Find free grants and loans in Florida for MWBE or veteran owned business. There is help for women and minority owned companies, veterans as well as startups or entrepreneurs. The goal is to help businesses that often lack access to capital (mostly Black, Latino, women, etc.) get the financial support and mentoring they need, whether it is a low or no-interest loan or a cash grant. Find small business grants or interest free loans in FL.
Financial assistance, as well as other support (including mentoring, networking, technical help and more) can be offered by non-profits, the federal government or state of Florida, banks, charities, and other groups. Each of the loan, free grant, or assistance programs listed below has committed to allocating some funds to Black, Latino, or any women owned business. There are also funds for Latino, Black, LGBTQ, Veteran, and other minority or disadvantaged groups (MWBE) as well as veterans in Florida. There is also business advice and help for immigrant run organizations.
While many of the small to mid sized resources are based in the cities of Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Palm Beach, and other major cities, there are programs available across the state. There are grants for Black women owned business, immigrants, veterans and others in Florida. Not only may funds be offered, but all agencies also may offer separate counseling, marketing help and other free advice.
Women or minority businesses loans and free grants in Florida
The list below is updated daily with the latest resources for disadvantaged businesses, including BIPOC – Black, Indigenous, People of Color in Florida. The grant and loan programs, as well as other free resources, can help minority or women owned or run companies.
March 2025
City of St. Petersburg is offering support for women entrepreneurs as well as micro-businesses in the start up phase. One program is known as the Blooming Business: Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs. This is part of a March 2025 supplier diversity initiative, with mentoring, networking and more provided as well as information on grants with details here. https://www.stpete.org/business/procurement/supplier_diversity.php
January and February 2025
Black Business Expo Tallahassee is offered the weekend of 2/22/25. At the event will be a $15,000 grant. There is networking, opportunity for partnerships and information on many programs that help Black owned businesses, with details here. https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/eN52idFEhSLXx?
Businesses in the Miami Commission District 7 can apply for the “Mom and Pop” Small Business Grant. The money is for small businesses in the district only, with the free grants to pay for bills such as rent, equipment and more. All applications are in Spanish with funds also allocated to Latinos, MWBE and disadvantaged companies. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1471548035447835
October and November 2024
Center of Anna Maria Island is proving grants tourism related businesses, including disadvantaged small businesses owned by vets, minorities, etc. Up to $500 is providing to qualified businesses as part of the Rock ‘N’ Support hurricane relief grants. The money is for businesses impacted by Helene or Milton, and apply here. https://mywrc.jotform.com/243116034093043
Businesses impacted by hurricane Milton or Helene can get help from the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. Of course this is above and beyond funds from FEMA or federal programs. Anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 can be provided to qualified businesses that need low cost, or interest free money to rebuild. Learn more on the FL business assistance programs here. https://floridacommerce.my.site.com/RebuildFloridaBusinessLoanFund/s/
July 2024 and August 2024
Jacksonville FL Minority owned businesses can apply for $1,000 Micro-Grants. The money is part of a program from the from a partnership Community First Cares Foundation as well as Melanin Market. The program runs up through early 2025. Learn more here. https://www.melanincollaborativegroup.org/grants
Miami District 10 area small businesses can get free grants of $5,000 from the Mom and Pop Small Business Grant Program. The money from the government can help pay for a variety of costs, including advertising, equipment, physical needs of the business as well. Any district 10 based business can apply, including minority, veteran, and women owned. Get details here. https://www.miamidade.gov/district10/releases/2024-07-03-vice-chairman-mom-and-pop-grant.asp
There are other grants and loans issued in previous years, and look here for older MWBE grants in FL.
By Jon McNamara
