Disadvantaged businesses in Vermont, including minority, female, Indigenous, or veteran owned, can get help from free government grant programs, low interest rate small business loans, mentoring and free coaching sessions among other services. There is assistance from charities, government agencies and corporations in Vermont that Black, Latino, Asian, and Female business owners can avail themselves of.
There is also support for LGBTQ as well as veteran owned business, startups and entrepreneurs in Burlington and statewide. Find the main agencies for loans, grants, and other advice near you in Vermont below. Additional resources are added weekly and daily.
Each program, agency, and lender will have their own application process as well as resources offered. In general, any financial assistance (whether a loan or free grant) is combined with other short and long term support. There may be mentors or business professionals who can assist with marketing needs, putting together business plans, website development and more. While any small business can apply, there will always be some support allocated to women as well as minority owned or run companies.
Locate loans, grants, and help for minority and female owned businesses in Vermont
The list of programs below is updated daily. The grant, free counseling, loan and other resources are focused on businesses owned by minorities, veterans, or females, but anyone can apply.
January and February 2021
Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian, and minority owned businesses in Chittenden County as well as Burlington can apply for a $180,000 grant program. There will be financial aid for small businesses in the beauty industry, retail, restaurants, hospitality and other industries. The government grants will be shared by a number of minority owned small businesses. There are also funds from Community Development Block Grants (CDBGs). Apply here https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/covid-19/smallbusinessgrants
August 2020
The City of Burlington Vermont is offering a grant program to minority businesses as well as startup companies. There are funds for Indigenous, Black, Latino and people of color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs. It is for small business and companies located within the city. The free grants and business support is being administered by the Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Department in the city. Apply here. https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/resources
By Jon McNamara
