Year round resources
Find details below by city, category or region. There are a number of financial assistance programs for MWBE owned businesses or start ups in Alabama. Or locate free coaching, consultation, and other business development services. Or scroll down the page for more programs that are offered month by month.
Statewide resources for minority and women owned businesses in Alabama
African American Entrepreneurs Association (AAEA) has an accelerator program for both women and minority owned businesses or startups. They also partner with local banks, credit unions and other organizations to help MWBE businesses access capital. Or learn about grant programs, free business development workshops as well as mentorship. Get details here. https://aaeassociation.org/
Alabama Small Business Development Center Network provides resources to any small business in the state, with some focused on minorities or women such as the Grow and Flourish event/services. There is “technical help”, information on small business loans or government grants and more as noted here. https://www.asbdc.org/
IGNITE is an Alabama non-profit that helps Black-owned businesses and disadvantaged owners find local resources. Whether an applications to a small business grant for MWBE businesses or mentoring, coaching, or some other programs, IGNITE is a resource to try. Find details here. https://www.igniteal.org/
The Black Belt Incubator Network covers all of Alabama. The goal is to help business owned by people of color have the resources they need, including access to capital such as grants or loans. They also have partnerships with universities, Development Centers, minority business groups, Alabama Power and others. A wide array of services are offered. Find details here. https://blackbeltincubatornetwork.com/
The Catalyst Center for Business & Entrepreneurship provides a number of assistance programs to small businesses as well as want to be entrepreneurs in Alabama. Programs range from 0%, interest free loans in partnership with Kiva to MWBE certification, women businesses accelerators and financial help for veterans with details on the non-profit here. https://catalystcenter.org/.
Birmingham MWBE and veteran owned assistance programs
Birmingham based Urban Impact provides support to MWBE businesses in the city. They also offer financial help, including Kiva Loans, micro financing, grants, as well as other assistance. There are also business development plan help, counseling services, and other resources provided to small and micro-sized businesses. Learn more on the non-profit here. http://www.urbanimpactbirmingham.org/
Birmingham Black owned businesses can apply for free grants from the Magic City Match program. This is an assistance program coordinated by the city. It provides financial help or other services, such as business plan development, help with real estate selection, technical help (such as website development or E-commerce), and so much more. There are free small business grants for black women and male owned businesses, and learn more here about the Magic City Match Program. http://magiccitymatch.org/
Birmingham Business Resource Center is a non-profit that partners with businesses and non-profits to help black-owned businesses and others of color network and get help. Members can get help with their businesses questions, learn about raising money or accessing capital, and get other support. Learn more here. https://mybbrc.biz/
Micro Business Accelerator from Micro Business Accelerator Application has many programs for small businesses. The goal is to help a company, including MWBE, grow faster. Get details on regional grant money and mother support. Learn more and apply. https://caranow.org/micro-business-accelerator-application/
Jefferson County and Birmingham small businesses, in particular disadvantaged ones, can get year round help from The Community Foundation. The non-profit helps minority, veteran, LGBTQ, disabled and other underserved businesses. Everything from free grants from charities to information on mentoring, loan programs, networking and more is offered. They also have a directory of grants in the Alabama region. Read more. https://www.cfbham.org/
Prosper has many programs for Black owned businesses in Birmingham. There are accelerator programs, grants, small business advisory services and other assistance programs for Black women or male owned businesses in the Birmingham AL area. Learn more on Proposer programs and grants here. https://prosperbham.com/
The city of Birmingham and Montgomery Alabama are partnering with Hope Enterprise Corporation as well as Goldman Sachs (and other companies) to help Black owned businesses in those communities. A collaborative has been formed. The assistance ranges from technical help to low cost loans, mentoring, Business Education workshops or classes and more. Read more on the Deep South Collaborative. Apply here. https://hopecu.org/deep-south-economic-mobility-collaborative/
REV Birmingham is a non-profit that helps businesses in Downtown Birmingham. Everything from technical help to grant money, counseling programs, strategy meetings and more is offered. Get details here. https://revbirmingham.org/
West Alabama Chamber of Commerce supports the Tuscaloosa area and wider part of the state. They focus on economic development, often have grants such as with Innovate Alabama, and more. There is also small business training and start up assistance, as well as job training and more. Learn about the non-profit here. https://westalabamachamber.com/#
Huntsville and northern Alabama free grants and loan programs
Women owned businesses in Huntsville and Clanton Alabama can get help from the Catalyst Center for Business and Entrepreneurship. There is free assistance around coaching, marketing tips, SEO and website development, accounting, and other services that small businesses need (or entrepreneurs). There is information on how women and minorities can get government contracts, information on loan programs, and other tools. There are also business development programs for veterans, Read more. https://catalystcenter.org/
By Jon McNamara