Small to mid-sized minority and female owned businesses in Georgia can get financial help in the form of free grants or low interest rate, or forgivable loans. Find government programs, lenders, charities, corporations and other places to get financial assistance near you in Georgia below. Learn where and how to get everything from free business consultations to grants, mentoring programs, loans, and other assistance.
Any business can apply. However each of the agencies as well as assistance programs has committed to helping disadvantaged businesses in Georgia. This includes minorities (Black, Latino, Asian, immigrants, etc.), veterans, women in Georgia, and LGBTQ businesses. Any free grants (whether from a non-profit or the government) is combined with other help, including technical assistance, financial advice, budgeting, counseling, and more. Businesses that get loans will also get other support as well.
Find small business financial assistance programs in Georgia, including in Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah and statewide. Everything from low cost loans to grants, capital, or funds to pay certain operating expenses may be offered.
Find minority and female business grants and loans in Georgia
The list of programs is updated daily. As noted, anyone can apply. But funds and support will be focused on Black, Latino, Veteran, and female owned companies among other disadvantaged businesses.
Ongoing and Year Round Resources
Women owned businesses in the metropolitan area of Atlanta (and all several counties surrounding the city) can get help from the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (WEI). They help women create and/or launch a business, and all that involves. There are referrals to government and charitable grant programs, low cost loans, business plan development, mentoring, education, and so much more. Women of all ages, races, ethnicities, etc. can get help. Learn more about the center here and the assistance programs offered. https://www.weiatlanta.com/
January 2021 and February 2021
Metro Atlanta Chamber is offering RESTORE ATL grants. The financial assistance, in the form of free grants, is for small as well as medium sized businesses in the greater metro area, including multiple counties. $5,000 to $10,000 may be issued to Black owned businesses. Apply here. https://www.metroatlantachamber.com/restore-atl-grant
Back2Business is an assistance program from FisServ, and black and minority owned businesses can apply for cash grants of up to $10,000. The funds are for the Atlanta region, including Fulton, Cobb, and Gwinnett County. Not only are funds used to help businesses impacted by COVID, but there is also free expert advise, SME programs, webinars, coaching and more. Partners include Atlanta Black Chambers, Metro Atlanta Chamber, and other non-profits are also supporting minority owned small businesses, including Salons, restaurants, bars, hotels, travel companies and other businesses. Apply here. https://aeoworks.org/fiserv/
November – December 2020
Free small business grants, counseling, technical help and assistance is offered to small, minority run businesses as well as entrepreneurs in Atlanta. The Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative is a non-profit that is trying to assist disadvantaged businesses. They provide mentoring (from business leaders), help black male and women owned companies get off the road, provide information on funding sources and loans, and much more. The goal is to help close the racial wealth gap. Continue reading here. https://www.atlantawealthbuilding.org/
September 2020
Decide DeKalb offers the Better Business Loan Program is offering low cost loans to businesses under 20 employees. Each minority or female applicant/small business can be given at most $40,000. The non-profit is the Economic Development Agency for DeKalb County, and the business needs to be located there. The address is 125 Clairemont Avenue, Suite 150, Decatur, GA 30030. For information on the loans, dial 404.687.2730 or more details here. https://www.decidedekalb.com/
By Jon McNamara
