Duke Energy Foundation offers $500,000 in grants to support North Carolina small businesses

Core Points - Duke Energy Foundation announced a new grant opportunity of $500,000 to support small businesses in North Carolina [1] - Nonprofit organizations can apply for grants of up to $25,000, which will fund awards of up to $5,000 for individual small businesses [2][9] - The funding can be utilized by local businesses for renovations, equipment purchases, inventory, and other business needs [2] - In 2024, twenty organizations in North Carolina received funding for small business support, with Duke Energy Foundation committing over $2.4 million since 2020 [3] - Small businesses employ nearly half of North Carolina's workforce, highlighting their importance to the economy [4] - Applications for the grants are open until October 31, 2025 [4][9] Company Overview - Duke Energy is a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., serving 8.6 million customers across several states [6] - The company owns 55,100 megawatts of energy capacity and serves 1.7 million natural gas customers [6] - Duke Energy is focused on an ambitious energy transition, investing in electric grid upgrades and cleaner energy generation [7] - The Duke Energy Foundation provides over $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet community needs [5]