How Shepherd Strategies Helps Companies Navigate Federal and State Funding
Overview
The federal government is the biggest buyer of products and services worldwide. State authorities also invest trillions of dollars each year in infrastructure, manufacturing, research, and workforce development. For ambitious organizations, this represents one of the biggest opportunities to generate revenue, yet most companies never take advantage of it.
The challenge isn’t that funding is unavailable. It’s knowing how to access it.
Shepherd Strategies aims to eliminate this gap. Our experts help businesses turn government opportunities into real revenue through strategic procurement and non-dilutive funding.
Since 2012, the federal government has distributed over $40 billion in loan, grant, and tax credit funding. Although the most high-profile recipients include well-known corporations such as General Electric, Duke Energy, and General Motors, much of the funding is intended for small and medium-sized businesses with fewer than 500 employees.
This matters because these businesses create 63% of jobs in the United States, and the government continues to invest in private-sector growth such as CHIPS, the CIA’s Digital Future, U.S. Trade Advocacy, Gold Key, Manufacturing.gov, etc.
The Reality
However, despite these initiatives, accessing government funding remains challenging.
Companies pursuing government funding often face the same challenges:
Companies also face procurement-related challenges. Companies must register with SAM.gov and GSA.gov before they can sell products to the federal government, and understanding these registration requirements can be a challenge.
The Made in America requirements are becoming stricter; in addition, firms must know when to go after direct sales versus installation through the integrator. Companies may also need to identify and partner with women-owned, minority-owned, or veteran-owned businesses to meet eligibility or subcontracting requirements for certain contracts.
The process involves far more than completing paperwork. This is precisely why so much funding goes unclaimed each year, even when companies are qualified.
The sheer scale of government spending is hard to overstate. Last year alone, federal funding included more than 4 million awards, including 400,000 grants and 800,000 loans.
That spending flows through a specific set of agencies. The largest federal purchasers include the Department of Health and Human Services, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of State, and the Department of Transportation.
On the grant and loan side, the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy administer some of the nation’s largest grant and loan programs.
For companies that know how to position themselves, this level of spending represents a genuine, ongoing revenue stream rather than a one-time opportunity.
Shepherd Strategies was created to simplify this complex process, so they can focus on running their businesses instead of navigating complex government requirements. The government affairs services we offer are as follows:
Monitoring and tracking policies.
We monitor legislative and regulatory developments that may affect our clients’ business opportunities.
Opportunity identification.
Our professionals identify new financial opportunities in existing state and local government programs.
Full application management.
We manage every stage of the application process, from drafting through submission.
Strategic planning.
We develop strategic go-to-market plans for our clients based on market data and political insight.
Bipartisan relationship development.
We help clients build bipartisan relationships with government stakeholders at the federal, state, and local levels, expanding their network and strengthening long-term engagement.
Crisis management.
Legislative changes, procurement developments, and other unforeseen events can create new opportunities or place existing government contracts at risk.
Networking opportunities.
We provide clients with opportunities to participate in networking events with government officials, business leaders, and prime contractors.
Assistance with registrations and compliance.
Our team provides comprehensive registration support for our clients at different levels, including SAM.gov, GSA.gov, and local registries.
Integration of sales and marketing.
We work closely with clients’ marketing and sales teams to develop messaging, plan conferences and events, and create promotional materials tailored to government buyers.
Securing non-dilutive financing for our clients is one of the most impactful parts of our work. Non-dilutive financing allows companies to access capital without giving up equity or taking on debt. Here are several forms of non-dilutive financing:
The Department of Energy has facilitated more than $30 billion in financing across various energy sectors and offers loans with interest rates ranging from the U.S. Treasury rate plus 0% to 2%. To qualify for a loan, the project must involve new or significantly improved technology capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, be located in the U.S. or its territories, and demonstrate feasible prospects of repayment.
Federal and state government grant programs are often used to finance energy and infrastructure projects. These programs include the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, the Rural Energy for America Program, and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.
Tax incentives are available at the federal, state, and local levels. Programs supporting areas such as hiring, workforce development, and training may qualify for tax incentives. The amount of assistance differs by sector. Some credits can be claimed directly on a tax return, while others require a separate application through the appropriate government agency.
States spend an average of approximately $196 per person on economic development initiatives. These incentives may take the form of grants, loans, tax credits, or other agreements designed to encourage businesses to invest locally.
OUR PROCESS
Identify multiple relevant states and invite them to submit non-binding proposals.
Review and evaluate preliminary incentive packages before formal negotiations begin.
Prepare supporting documentation and manage submission requirements across agencies.
Facilitate meetings between company leadership and government representatives.
Strengthen incentive packages and maximize available funding opportunities.
Use the finalized state agreement as a foundation for securing additional federal funding.
Our process typically starts by issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to multiple relevant states, allowing them time to submit non-binding offers. From there, we help clients complete formal applications, coordinate site visits, negotiate better terms once offers come in, and apply for related federal funding once an agreement is signed.
Shepherd Strategies has established its reputation by showing the ability to convert such processes into concrete results:
Funding
Successfully secured over $15 million in economic development funding for the power infrastructure company that became public in February 2026.
Contracts
Delivered more than $2 billion in federal disaster relief contracts through DHS.
Leadership
Led a 22-executive delegation to the 2025 Presidential Inauguration with cabinet-level access.
Trade
Secured tariff relief and waivers for three manufacturers since 2024.
Incentives
Helped a manufacturing client secure $2.8 million in Minnesota state incentives supporting a $24 million investment, with a grand opening in the third quarter of 2025 and an IPO in early 2026.
Policy
Contributed to the development of two federal executive orders in 2025.
Final Observation
These results demonstrate why policy expertise, government relations, and hands-on implementation work best when integrated rather than divided among already stretched internal teams.
Government funding and procurement opportunities only create value when companies know how to access them. Knowing a program exists isn’t enough. Success also requires the right strategy, strong relationships, and effective application and follow-through.
If your company is exploring non-dilutive financing, preparing to sell goods and services to the government, or discovering the programs it may qualify for, reach out to Shepherd Strategies to discuss your company’s specific needs and identify opportunities.
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