Find a list of business loan as well as free grant programs in California that may be near you below. There are a number of lenders, non-profits, and government programs that try to fund disadvantaged businesses. Black owned businesses, companies owned by women, Latino, and other small minority owned businesses can apply for the funds they need from these lenders or programs. Get help in 2022 from minority business loans in California or other sources of funding.
There are a number of options available for business owners or anyone who is seeking to start a company, and find year round regional as well as monthly programs all listed below. There may be low interest rate or even interest free loans or grants for Black owned companies, LGBTQ companies, Latino, immigrants, Asians, women businesses as well as other minority groups, including veterans in California. While the main cities of Los Angles, San Diego, and San Francisco will have the most minority and/or women owned business loans and free grants available, there are assistance programs all across the state. However note that In general, the funds are available from lenders by city or county and not statewide.
The amount of money as well as the application process will vary based on the lender and the program available. Free grants or loans during calendar year 2022 can be issued to small or medium businesses and some lenders (or government programs) may even help minority or women entrepreneur (MWBE)s as well as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). If you are looking for money to start a business, or grow an existing one, assistance is available. Find more details below on the latest programs, with come focused on grants for Black women in California.
Small minority or women business loans and free grants in California
Below is a list of grants and loans for small women or minority owned businesses in California. It is updated daily with the newest announcements at the top of the list. A number of California banks, government programs, and community agencies continually issue funds to Black, Latino, women, LGBTQ and other minority owned or run businesses.
Year round free financial and business coaching assistance programs
Find details below by general category, including geography in California and/or whether a grant or loan programs gives “priority” to a certain type of business. The bottom line is that there is financial help out there, both year round and by month, for small, MWBE and veteran owned businesses.
Statewide California MWBE assistance programs
Kiva microloans are offered across California. Borrowers, even those with limited or no credit history, or limited or no revenue, can get 0% interest rate loans. Up to $15,000 can be borrowed to start or grow a business. A major focus is on minority, Latino, LGBTQ, veteran, and women owned businesses – all of which historically lack access to capital. The financial aid is a peer to peer type lending program. Find details below by city or region.
Oakland area: https://www.kivaushub.org/oakland. Or try Mandela Partners, which provides access to Capital from Kiva loans, an Entrepreneurs program, free one on one advising and other business services. Read more. https://www.mandelapartners.org/.
Northern California is also covered by San Jose and Santa Clara County region: A major focus from Kiva loans is on tech companies. https://www.kivaushub.org/san-jose.
The central part of the state is Fresno and Central Valley is supported by the Black Chamber of Commerce: https://fmbcc.com/resource/kiva-fresno/.
Los Angeles and Southern California, in particular Latino owned businesses: https://www.new-wbc.org/programs/ or the City of Long Beach Economic Development Department helps entrepreneurs and small businesses. https://www.longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/business-development/kiva-long-beach/
Black Small Business Association operates across the state. They give assistance, advocate for BIPC businesses, and have a host of resources. They offer information on loan forgiveness programs, help with setting up a business (legally), offer free workshops as well as training and so much more. Get details on the non-profit here. https://www.bsba-ca.org/
California Farmlink provides a number of assistance programs to farmers in the state including women owned and those owned by people of color. The non-profit Farmlink helps provide access to capital, both their own low cost loans and possibly interest free loans from Kiva (as they are a Trustee). They also offer coaching, help with land use or development needs, and in general try to help farmers succeed. Learn more on CA Farmlink here. https://www.californiafarmlink.org/
Northern and/or Central California MWBE assistance programs
Berkeley and Bay area businesses can turn to the non-profit at Microfinance at Berkeley. The non-profit offers everything from business workshops to access to microloans from Kiva (at 0% interest rates). They also offer consulting, workshops in the region, and other free services. All sorts of businesses, including MWBE, can get help. Learn more here. https://callink.berkeley.edu/organization/microfinanceatberkeley
California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce Foundation operates in the Central Valley and Sacramento region. They help owners and startups access capital, assist with marketing and revenue opportunities, bonding, and offer a Small Business Triage Center among other services. The goal is to help Asian Americans start or grow a business. Get more information https://www.calasiancc.org/
Centro Community covers the bay area and northern parts of California. Low income households, minorities and “underserved” can try the organization for free training, information on grants, financial aid and more. Apply for 0% (interest free loans) from the Kiva Trustee. as well, or try the Basic or Advanced Entrepreneurship Programs. There is also an advisor program. Find details here. https://www.centrocommunity.org/
Women entrepreneurs and female owned small business in the El Pájaro and Watsonville region can turn to the Women Business Center run by the El Pájaro Community Development Corporation. The non-profit helps women, including those of color, start a business or operate an existing one. Whether free coaching, information on loans or counseling, grant programs, or other help, there are resources. Read more. https://www.elpajarocdc.org/
Fresno small businesses, in particular Latino, Veteran, Women, and Black owned small businesses can get interest free loans from the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce. The assistance is offered in partnership with Kiva. In general, between $1,000 and $15,000 can be borrowed. Kiva is a non-profit that focuses on helping small businesses start and grow. Kiva is a crowdfunding source for business owners, and all the loans have zero percent interest rates. Apply here. https://fmbcc.com/
Fresno and Valley area Asian owned businesses can turn to the Asian Business Institute and Resource Center for help. They offer a number of free resources, including help with marketing, technical assistance, referrals to fund raising programs ranging from equity to grants, and general “exposure”. The non-profit supports Asian owned businesses in the region. Learn more here. http://fresnoabirc-1347082944.us-west-2.elb.amazonaws.com/
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley is a non-profit that helps Latino-Hispanic business owners as well as entrepreneurs with a number of services. The Chamber is a Kiva Trustee, meaning 0% (interest free) loans may be issued. There is ongoing business training, free mentoring, technical or legal help for business owners, marketing guidance and other assistance arranged, based in need. Learn more here. https://hccsv.com/index.html
Kern County and Bakersfield small, disadvantaged businesses (women and minority owned) can get help from the Kern County Women’s Business Center. Staff, including professionals and volunteers, give free advice. They help advise business owners, help them apply for funding (low interest or forgivable loans as well as grants), offer mentoring, getting government work from contracting, and so much more. The Center was opened in partnership with Mission Community Services Corporation (MCSC). Find details. https://www.mcscorp.org/kern
Kern, San Luis Obispo, city of Bakersfield, and Monterey County small businesses can get help from the Mission Community Services Corporation. They offer assistance to minority as well as immigrant owned businesses as well as entrepreneurs. They offer free workshops on starting or growing a company, free coaching and consultation, and information on financial help from grants or loans among other support. There are multiple offices. Read more. https://www.mcscorp.org/
Mission Economic Development Agency helps Latinos in San Francisco and the Bay area. They provide interest free micro-loans as part of the Kiva program. The non-profit also helps Hispanic and Latino, both women and male entrepreneurs, launch a business. There is information on business plan development, technical help, ecommerce advice, and support from the greater community of mentors. A wide range of free business development services are offered, and learn more on Mission Development. https://medasf.org/programs/fondo-adelante-community-loan-fund/business-development/
Oakland Black Business Fund (OBBF) provides (1) grant funds, (2) equity investments and (3) technical assistance to Black owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups across the entire Bay area, including Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, and nearby cities. There are free grants, low cost loans, and other funds that can assist non-profit and for-profit businesses. Read more here. https://oaklandblackbusinessfund.org
Oakland California Uptima Business Bootcamp and Entrepreneur Cooperative is an accelerator program. They offer man services to start ups and existing business owners. One is interest free microloans for funding. They also offer free advising, bootcamps, networking events, free workshops and more. A major focus is on women as well as business owners (or entrepreneurs) of color. Here is a list of their assistance programs. https://uptimacoop.com/oakland
Sacramento area businesses can get help from California Capital. They focus on economic development, and one main component of it is business development for MWBE companies and entrepreneurs as well as immigrants, veterans, and the LGTBQ community. Programs include low cost (or interest free loans), the Women Business Development Center, help developing strategies, Microlending as well as State of California loan guarantees. Other assistance is offered too. Learn about the non-profit here. https://cacapital.org/
San Francisco Small Business Development Center provides 0% APR loans in partnership with Kiva. The center is part of the School of Business of City College of San Francisco. There are assistance programs for start-ups, free webinars, assistance for small tech companies and restaurants and so much more. The microloans are focused on LGTBQ+ as well as minorities in the area. Learn more. https://www.sfsbdc.org/
San Francisco (City and County) has a government agency that keeps a list of grant programs, loans, and financing opportunities. There is help for Entrepreneurs, disaster relief services, funds for Black or Asian owned businesses and other assistance. Find details here. https://sf.gov/information/find-grant-your-small-business
Valley Sierra Small Business Development Center offers a number of assistance programs. Get information on microloans, business plan creation, accounting, e-commerce and more. All services are in Spanish as well. The non-profit provide help in the counties of Fresno, Kern, Inyo, Kings, Maripo, Merced, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, , Madera, and Tulare. Learn more. https://valleysierrasbdc.com/
Southern California loans, grants, and other small business programs
California Southern Small Business Development Corporation partners with non-profits such as the The San Diego Foundation as well as local charities in an effort to help small women, immigrant, and minority owned businesses. A major focus is on helping them get low cost or interest free loans or grants, and the Corporation will help guarantee the funds and provide other support. The Development Corporation may even take on some financial risk in order to help MWBE and/or BIPOC businesses. Read about the programs here. https://casouth.com/
City Heights of San Diego Community Development Corporation helps minority and women owned business. An assistance program is offered around Economic and Leadership Development. They offer many programs to diverse businesses, including Immigrant owned companies. Continue with more information. https://www.cityheightscdc.org/
Black Cooperative Investment Fund is for Black-owned businesses in LA. They have a microloan program as well as provide other assistance to help businesses. The funds are intended to help facilitate social change in Southern CA, and learn more about BCIF here. http://www.bcifund.org/
Los Angeles County minority, veteran, or female owned businesses that need access to capital, as well as free counseling/coaching services can turn to Ascend Los Angeles for assistance. The non-profit offers a number of resources for small business owners or anyone looking to start a company or who wants to be self-employed. Clients of the non-profit (and there is no cost) can apply for loans, make pitches to other companies or investors in the area, get free consultations and much more. Read more here. https://www.ascendla.org/
Another option in southern California, including San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles, includes NEW Economics For Women. The non-profit operates a number of assistance programs, including microloans (from Kiva), design, marketing, education, financial literacy and more. The Women’s Business Center helps females’ owners, including Spanish speakers, immigrants and others. More details are here. https://neweconomicsforwomen.org/
Los Angeles Urban League’s Urban Center for Entrepreneurship has many assistance programs for minority, immigrant and female-owned businesses. They provide support with growing sales/revenue (including internationally), applications to grant or loan programs, ongoing coaching and many other services. Read details here. https://laul.org/programs/entrepreneurship/
Long Beach Small Business Development Center Network provides many resources to Black-owned businesses, including free 12 week or so business training classes, information on raising money from grants or loans, legal support and more. They also offer a free Black Business Strategies program in partnership with Cal State Long Beach and non-profits. Learn more here. https://longbeachsbdc.org/
San Diego Black owned businesses or entrepreneurs can get assistance from the Black Chamber of Commerce. Many programs are run, including the Urban Business Resource Center. There are educational resources, information on accessing capital, details on marketing and increasing revenue, applications to free government grants as they are released and so much more. A Collaborative Hub is on site. More details here. https://sdblackchamber.org/
San Diego Women’s Foundation has ongoing grants and support services. There may be funds for women owned non-profits or for-profit businesses, with a focus on those with a social cause such as female leadership development, mentoring, income inequality and other challenges. Find details here. https://www.sdwomensfoundation.org/
USC (University Southern California) Bridges to Business Success Program is for small companies, including MWBE as well as BIPOC. There are successful entrepreneurs from Los Angeles area that give free consultations and help with applications to grants, loans, and other fundraising opportunities. A major focus is on “micro” businesses” as well as veteran, women, and minority companies. Read more. https://www.uscbridgesprogram.com/
Ventura and Santa Barbara County businesses owned by Hispanic, Latinx, Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC) can apply for the Women’s Economic Ventures Forgivable Business Loan and Coaching Program. The funds will covert to a grant if the applicant meets all criteria around couching, mentoring, and other criteria. A major focus is on assisting disadvantaged businesses, including immigrants, and all services are in Spanish too. They offer free business training, low cost or interest free loans, technical advice such as workshops on Quickbooks, forgivable loans with coaching and more. They help women of all colors, races, ages and ethnicities start or grow their business. Learn about the non-profit here. https://www.wevonline.org/
September and October 2022
Oakland and Alameda County businesses can apply for free $10,000 grants from Comcast. Applicants need to be small businesses that are either owned by (1) women and/or (2) people of color. The Comcast Rise program will also provide free marketing services, help with branding, marketing and media programs and much more. Learn more and apply here. https://www.comcastrise.com/apply/
Mission Community Services Corporation has a wide variety of free or low-cost businesses services. Monterey, Kern, and San Luis Obispo Counties. They have technical training, free government grant money to distribute and a women’s business center. There are also training courses for entrepreneurs and assistance for women, minorities, immigrants and farmers in the region. Learn more on the agency here https://www.mcscorp.org/
Lake County is offering the COVID 19 relief grant program to small businesses that were impacted by COVID. The grants will be, at most $2500, and the EDC (Economic Development Committee) is processing applications. Some of the funds will be allocated to women and/or minority owned businesses in the county. Learn more here, including a webinar. https://www.lakecountycaedc.org/
August 2022
Grants are available for the Sacramento Farm to Fork Festival. Bank of America, the Festival itself and Visit Sacramento. The funds will be allocated to minority, diverse, women, immigrant and disadvantaged businesses. The program is known as Vendor Impact Grant, and apply here. https://www.farmtofork.com/vendor-impact-grant/
July 2022
$10,000 grants are available in Sacramento County for either for-profit or non-profit businesses. Up to 750 organizations, including a large number of businesses owned by people of color, women, or veterans, will be receiving the funds. The financial assistance program, known as Sac4SmallBiz, is part of the COVID relief package the county has. Apply for grant money here. https://sac4smallbiz.org/
June 2022 and July 2022
Women owned restaurants in Los Angeles California can apply for grants from Her Academy. The funds are for smaller restaurants (under 1 million in revenue) that have been operating for at least one year. The financial assistance is combined 10 10 weeks of workshops, business development, and other resources. Apply here. https://www.regardingherfood.org/how-to-apply-2022
San Diego County businesses with under 50K in annual revenue can apply for the Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. Up to $2500 is provided. Applications, and funds, are run in partnership with the Southwestern College’s Small Business Development Center. Priority is for minority, veteran, and women owned companies. The goal of the free government grants, from the county and state of CA, is to help very small businesses recover from the pandemic. Learn more, and apply here for the San Diego microgrants. https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/microbusinessgrant.html
Marin County is providing Microgrants in partnership with the Small Business Development Center as well as the Dominican University of California’s Barowsky School of Business. Up to $2500 will be given to each qualified small or micro business. The funds are part of a COVID relief program – meaning the assistance is to help businesses recover from the Pandemic. This is mostly for very small (micro businesses), and among other criteria the applicant needs to have less than $50,000 in annual revenue. To learn more or apply, dial (415) 482-1819 or contact the Marin Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
Tehama County is providing grant money to small businesses (under 16 employees) as part of the Small Business Comeback Program. Up to $5,000 is provided to each qualified small businesses, with applications in Spanish as well. The goal is to help businesses recover from COVID, and some of the grant money will be prioritized for businesses owned by people of color, veterans, and women as well as those that have not received financial aid in the past. The Chamber Grant Selection Committee has applications, and apply here https://redbluffchamber.com/eblasts/pdfs/2020-tc-sm-bus-grant-application.pdf
Riverside County is providing microgrants to businesses hit by COVID. The financial assistance is for existing microbusinesses with less than 5 employees. The applicant needs to have under 50,000 in revenue and be in operation since 2019 (prior to the pandemic). Special emphasis is for women, minority, veteran and businesses owned by people of color, including immigrants. Free grants applications are also in Spanish. Apply here. https://rivcoed.org/microbusiness-covid19-relief-grant-program.
April 2022, May 2022, and June 2022
Los Angeles Small Business Rental Assistance program is providing free grants ($2,500 to 15K) to companies that have a “brick and mortar” store front in the city. There is technical help from BusinessSource Centers, financial aid to pay rent on the storefront or utility bills, counseling and more. Priority is for disadvantaged businesses, such as immigrants, LGTBQ, minorities and women. The funding is part of the American Rescue Plan, and apply here. https://ewddlacity.com/index.php/recovery/rentassist
Lendistry has a number of programs for disadvantaged businesses, and most recently they are offering free COVID recover grants per the California Dream Fund. Applicants need to go through workshops and classes, such as the Technical Assistance Expansion Program (TAEP). The free grants provided will be up to $10,000, with a major focus on businesses owned by women as well as people of color. There is also financial assistance for entrepreneurs. Learn more on all the grants here. https://lendistry.com/grants-and-programs/
Restaurant owners can apply for free $3,000 grants as part of the Restaurants Care financial assistance program. It is for locations with under $3 million in annual revenue, and the restaurant must also use as their utility provider SoCalGas, PG&E, or SDG&E. As those utility companies are funding the program. Priority is given to restaurants owned by people of color and/or women as well as veterans, however any small restaurant can apply. Apply here. https://restaurantscare.org/resilience/
Umpqua Bank in California is partnering with KIVA to match, and amplify, interest free loans. The funds can help ax existing small business or start up gain the capital they need. Matching free grants are for women of any color (Black, White, Latina, immigrant, etc.) in California as well as other minorities. The financial aid is often combined with advice and support from Kiva Trustees in California. Learn more here. https://www.kiva.org/cc/umpquabank
The California Dream Fund is available statewide. Free government grants are offered to Black or Latino owned businesses, veterans, minority males, immigrants and other small, disadvantaged businesses that struggle to raise capital. There are dozens of application sites throughout the state, and all grant recipients will be provided other support from the California Technical Assistance Expansion Program (TAEP). Learn more or apply here. https://calosba.ca.gov/funding-grants-incentives/california-dream-fund-program/
Stockton and Kern County Black owned businesses, including women-owned, can apply for microgrants from the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce. The funds could go to hundreds of businesses, with a free grant of up to $10,000 provided to qualified companies. The financial aid program is run in partnership with the California Office of Small Business Advocate’s Dream Fund. There are also other free business services offered by the Chamber, including training programs, workshops, and more. https://fmbcc.com/resource/dream-fund/
March and April 2022
Santa Clara County Micro Business Grants are offered in partnership with the Enterprise Foundation. Women, veteran owned, and minorities get priority. Up to $2500 will be provided to qualified businesses, and the free government grant program will help MWBE and veterans that were impacted by COVID. The money can be used for inventory, working capital, rent, permitting and other costs. Learn more here. https://www.accesssbdc.org/mbcrg/
The Microenterprise Recovery Grant Program in Los Angeles is providing up to $15,000 grants to small businesses, with under 5 employees. A major focus is on helping women-owned microenterprises that operate in LA County as well. The grant money is aimed at businesses that have not received government financial assistance in the past and that are also recovering from COVID. The grants are also for businesses with a physical structure – not online only. Apply here. https://ewddlacity.com/index.php/recovery/microenterprise
The Sacramento County Microbusiness Grant Program is providing up to $2500 to each qualified businesses (as funding allows). Applicants need to be impacted by COVID, micro-businesses (under 50K in revenue) as well as be for-profit companies. The County of Sacramento and the California Office of the Small Business Advocate are coordinating this service county and statewide. All of the funds, which are loans, will be interest free. This in effect makes them the same as a grant. Read more. https://sac4micro.org/
February and March 2022
Nevada County $2500 microgrants are being issued to help businesses recover from COVID, including minority and women businesses. A major focus is on providing financial assistance to businesses that lack access to capital, especially Veteran, women, Minority, LGBTQ, those with bad credit, and others. Applicants need to have under 5 employees and less than $50K in annual revenue – so the focus is on microbusinesses. Learn more. https://mynevadacounty.com/3481/Microbusiness-Grants
Santa Clara County small businesses can get free government grants of up to $2500. The Microbusiness COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is helping small businesses, including MWBE, Asian, and Veteran companies that have had their sales and/or income impacted by COVID. The grant applications are offered in partnership with American Indian Chamber of Commerce, California Black Chamber of Commerce, CA Women’s Business Center Network and other non-profits. Apply here. https://careliefgrant.com/partner/santa-clara/
January and February 2022
Orange County small minority, veteran, women owned businesses can get a free $2500 grant as part of a COVID-relief program. The federal government, Orange County California, non-profits, and several cities are working together on the program. The free grants are for very small businesses (under 5 employees and 50K in revenue) among other criteria. Continue reading. https://www.oconestop.com/orange-county-microbusiness-grants
The California Dream Fund program is providing free $10,000 microgrants to entrepreneurs across the state. The money will be targeted towards small (micro) businesses that generally lack access to capital, such as minorities, immigrant, BIPOC, veteran, and other disadvantaged businesses. While various businesses can apply, a focus/priority is on technology companies, service businesses, child care, cottage food, retail, green technology, and high tech manufacturing. Applications are being handled by the The California Office of the Small Business Advocate. Apply here. as small business centers. https://calosba.ca.gov/local-direct-assistance/small-business-centers/
Small businesses in Kern County can apply for free government grants of up to $2500. Applicants need to have less than 5 full time employees and have been impacted by COVID, as the money is part of a COVID relief program. Some funds will be reserved/allocated for immigrant, women, minority, and farmer type businesses in the county. Applications will be processed by the Community Action Partnership of Kern as well as the MCSC Kern Women’s Business Center. There are also business development programs at those local non-profits. Learn more. https://www.capk.org/
December 2021 and January 2022
San Leandro businesses (in Alameda County) is providing free grants to small businesses so that MWBE businesses can pay their rent or other key operating expenses. The funds are targeted at certain expenses. The financial aid program is known as Small Business Recovery Grants, and the business needs to be a “brick and mortar” business (so a physical location. Apply here. https://www.sanleandro.org/767/COVID-19-Business-Resources
Newark business that have been impacted by the COVID pandemic can apply for free government grants. Up to 75 businesses will be assisted. Some funds will be allocated to veterans, BIPOC, LGTBQ and other disadvantaged companies in Newark CA. The assistance program is known as Newark Small Business Grant – ECGP, and there are 3 tiers to who may be assisted. Funds can help with rent, payroll costs, inventory, insurance taxes and more. Read more and apply here. https://www.newark.org/businesses/arpa-cares-small-business-grants
There are California grants from 2021 as well. The agencies that operated them can serve as a referral or give business owners more information. Locate 2021 MWBE Grants and Loans in California.
By Jon McNamara
