Ongoing – Year Round Assistance
There are financial assistance programs from charities, non-profits and corporations that provide support all year. Learn more below, including by region in Oregon. Or continue to scroll down the page for free grants or loans as well as free business coaching services that are offered each month.
Statewide MWBE grants, loans, and free coaching services
Built Oregon is a statewide non-profit that helps small businesses and entrepreneurs in the crafts industry. They also have accelerators for Black and minority owned businesses, grants as well as partnerships with companies as well as marketplaces. Get more details here. https://www.builtoregon.com/
CO.STARTER Core is a program that combines interest free loans from Kiva with a multiple week workshop. The non-profit program helps disadvantaged entrepreneurs, in particular from rural parts of Oregon and MWBE and LGTBQ+ owned businesses, get the money and support they need to start their business or grow it. More details here. https://www.reinventingrural.com/costarters/core/
Empowered to Serve is a non-profit that offers a number of free business services, often grants, counseling and more across Oregon. They serve as a business accelerator that focuses on fighting racism and discrimination. Whether it is a women, minority, disabled, or LGTBQ+ owned businesses, a number of assistance programs (including financial) may be offered. Continue reading here. https://www.empoweredtoserve.org/en/
Latino Business Alliance focuses on Portland area and the larger MSA – all counties. They offer free workshops, seminars, and mentoring/networking. Part of this will be information on how to find and apply for grants that help female and male owned Latino/Latina businesses, workshops on creating business plans or social media advertising and more. Learn about the non-profit network here. https://latinobizalliance.com/
Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs, or OAME, helps to start and develop minority owned businesses across the state. Hundreds of companies, non-profits, and individuals are part of the group. They offer SBA microloans, free business counseling, sales opportunities through contracting jobs, and incubator space and several other resources. Learn more here. https://oame.org/
Oregon Community Foundation provides grants to non-profits in the state. This is a donation program that helps charities and non-profits, with a focus on organizations that address social and economic inequality, minority rights and other civil issues. They also help entrepreneurs of color, women, veteran, those with bad credit and business in rural parts of Oregon. Get details here. https://oregoncf.org/
Oregon Pride Foundation provides assistance to the LGTBQ+ community across the state, with a focus on Portland Oregon. They offer grants to small businesses as well as non-profits, provide support around addressing discrimination, and in general help the LGTBQ community with a wide variety of needs – whether financial help for a business, grants, low cost loans or something else. Learn more on the Foundation here. https://pridefoundation.org/region/oregon/
Portland Oregon area MWBE business assistance programs
Adelante Mujeres helps Latina women. A number of services are offered, including the Empresas Small Business Program. There are also loan programs, classes on how to launch and sustain businesses in Oregon and more. There is a Food-Based Business Course, access to capital, marketing and more. Find more details here. https://www.adelantemujeres.org/small-business-development
Foundry Collective offers 0% interest rate loans, grant money and other support as part of the Reinventing Rural program. The goal is to help disadvantaged businesses in rural Oregon, including farmers, vets and those owned by people of color get help. The non-profit offers Kiva interest free loans, coaching, business plan development and other support. Get more details here. https://www.foundrycollective.org/
Pitch Black has annual grant programs for Black owned businesses in the city. The funds are offered in partnership with the non-profit, companies such as NIKE, AutoDesk and others. Tens of thousands of dollars in free grant money is given out yearly. Learn more here. https://www.pitchblackpdx.com/
Port of Portland operates a nationally recognized mentoring program, with a focus on socially disadvantaged businesses. There is free advice given to minorities, veterans, women, Asian and other businesses. There is a mentor-protegee service, information on raising capital from loans or free grants, MWBE certification, workshops on expanding revenue (including internationally) and more. A host of assistance programs are offered. Learn more here. https://www.portofportland.com/business/smallbusiness
Latino owned businesses in Salem Oregon can get assistance from the Latino Microenterprise Development Program. The non-profit provides microloans, technology, budgeting and financial advice and other support. The financial help is part of the Salem’s Latino Business Alliance., with a focus on Latino and Hispanic owned companies. Learn more on the microloans here. https://www.latinomdp.org/
By Jon McNamara