Year round free business coaching and loan/grant resources
Find year-round assistance programs (free grants, coaching, mentoring, etc.) for women owned, minority, veteran, immigrant as well as disabled businesses in Ohio below, by city or region. They are offered year round. Also scroll down the page for monthly resources.
Statewide free grants and business help for women, veterans and minorities
African American Community Fund (AACF) provides free grants to Black-owned businesses in Ohio, with a focus on Appalachian Ohio’s 32 counties. The funds are a partnership with The Dayton Foundation and the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio. A major focus is in funding non-profits, organizations with a social or economic cause, and agencies that help the African American community thrive. Learn more here. https://www.aacfdayton.org/
ECDI is a microlender that focuses on offering low cost loans as well as other support. A focus is on giving financing to veteran, immigrant, minorities, refugees, women, and LGBTQ owned businesses. They also give veterans in Ohio support, offer loans for construction projects, rural loans and so much more. Advice, coaching, marketing help and other services are also offered by ECDI in Ohio. Read more. https://www.ecdi.org/
0% interest rate microloans are offered statewide. Qualified small businesses can borrow from 10 to 40K, at 0% APR, for their businesses. The repayment rate is 1 to 3 years, and most of the free government money is for certified women and/or minority owned businesses in Ohio. Find financial help can be used to pay bills, debt, working capital, and other expenses. Apply here. https://development.ohio.gov/business/minority-business/ohio-micro-loan-program
Freedom Equity is a CDFI ( Community Development Financial Institutions Fund) that offer financial assistance and coaching to disadvantaged businesses as well as people with low credit or a low -income. There are low-interest or interest free microloans, free coaching, business development workshops and other services. Read about the non-profit here. https://freedomequity.org/
Minority Business Direct Loan Program provides very low-interest and maybe even forgivable loans to small, MWBE owned businesses in Ohio. There are also funds for vets. The money is given as a loan to those businesses that meet growth and hiring targets as set by the OH state Department of Development. Get details here. https://development.ohio.gov/business/minority-business/financial/ohio-minority-business-direct-loan-program
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association, also known as OEFFA, can help Ohio farmers access Capital, as they are a Kiva Trustee. There is financial aid and help from farmers who are in the organic/all natural industry. Microloans of up to $15,000 may be issued from the crowdfunding platform, and there is a zero percent interest rate. Read about the non-profit here. https://www.oeffa.org/
Ohio Women’s Business Coalition is made up of female business owners, leaders, politicians, and community leaders. The organization has a goal of helping female business owners start or grow a business, including helping with venturing funding, capital raises and more. They also accept members to join. Find details here. https://ohiowomenscoalition.org/
Regional Minority Business Assistance Centers are located across the state. They are part of the state of Ohio business development department. They help with certification, accounting or tax filing needs, provide information on loans and free grants and many other services. They also operate VBE centers (for veterans) and women focused centers. A wide range of start up and ongoing business support programs are offered. Read more and apply here for free consultations. https://development.ohio.gov/business/minority-business/minority-business-assistance-centers
Rural Action of Appalachian Ohio serves the farming, agriculture and rural community in Ohio. They offer 0% interest free loans from Kiva crowdfunding. There is mentoring, financing and more for businesses, including minority owned, that focus on zero waste, sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry, environmental education, watershed restoration, and ecotourism. Learn more here. https://ruralaction.org/
Women’s Business Centers of Ohio has multiple sites in the state, including Cincinnati., Cleveland, and Columbus. WBC of Ohio offers free services to women owned businesses or females looking to start a business. Black women businesses can get free grants as well as other women, regardless of race. There are free computer labs, training programs, networking, information on loans, mentoring and coaching from volunteer female business owners (including Black and Brown) and more. Find details on the centers and their assistance programs. https://www.wbcohio.org/
The state of Ohio is offering loans to MWBE and minority businesses. The two financial assistance programs vary, but both can offer either (1) low cost loans or (2) interest free funds to qualified borrowers. Options include Women’s Business Enterprise Loan Program, which is focused on MWBE owned companies. the second option is the Ohio Micro-Enterprise Loan Program. They can pay for equipment, real estate costs, and other bills. More details here. https://development.ohio.gov/minorityservices.htm
A state of Ohio based lender offers the Huntington Lift Local Business program. Millions of dollars are being allocated to help veteran, women, and minority owned businesses. The lender is also working with the SBA to facilitate funds to those disadvantaged businesses. The Huntington Bank will be offering lower credit score requirements, zero origination fees and flexible, longer repayment options as part of their loans. Find more details on the lender. https://www.huntington.com/
Women’s Business Enterprise Council, Ohio River Valley operates statewide. They help women owned small businesses get certifications for government work, apply for loans or grants, and hold various events. Learn more here on the non-profit. https://www.wbecorv.org/
Cincinnati area free business grants, free loans and coaching programs
ArtsWave provides grant every year, including a Black and Brown Artist Program for businesses or sole-proprietors in the Hamilton County / Cincinnati area. There are funds for art focused businesses or individuals, such as studios, writers and others in the community. Find details on ArtsWave financial assistance programs. https://www.artswave.org/apply-for-funding
Cincinnati Regional Chamber’s of Commerce helps minorities, LGTBQ+, women and owners with bad credit. They operate a Minority Business Accelerator, which helps people of color, the low-income, poor and others get the support they need. There is free loans, consolations, mentoring and other support. Get details here. https://www.cincinnatichamber.com/membership/your-partner/minority-business-accelerator-your-partner
Cincinnati Ohio entrepreneurs can turn to the non-profit MORTAR. They offer a training program that helps entrepreneurs learn the ins and outs of starting a business, creating business plans, raising capital and more. They help low income, underprivilege communities in the city with a focus on minorities. Ongoing support is giving to, including information on free government grants, low cost loans, mentoring and more. Continue reading. https://wearemortar.com/
Cincinnati Minority Business Assistance Center works in partnership with the Northern Kentucky as well as Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce to help people launch a business or get capital for an existing MWBE. They provide advice, supporting, mentoring, access to 0% APR interest microloans from Kiva and other support in 17 counties across all of southern Ohio. The Center also offers Entrepreneurial program, Strategic Growth plans, help with financial statements and more. Learn more on the non-profit. https://mbaccincy.com/
Findlay Kitchen is a non-profit incubator for food service businesses, such as restaurants, bars, pubs, coffee shops and the like. A major focus is on help businesses owned by people of color, immigrants and women (BIPOC) in Cincinnati Ohio. The non-profit provides information on raising money (from loans or grants), business start-up help, advice and more. Learn about Findlay Kitchen here. https://findlaykitchen.org/
Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative, Inc., or GCMI, is a partnership of non-profits (like the United Way), banks, corporations and charities that work together to help small businesses. There are training classes, classes on raising money from loans or grants, mentoring, and free workshops in classes. A multi-faceted groups with a focus on veteran, women, and minority owned businesses. Find details here. http://www.gcmi.org/index.php
Represent Cincy helps Black and minority-owned businesses in the city. the non-profit helps them find locations for a store, manufacturing facility, or physical real estate. Staff also help minorities find and apply for grants, loans for their real estate needs and other financial assistance. The goal is to both attract and retain Black owned businesses to Cincinnati. Learn more here. https://www.representcincy.org/
Urban League of Greater Southwest Ohio offers a number of business programs and assistance programs. There are micro-grants, small business development centers, youth apprenticeship programs, and much more. The national, and regional non-profit, helps hundreds of entrepreneurs and small businesses, whether Black or Latino or immigrant or someone else. The Urban League also runs the Cincinnati Economic Empowerment Center (EEC). Learn more on all these services here. https://www.cincinnatieec.com/
Cleveland/Akron/Youngstown region and nearby county programs for MWBE and BIPOC businesses
Akron Ohio Rubber City Match is a free grant and/or low cost loan program for small businesses that will help develop the downtown area, and that will reclaim vacant building. A major focus is on redeveloping this region of the city, with priority to MWBE businesses/enterprises. There are two “tracks”/components to this financial assistance program. Learn more here. https://www.rubbercitymatch.com/
Allen Economic Development Group helps businesses (including start ups) get help. There is information on low-0cost loans, minority certifications, government grants and other resources to help a business expand in the county. More details are here. https://www.aedg.org/
Burton D. Morgan Foundation is based in NE Ohio. They help small businesses and startups get capital, wither grants, loan cost loans, equity investments and more. They also offer occasional grants to non-profits, if said applicant is using the money to help entrepreneurs, including disadvantaged owners. Get details here. https://www.bdmorganfdn.org/
Cleveland Foundation and the Cleveland Black Futures Fund cover the counties of Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga. They give grants to non-profits, educational programs, small businesses and creative people in the region. A focus is on diversity, economic growth and development as well as similar activities. Find details here. https://www.clevelandfoundation.org/
Cuyahoga Small Business Resource Center will be a source of financial assistance and referrals. There will be information on free government grants as well as interest free, forgivable loans. The center also works with non-profits, corporations and others in the county to support small, women, veteran, and minority owned businesses. Learn more here. https://www.cuyahogacounty.us/covid19/small-business-resources#financial
Erie County Minority Business Empowerment Team helps BIPOC and Blacks, women, Latinos and Asians owned small businesses as well as BIPOC. The agency can be a place to learn about grants as well as mentoring from successful business owners. Networking, workshops, and other tools are offered. Learn more. https://www.facebook.com/MBETSandusky.
Franklin County and Columbus Ohio has several free business development and assistance programs. They help is offered by both non-profits as well as charities – local and national. Some of the examples are New Horizons Computer Learning Center of Columbus OH (call (614) 798-1000) and Ohio Small Business Development Center (dial (614) 287-5294).
Inclusion Marketplace focuses on NE Ohio, including Cleveland and Cuyahoga County and nearby counties. The service, known as COMPASS, directs small business owners, including minorities and low-income ones, to free or low cost assistance programs. Loans, credit union services, Angel Tree investors in OH and much more is offered. Learn more here. https://inclusionmarketplace.com/neobusinessgrowthcompass#!
Lima has a number of programs that help fund small businesses, including revolving loans, microbusiness loans to disadvantaged people (MWBE, etc.) , the Better Block Grant and more. Workforce Development Center in the city is a source of information and applications, and get details here. https://www.limaohio.gov/808/Workforce-and-Small-Business-Development
All of NE Ohio is supported by Jumpstart. The non-profit has free programs such as the 12 week “Impact” workshops. There is mentoring, business plan development, resources for start-ups and more. They also partner with corporations in Ohio and even the Cleveland Browns football team, with many programs (including financial) focused on women, minority, and/or veteran businesses. Read about Jumpstart here. https://www.jumpstartinc.org/
Lorain County businesses (both private as well as non-profits) can apply to grants and other support from the Community Foundation. The funds, guidance, and other support is focused on organizations with a social cause, such as addressing income inequality, diversity, educational issues and the like. There is also a focus on veterans, LGTBQ+, women and minorities non-profits and small businesses as well. Find details on the foundation and the free grants here. https://www.peoplewhocare.org/grants-scholarships
Medina County Women’s Endowment Fund, which part of the Akron Community Foundation, will often provide annual grants to non-profits and maybe a small business that focuses on helping women and/or children. The Fund works to provide capital to non-profits and other groups that have a social cause. This can include artistic groups, agencies that help with personal growth and others that in fact focus on helping women in the community with employment needs, community service, health and other topics. Learn more on the Medina County Fund here. https://www.akroncf.org/grantmaking-initiatives/affiliate-funds/medina-county-womens-endowment-fund/
Stark County Minority Business Assistance Center, which is run by the local Association, provides a number of free services, including help in raising capital for MWBE businesses from free grant or low cost loans. They also offer workshops, coaching, help with government certification and many other programs. Find details here. http://www.starkminoritybusiness.org/mbac
Stark County Minority Businesses can get help from a local “association”. They offer directories to increase exposure/publicity, workshops, counseling, and grant programs among other resources. There is also a program known as “Seeds of Growth” which arranges loans and other forms of support. Learn more here about the Summit County non-profit. http://www.starkminoritybusiness.org/
Small businesses and entrepreneurs in Summit County and Akron Ohio can turn to the Bounce Innovation Hub for information on financial help, free counseling, grant applications and other support. A GROW program is for women and minority tech companies; co-working spaces; free expert counseling; information on low cost loans or grants for capital and more is offered. The name of the grants also go by the term RISE. Read more. https://bouncehub.org/
Black Chamber of Commerce for Summit County provides a wide variety of free and/or low cost services to Black owned businesses in Akron and the county. Workshops, information on loans, minority business certification and other assistance is available. Call the chamber at 330-289-2706 or the amil address is info@blackchambersc.org.
United Way of Greater Cleveland has a number of services for MWBE owned businesses in the Cleveland Ohio region. There are annual grant disbursements, business start up classes, budgeting and financial help as well as other support. A major focus is on Asian, Black owned, and other minorities, and learn more here. https://www.unitedwaycleveland.org/
The Urban League of Cleveland is supporting local minority owned businesses. The programs are run by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) as well as UBIZ Center. There are loans as well as financial help. Or get free professional consulting services, learn about additional small business capital, contract opportunities for sales, and other support services. There is also an Entrepreneurship Center on site. Get details here. https://ulcleveland.org/entrepreneurship-center/
The Wean Foundation provides annual grants to non-profits that focus on social issues, economy equality, educational projects and the link. Priority is for people of color or those that are disadvantaged in Mahoning Valley. Learn more here https://www.weanfoundation.org/apply-for-grants/
Women’s Fund of the Richland County Foundation helps non-profits and businesses that are focused on helping other women and “girls”. They will often have grant programs, provide free mentoring or counseling, hold workshops and more. The funds help women owned organizations that address social causes, income equality, and other causes that are key to female development. Learn about the Mansfield Ohio based agency here. https://www.richlandcountyfoundation.org/community-impact/womens-fund
Valley Economic Development Partners is based in Youngstown OH. They help early state businesses and startups. They help with business certifications, access to loans, grants or capital, mentoring and other support. A wide range of assistance is offered. Learn about the non-profit here. https://www.valleyedp.com/
Youngstown Area Development Corporation (YADC) helps Black owned businesses and individuals in the city. They have information on loan programs, housing programs, mentoring and other programs. Find details here. https://www.yndc.org/
Youngstown Business Incubator, or YBI, is a regional business development program with a focus on businesses owned by people of color, women, veterans and immigrants among others. There are annual workshops, start-up classes, information on free grants or corporate loans and more. A major focus is to help technology, internet, and high tech-manufacturers or start ups. The goal is to help businesses start and grow in the Youngstown Ohio area. Learn more. https://ybi.org/
Columbus and Central Ohio
Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce is a resource for the black community in Columbus and throughout central Ohio. They assist with applications to capital or grants, including the chamber is involved in issuing Kiva loans at 0% interest rates. Staff also help small businesses enter new markets, find resources they need to start or grow, and so much more. Continue reading. https://www.coaacc.org/index.html
Columbus Women’s Small Business Accelerator, or WSBA, offers a number of assistance programs for women-owned businesses, including Latino, Black, Asian, and others. There is information and applications to free corporate or government grants, Angel investors, Power Circles Networking events, mentoring services and more. There are also entrepreneurship classes such as The inspired Entrepreneur as well as information on low cost, or interest free loans. Find details. https://www.wsbaohio.org/
Dayton Ohio businesses (or start-ups) can get help from an incubator program. Assistance is offered by The Greater West Dayton Incubator (GWDI), which focuses on Black, Latino, low income, and BIPOC businesses. They offer microloans as well as other support. Get legal help is starting a business, help with business plan creation, sales and marketing help, website development and so much more. Find details on the incubator program here. https://udayton.edu/business/experiential_learning/centers/crottycenter/strategic-initiatives/the-greater-west-dayton-incubator.php
Direct Community Investment Program is a small business loan program in Clark and Champaign Counties OH. The money is for female, minority, immigrant, or veteran business owners in the region. Financial assistance, in the form of interest free loans or grants, is offered by Bon Secours Mercy Health as well as the Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Other support is offered too, and apply here. http://springfieldsbdc.com/
Miami Valley Urban League has the Micro Grant Funds, free business or job training, credit counseling and other support. A major focus is on to help minority get the support they need, whether starting or growing a business or something else. There is also an entrepreneurship center, start up help, mentoring and other information on accessing capital. Get details here. https://www.ulgso.org/entrepreneurship-center
Springfield Ohio Community Navigator Program helps disadvantaged, minorities, and businesses in lower income parts of the city. The program helps them find and apply for financial assistance as well as help with marketing, business development, and other needs. The goal is to help economic and/or socially disadvantaged small businesses grow and expand. Read more here. http://springfieldsbdc.com/community-navigator-pilot-program/
By Jon McNamara