Each and every month various lenders, non-profits, and government programs in Arizona provide loans and/or free grants to small business owners. There are funds aimed at helping women owned companies as well as minority owned businesses. Find details below, as well as a list of loans and grants near you that can help Black or Latino owned companies, women owned or run businesses, LGBTQ companies and other minority small businesses.
Each and every day new loans and grants will be added to the list below, as they are released. The funds are targeted at helping minority as well as women owned (or run) companies as they often struggle to get the financing they need. The money can be issued by banks in Arizona, non-profit organizations, federal or state government backed agencies, foundations, or anyone.
If you need help starting a business, or growing an existing one, the loans and free grants below may assist. Apply early as the funds often go quickly.
Small business loans and free grants in Arizona
An ongoing list of loans and/or grants is below. Whether a woman owned company, veteran, or minority, these lenders may help you. In addition to the funds you need, they also often provide mentoring and other assistance.
Year round business resources
Maricopa businesses can get interest free loans from a “Kiva” loan hub. A major focus of the non-profit lender is on providing funds to women, minority, veteran, immigrant, and LGBTQ small businesses. The center is run in partnership GoDaddy, City of Phoenix, Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest. Loans can also be given to small business owners with no credit history or low credit scores, and up to $15,000 can be borrowed from the interest free loan program. Learn more. https://www.bbb.org/pacific-southwest/PhoenixKivaHub/
Women owned businesses in Tucson and Phoenix can turn to the Prestamos CDFI Women Business Center. The CDFI provides low cost loans for growing or starting a business. They also a number of other services to immigrants, Spanish speakers, Latinos and women companies. Coaches help with HR, Operations, Financial Management, and more. Free seminars workshops, and even applications to grants may be offered. Read here. https://www.prestamosloans.org/womens-business-center/
October 2020
YWCA Southern Arizona is giving cash grants of up to $10,000 to female owned businesses in Phoenix, Tucson, and other cities. Small business grants are also for Latina and immigrant owned businesses that have been impacted by COVID. Partners include The Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona, the City of Tucson and the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. The assistance program is known as the Small Business Continuity Grant program, and it is for small to mid-sized businesses with less than 51 people. It is for COVID-19 impacted companies. Apply here. https://cfsaz.org/grants-scholarships/cares-act-grants/
July 2020
July 2020: New Free Grants Offer Aid To South Tucson Businesses. Preference will be offered to businesses owned by women and minorities, as well as those with disabilities – https://patch.com/arizona/tucson/new-grants-offer-aid-south-tucson-businesses
By Jon McNamara
