application Available in Spanish
The grant application is also available in:
Spanish.
This forms part of Verizon Small Business Digital Ready’s efforts to make its entrepreneurship resources accessible to a broader range of U.S. business owners.
How to Apply
Entrepreneurs interested in the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 National Grant 2026 should:
- Register for a Verizon Small Business Digital Ready account.
- Complete any combination of two eligible courses or events.
- Check the Funding section to confirm that the grant application has unlocked.
- Complete the application carefully.
- Submit the application once.
- Monitor email for communication from LISC.
After submission, the application remains eligible for future selections during the 2026 program period if the business is not initially chosen.
Important Deadline Clarification
The Launch NY information originally supplied for this opportunity lists a deadline of:
November 14, 2022.
That date relates to an older Digital Ready grant round and should not be used for the current 2026 opportunity.
For the current national grant, Verizon states that qualifying Digital Ready courses or events must be completed between January 1 and December 7, 2026, while applications are reviewed monthly through December. All applicants are expected to receive a final decision by January 12, 2027.
The official current page should be treated as the authoritative source for application timing.
Final Thoughts
The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 National Grant 2026: Apply for $10,000 in Small Business Funding provides eligible small business owners with an opportunity to compete for non-repayable funding while gaining access to free business education and resources.
The opportunity is open to qualifying:
For-profit small businesses
in the:
United States
Puerto Rico
and:
U.S. Virgin Islands.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old and complete two eligible Digital Ready courses or events before accessing the grant application.
Verizon and LISC will select:
10 businesses per month
from June through December 2026, with each selected business receiving:
$10,000.
Businesses need to apply only once, and applications that are not selected immediately can remain eligible for subsequent selections throughout the year.
Importantly, the $10,000 is a grant and does not need to be repaid, although recipients are responsible for applicable taxes.
Interested business owners should register for Digital Ready, complete the required activities, and submit their application while the current 2026 national grant remains open.
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