GOVERNMENT RESOURCES


Minority Owned Businesses

Financing Your Business

Federal and state government agencies do not provide grants to minorities for starting a business. However, there are a number of low-interest loan programs that help individuals obtain startup financing. Some non-profit and local organizations provide a small number of grants to help minorities and those in economic disadvantaged communities to start and expand businesses. Visit the Loans and Grants Search Tool to get a full list of grant, loan, and venture capital programs for which you might qualify (http://search.business.gov/startLoans.html).
  • ACCION USA Small Business Loans
    Offers flexible loans (up to $50,000) to small business owners who have limited or no access to traditional business credit, including women and minorities.
  • SBA Prequalification Loan Program
    Intermediary organizations assist prospective borrowers in developing viable loan application packages and securing loans. This program targets low income borrowers, disabled business owners, new and emerging businesses, veterans, exporters, rural and specialized industries.
  • U.S. Dept of the Interior - Indian Loan Guaranty and Interest Subsidy Program
    Financing for Indian-owned businesses that significantly contribute to a Tribe's economy.
  • USDA Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
    Makes and guarantees loans to approved socially disadvantaged applicants to buy and operate family-size farms and ranches.
  • Delaware Access Program
    Low collateral loan program geared to small businesses, including minority and women owned businesses.
  • Hawaii Consumer Micro-Loan Program
    Provides low cost loans up to $7,500 to Native Hawaiians who are experiencing temporary financial hardship due to unforeseen events, or who wish to enhance their careers.
  • Illinois Minority, Women, and Disabled Participation Loan Program
    Small businesses that are 51 percent owned and managed by persons who are minorities, women, or disabled, with loans up to loans up to $50,000 or 50 % of the total project.
  • Iowa Target Small Business Assistance Program
    Provides loans, loan guaranty, and equity grants of up to $50,000 to help women, minorities and persons with disabilities start and expand their businesses.
  • Massachusetts BDC Capital Community Loans
    Financing programs for women-owned, minority-owned businesses.
  • Mississippi Capital Access Loan Program
    Provides financing for borrowers who, for various reasons, might have difficulty in obtaining conventional loans. Borrowers must apply for a loan through a lending institution.
  • Mississippi Minority Business Enterprise Loan Program
    Assists new and existing minority businesses in gaining access to needed capital in the form of direct low-interest loans.
  • Montana Indian Equity Fund
    A grant to assist a current Native American business or a new Native American business owner. The funds are available only to enrolled members of Montana's federally recognized tribes in Montana and to enrolled members of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe.
  • Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund
    Loans to help start-up and expansion of Native Hawaiian owned businesses.
  • Nebraska: Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation Small Business Loan
    Microloans available to any new or existing business or community development project that is located on or near the Winnebago Indian Reservation.
  • New Jersey Urban Plus
    Provides financial support to small, women- or minority-owned businesses, manufacturers, redevelopers and non-profit organizations in the following endorsed New Jersey municipalities: Camden, Trenton, Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, East Orange, New Brunswick, and Atlantic City.
  • New Mexico Community Development Loan Fund
    Assists businesses and non-profits that provide positive social benefits, meet other special requirements, and are unable to access loans from traditional sources, such as banks. Particular emphasis is placed on helping low-income people, women and minorities.
  • New York State Micro Loans for Minority and Women Owned Businesses
    Listing of organizations that provide micro loans to businesses who often do not qualify for bank loans as well as one-on-one counseling and business development assistance to facilitate credit-readiness. Funds are provided by the state's Community Development Financial Institution Assistance Program.
  • Ohio Mini-Loan Guarantee Program
    Provides loan guarantees for fixed assets for small business (start-up or existing business expansion) for projects of $100,000 or less. The state has targeted 50 percent of the guarantee funds for allocation to businesses owned by minorities and women.
  • Ohio Minority Direct Loan Program
    Provides direct loans for businesses locating or expanding in Ohio that demonstrate they will create new jobs for Ohio citizens.
  • Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Authority
    Low-interest loan financing to businesses owned and operated by ethnic minorities. Funds may be used for fixed assets including land and building acquisition; building, construction and renovation; machinery and equipment acquisition and installation; and working capital.
  • Tennessee Small and Minority-Owned Business Assistance Program
    Financial assistance for new, expanding and existing businesses in Tennessee that do not have reasonable access to capital markets and traditional commercial lending facilities.
  • Wisconsin Linked Deposit Loan Subsidy
    Provides an interest rate subsidy on lender financing to women or minorities who start-up or expand a business.

Financing a Home-Based Business

Federal agencies do not provide grants for starting a home-based business. However, there are a number of low-interest loan programs that help individuals obtain startup financing. Visit the Loans and Grants Search Tool to get a full list of grant, loan, and venture capital programs for which you might qualify.

http://search.business.gov/startLoans.html

Business Resources for Disabled People

Financing a Business

Federal and state government agencies do not provide grants to people with disabilities for starting a business. However, there are a number of low-interest loan programs that help disabled people obtain startup financing. The following loan programs are specifically for business owners with disabilities. Visit the Loans and Grants Search Tool to get a full list of grant, loan, and venture capital programs for which you might qualify (http://search.business.gov/startLoans.html).

  • Abilities Fund
    Offers financial assistance, customize training and resources to entrepreneurs with disabilities.
  • Alternative Financing Technical Assistance Project
    Get information on state loan programs and success stories.
  • SBA Prequalification Loan Program
    Intermediary organizations assist prospective borrowers in developing viable loan application packages and securing loans. This program targets low income borrowers, disabled business owners, new and emerging businesses, veterans, exporters, rural and specialized industries.
  • Illinois Minority, Women, and Disabled Participation Loan Program
    Small businesses that are 51 percent owned and managed by persons who are minorities, women, or disabled, with loans up to loans up to $50,000 or 50 % of the total project.
  • Iowa Target Small Business Assistance Program
    Provides loans, loan guaranty, and equity grants of up to $50,000 to help women, minorities and persons with disabilities start and expand their businesses.
  • Maine: Kim Wallace Adaptive Equipment Loan Program Fund
    Financial assistance to disabled persons and businesses for the purchase, construction or installation of adaptive products or equipment that allow disabled persons to become more independent within the community, promotes mobility and improves independence and quality of life. Businesses may use loan funds to facilitate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • Maryland WorkABILITY Loan Program
    Home-based and business loans from $500 to $5,000 for people with disabilities.
  • Michigan Telework Loan Fund
    Michigan residents with disabilities can apply for loans for equipment and home modifications that will allow them to either start a home-based business or work for an employer from home.
  • Mississippi Capital Access Loan Program
    Provides financing for borrowers who, for various reasons, might have difficulty in obtaining conventional loans. Borrowers must apply for a loan through a lending institution.

Non Profit Organizations

Non-profit entrepreneurs are eligible for certain benefits including grants, government surplus, and tax exemptions.

Grants and Financial Assistance

Veteran Owned Businesses

Financing a Business

Federal and state government agencies do not provide grants to veterans for starting a business. However, there are a number of low-interest loan programs that help veterans obtain startup financing. The following loan programs are specifically for veterans and members of the military community. Visit the Loans and Grants Search Tool to get a full list of grant, loan, and venture capital programs for which you might qualify (http://search.business.gov/startLoans.html).

Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan
This loan program provides funds to eligible small businesses to meet its ordinary and necessary operating expenses that it could have met, but is unable to meet, because an essential employee was "called-up" to active duty in their role as a military reservist.

  • Patriot Express Pilot Loan Initiative
    Provides financial assistance for veterans and members of the military community wanting to establish or expand small businesses.
  • Prequalification Loan Program
    Intermediary organizations assist prospective borrowers in developing viable loan application packages and securing loans. This program targets low income borrowers, disabled business owners, new and emerging businesses, veterans, exporters, rural and specialized industries.
  • Employ Illinois - Military Reserve Loan
    These loans are available to active reserve military, and provide low-interest access to capital to hire employees, make capital improvements or pursue other avenues that will lead to business survival.
  • Wisconsin Dept of Veteran Affairs - Personal Loan Program
    Veterans who meet military service and state residency requirements may apply the proceeds to starting or expanding a small business.

Women Owned Businesses

Grants and Loans

Federal and state government agencies do not provide grants to women to help them start a business. Grants may be available from non-profits and private organizations, however, these are very rare and usually focus on helping minority women and women in economically disadvantaged communities. However, there are a limited number of loans available to specifically to help women start and expand their businesses.

The following programs are specifically for women entrepreneurs. Use the Loans and Grants Search Tool to get a full list of programs for which you might qualify (http://search.business.gov/startLoans.html).

  • ACCION USA Small Business Loans
    Offers flexible loans (up to $50,000) to small business owners who have limited or no access to traditional business credit, including women and minorities.
  • California: Women's Economic Ventures Small Business Loan Fund
    Low interest business loans available to women-owned businesses in Santa Barbara or Ventura County that are unable to meet traditional bank lending criteria.
  • Delaware: Delaware Access Program
    Low collateral loan program geared to small businesses, including minority and women owned businesses.
  • Illinois: Minority, Women, and Disabled Participation Loan Program
    Small businesses that are 51 percent owned and managed by persons who are minorities, women, or disabled, with loans up to loans up to $50,000 or 50 % of the total project.
  • Iowa: Target Small Business Assistance Program
    Provides loans, loan guaranty, and equity grants of up to $50,000 to help women, minorities and persons with disabilities start and expand their businesses.
  • Massachusetts BDC Capital Community Loans
    Financing programs for women-owned, minority-owned businesses.
  • Mississippi: Capital Access Loan Program
    Provides financing for borrowers who, for various reasons, might have difficulty in obtaining conventional loans. Borrowers must apply for a loan through a lending institution.
  • New Jersey: Urban Plus
    Provides financial support to small, women- or minority-owned businesses, manufacturers, redevelopers and non-profit organizations in the following endorsed New Jersey municipalities: Camden, Trenton, Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, East Orange, New Brunswick, and Atlantic City.
  • New Mexico: The Loan Fund
    Assists businesses and non-profits that provide positive social benefits, meet other special requirements, and are unable to access loans from traditional sources, such as banks. Particular emphasis is placed on helping low-income people, women and minorities.
  • New York: Micro Loans for Minority and Women Owned Businesses
    Listing of organizations that provide micro loans to businesses who often do not qualify for bank loans as well as one-on-one counseling and business development assistance to facilitate credit-readiness. Funds are provided by the state's Community Development Financial Institution Assistance Program.
  • Wisconsin: Linked Deposit Loan Subsidy
    Provides an interest rate subsidy on lender financing to women or minorities who start-up or expand a business.
  • Wisconsin: Women's Business Initiative Corporation Small Business Loans
    Offers small business loans with a maximum loan amount of $100,000. Loans can be used for expenses associated with starting or expanding a business, including machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures, inventory, supplies and working capital.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE GRANTS

The Department of Health and Human Services is the Grants.gov program's managing partner, and allows access to the 26 federal grant-making agencies available through this convenient E-Government initiative. We have provided the link to all of the links of those agency websites. If you would like to learn more about the grants available from those specific agencies, please click on the link below.

http://www.grants.gov/applicants/find_grant_opportunities.jsp

Grants.gov was established as a governmental resource named the E-Grants Initiative, part of the President's 2002 Fiscal Year Management Agenda to improve government services to the public.

The concept has its origins in the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999, also known as Public Law 106-107. Public Law 106-107 has since sunset and is now known as the Grants Policy Committee (GPC).

Today, Grants.gov is a central storehouse for information on over 1,000 grant programs and provides access to approximately $500 billion in annual awards. To access all Grant listings by their sponsored agencies, please click the link below.

http://www.grants.gov/search/agency.do