tap =?

Tap =
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tap
14.
to penetrate, open up, reach into, etc., for the purpose of using something or drawing something off; begin to use: to tap one's resources.

The origins of ths expression are in plumbing. Imagine you have a pipe carrying water from one place to another. Assume you wish draw water from this pipe at a point that is in the middle. you cut or drill the pipe and inset a T intersection then connect a faucet. now you can draw water from the pipe by turning on the faucet. we call this "tapping" into the pipe. Another name for a faucet is tap.
He turned on the tap and water came out

In this case the company was able to get money (grants) by "tapping" into money supply sources such as universitys, federal and state governments support programs for small business

Excellent!
Thanks.