Free grants along with loans and mentoring is offered to Florida. 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 they need, whether it is a low or no-interest loan or a cash grant. Find lenders, grantors, and programs below.
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.
Ongoing, year round financial resources for businesses
There are financial assistance programs that operate year round. Find details below by “category”, including by city/county/geography. There are also free grants and loans by month in Florida, as you continue to scroll down the page.
Statewide Florida MWBE assistance programs
African American Entrepreneurs Association (AAEA) operates across Florida, with a focus on a few areas such as Daytona Beach, The Palm Coast, and Gainesville among other parts of the state. They offer a number of resources to Black men and women owned businesses, including access to financing, business placement development services, SBA loans, grants and more. They also partner with Bank of America, TD Bank, the Black Chamber of Commerce and others to coordinate programs. Read more on AAEA here. https://vhl.a6a.myftpupload.com/
Black owned businesses across Florida can apply for the Black Business Loan Program. It is being offered by the CDFI for the state, which is The Community Fund of North Miami Dade. The goal is to spread financing to small to mid sized Black men or women-owned businesses that struggle to get funds from traditional banks. Up to $100,000 can be borrowed by qualified Black owned businesses. The money can pay for inventory, payroll, expansion, and other bills. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/41-2025826
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has a wide variety of small business programs, including some focused on minorities, women, disabled people and others. There is a directory of loans, grants, microfinancing solutions, business credits and more. The programs come and go throughout the year, but find financial resources here. https://www.floridajobs.org/community-planning-and-development/Small-and-Minority-Business-Resources/Small-and-Minority-Business-Programs
Native Plant Horticulture Foundation helps very small businesses, such as farming and people with native plants, get the capital they need. They partner with Kiva on 0%, interest free loans with a focus on micro-businesses that lack access to capital, including minority, veteran, and women owned farmers. While based in Melbourne FL, resources are offered statewide. More details here. https://nativeplanthort.org/
Prospera helps Hispanics all across Florida. There is assistance for immigrants, Cubans, Latinos, South America residents and any Latino. Several offices are located across Florida, and Prospera offers referrals to free grants or low cost loans, free business and marketing plan development, legal aid, free workshops and more. The goal is to empower Hispanics financially, professionally, and business wise. They support Hispanic entrepreneurs and small businesses. Read more. https://prosperausa.org/
Broward/Miami/Dade County/Palm Beach area grants, interest free loans and mentoring
Broward County businesses can turn to the Urban League and Central County Community Development Corporation, also known as CCCDC. The assistance offered includes an entrepreneurship center; small business loans; technical help; business capital or loans from Wells Fargo Dream Fund; one on one mentoring; tax planning and dozens of other programs to women, Black, and minority business owners. Find more on their services. https://www.cccdcorp.org/
Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Foundation, or EWPBF, provides grant money, mentorship and support to women owned businesses. They help people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or age. All assistance is free to small to mid sized owned women businesses. Learn more on the charity here. https://ewpb.org/
The Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD) in Broward County has a number of resources for small businesses, including women, veteran, and minority-owned. They work with the SBA on funding, grants and micro-loans. There is also MWBE certification, applications to national or local resources and many other business services. https://www.broward.org/EconDev/Pages/BusinessFinancialResources.aspx
Miami MBDA helps women and minority owned businesses in Miami-Dade County. There are many free resources, including business plan development classes, free coaching programs, training and analysis on financial matters, as well as assistance in applying for low cost loans or free grants. They also help women and minority businesses get more revenue and government contracts. All resources are offered in Spanish too. Read more. https://www.mbda.gov/business-center/miami-mbda-business-center
Miami-Dade Black Owned businesses can apply for low cost loans from the Black Business Loan Program, which is run by the Bayside Foundation. Up to $150,000 can be provided. Inventory, working capital, salaries, and limited other expenses can be paid. Apply here. https://miamibaysidefoundation.org/black-business-loan-program/
Another Miami-Dade County program for businesses, including MWBE, Latino, LGTBQ, etc. is Axis Helps Miami. Not only may financial assistance in the form of loans or grants be offered, but there is free mentorship, business training, networking, investor pitches, help getting minority certification, information on government contracts and much more. Read up on the agency. https://www.axishelps.org/
Female small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Miami area can get microloans from Grameen America. The lender is a non-profit with offices nationwide that focuses its microloans on women from low-income area or households, or women that live in poverty. A major focus is on the Latina, Cuban, and south American immigrants and second-generation Latinas in Miami Dade. Learn more on the Grameen program in Miami here. https://www.grameenamerica.org/blog/2017/12/11/grameen-america-opens-branch-in-miami
Minority businesses in Palm Beach County (Black, Latino, Puerto Rican, Veteran, Women, etc.) can get financial assistance and other help from the Urban League of Palm Beach County. Everything from free mentoring to information on grants for the government or corporations, or loans, may be offered. Business Centers also hold classes and workshops for business owners as well as entrepreneurs. Read more here. https://ulpbc.org/
West Palm Beach women and minority businesses can use a free center for support. There is help for small to even large MWBE owned businesses, or someone who is thinking of starting one. Get help with certification, finding and applying for grant money, business plan development, and earn about city rules or regulations. Contact the Office of Small and Minority Businesses in West Palm Beach for support, or find them here. https://www.wpb.org/our-city/mayor-s-office/office-equal-opportunity
Another Palm Beach option is the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County / Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce. They have a Small Business Resource Center, which is free to use. Latinos, Hispanics, Immigrants and people of color can learn about applying for grants, get help with business development or promotion, network, get discounts of Office supplies and more. Learn about their services here. https://hispanicchamberpbc.com/
Central Florida area
Black Business Investment Fund Inc. provides assistance minority owned businesses in central Florida, Orlando and surrounding counties. Everything from low-cost loans to occasional free grants, financial coaching, small business training and more. They are a non-profit CDFI that helps disadvantaged and low-income businesses owned by people of color. Learn more here on the Black Business Investment Fund. https://bbif.com/
Central Florida is covered by the UCF Business Incubation Program as well as the Florida High Tech Corridor. They assist women owned businesses t(including Black, Hispanic or White) throughout Florida. They will, from time to time, have grants to help women-owned businesses grow an existing company. They also help the “test” an idea as well as launch a company, everything from legal aspects of it to the Traction Program and ongoing support. More details here. https://incubator.ucf.edu/
Daytona Beach area MWBE owners can get assistance from the Small Business Development Center, which is located at Daytona State College. A number of resources are offered, including financial ones. The United Minority Scholarship program. They help with raising capital, social media marketing, government contracting for MWBE companies, management techniques and so much more. Continue reading here. https://www.daytonastate.edu/sbdc/
FAMU College of Law Economic Justice Clinic has a free legal center for minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. Supervised law students, volunteer lawyers and professors will help Black and minority-owned businesses get the support they need. Get help starting a business, filing for LLC or a corporation, tax help or assistance applying for grants, help with regulations and more. The location is the FAMU Law School in Orlando, and call 407-254-4000 for details.
Orlando area businesses can apply for grants from the city. There are a wide variety of assistance programs offered, and they change through the months and years. One that is almost always available is the Minority/Women Entrepreneur Business Assistance (MEBA) Program, which is intended to help MWBE, LGTBQ+, and veteran owned businesses stay in the region. There are funds for marketing, real estate, capital projects and more. Find details here, including on MEBA. https://www.orlando.gov/Community-Programs-Events/Grant-Funding-Availability
Northern and NE Florida grants, free coaching, loans and support
Jacksonville Women’s Business Center is the leading center for minorities and women. Clients can get information on creating business plans and locating capital, whether interest free or low cost loans or any government or corporate grants. There is legal advice, mentoring, entrepreneurial development classes and more. They support all of Northeast Florida around Jacksonville, Duval and Clay county and other areas. Read more. https://jaxchamberfoundation.org/jacksonville-womens-business-center/
Urban League of Jacksonville operates an Center for Education, Career Development and Workforce Services in partnership with the national office. There is help for minority-owned small businesses in NE Florida. There are internships, free workshops and seminars, information on Florida and national MWBE grants and more. The goal is to help disadvantaged businesses start and grow. Read more here. https://ul-jacksonville.iamempowered.com/center-education-career-development-and-workforce-development
Panhandle region free government grants and financial help for MWBE and veteran businesses
Women and minority owned businesses in the Apalachee Region can apply for financing from the Resolving Loan Fund from the Apalachee Regional Planning Council. It can not only help fund existing businesses, but it is a source of capital for start ups. There may also be loans for borrowers with poor credit. A business plan, mentoring, and ongoing support may be required as well. Read more. https://www.arpc.org/
Southwestern Florida area grants, loans, and assistance for women, veteran, and minority businesses
Collier, Lee, Glades, Hendry, and Charlotte County female owned businesses can get financial aid, no-interest loans in partnership with Kiva, education support and other business assistance. The non-profit Southwest Florida Women’s Foundation assists women owned businesses in the region. The main office is in Bonita Springs, FL 34135. Call (239) 908-0301
MicroEnterprise Institute of Goodwill Southwest Florida (SWFL) provide assistance, including interest free microloans (as a Kiva Trustee) in multiple counties. Businesses, including veteran, female or minority owned as well as immigrants can get help. A major focus is on helping low-income business owners or startups. Financing, loans, free workshops, business plan development mentoring, and more. The non-profit supports the counties of Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry and Glades. Read more https://goodwillswfl.org/microenterprise/
City of St. Petersburg Office of Supplier Diversity provides contracting opportunities, business development, and support to women and/or minority owned businesses. Get opportunities to increase revenue, referrals to grant programs and other support. Learn more on the St. Pete office here. https://www.stpete.org/business/procurement/supplier_diversity.php
Tampa Bay/St. Petersburg region grants, loans, and assistance
Pinellas County Hispanic – Latino owned businesses (or those seeking to start a business) can contact the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Pinellas County. They offer a number of services, including mentoring, networking, databases and information on government grant programs or bank loans, and more. The goal is to help the Hispanic community grow or start a business. Learn more. https://www.facebook.com/groups/378994920212594
Tampa Bay women-owned businesses, or entrepreneurs, can get access to a wide variety of free resources from the Tampa Bay Women’s Business Centre. There is information on raising capital from loans, equity, investors, or free government grants. Or take classes and workshops, both in the center or online. Counseling, mentoring, wellness services, the Women Building Futures program and much more is offered. Learn more here. https://thecentre.org/businesscentre/
Tampa Bay BBIC is a CDFI approved lender. The Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation helps minority and small business owners with a low-income or bad credit get capital, counseling, and other services. They are part of the Certified Community Development Financial Institution. They also have referrals to free grants, business development workshops and other resources. Lear more here https://tampabaybbic.com/
Tampa Bay area minority owned businesses, whether in Hillsborough, Pinellas, or other counties, can get support from the Minority Business Accelerator Program. It is run by the Chamber of Commerce and local partners. The goal is to arrange loans, help Black and Latino owned businesses get capital, and they coordinate various non-profits and “leaders” in the Tampa Bay area to give back/volunteer/coordinate programs. Read more here. https://www.tampabaychamber.com/involvement/minority-business-accelerator.aspx
February and March 2023
Palm Beach is forgiving COVID relief loans to minority and owned businesses. There is also additional financial help from a First Steps Grant program. The City of West Palm Beach’s Office of Small And Minority/Women Business Office. Between the two programs, the goal is to help disadvantaged businesses continue to get the support they need to succeed in the county and city. All loan forgiveness and free grant money is first come-first served. Get more details here. https://www.wpb.org/our-city/mayor-s-office/office-equal-opportunity
City of Boynton Bay is providing free government grants as part of the ARPA Small Business Assistance Program. The funds will go to help businesses that were hit hard by COVID. While the amount of funds paid out will vary based on many factors, some qualified businesses (including those owned by women, veterans or minorities) can get up to $20,000. Find details here. https://weblink.bbfl.us/Forms/ARPASmallBusinessAssistanceGrant
Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust is providing free $10,000 grants to both Black-owned non-profits as well as for-profit businesses in the county. The program is known as Small Minority Black Business Capitalization Grant Program. There will also be community workshops, free training and counseling, and other help for the Black owned organizations in Miami-Dade. The goal it to help minority owned businesses expand and get the capital they need to be successful. Learn more. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/news-item.page?Mduid_news=news167397345708081
City of Coca has a $10,000 Forgivable Loan for downtown businesses. The funds are for small women or minority owned businesses. The loans are 0% and forgivable, but the business owner needs to attend multiple week training as well as mentoring and meet other conditions. The money can only be used for paying certain approved expenses. The loans can also help a MWBE business start in the city. Learn more here on the Upstart Cocoa Forgivable Loan. https://www.choosecocoa.org/223/Upstart-Cocoa-Forgivable-Loan
November 2022
Orange County is providing over $20 million dollars in grant money to small businesses using funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. KPMG will be working with the county to process applications, distribute money and ensure a fair share of free grants go to minority, veteran, LGTBQ+ and women owned businesses. Read more here. https://www.orangecountync.gov/2800/Orange-County-Grants
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program is for businesses impacted by Hurricane Ian, including agricultural businesses. The money is for small to mid-sized businesses in the coastal regions. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) will be processing applications, and each business can get up to $50,000. Apply here. https://deosera.force.com/RebuildFloridaBusinessLoanFund/s/
September and October 2022
Miami-Dade County businesses can apply for the Wells Fargo Open for Business Grant program. There are funds for technology companies, real estate, and businesses that invent things/have patents. A major focus is on disadvantaged businesses, such as those owned by people of color, LGTBQ, women and veteran among others. Over $20 million will be paid out over the years, with for-profit and non-profit businesses able to apply. Most of the funds will be microgrants, and read more here. https://www.miamifoundation.org/miamiopenforbusiness
Miami-Dade and Broward County small businesses can apply for free gnats from Comcast RISE program. The funds will be for money and minority owned businesses, including (not not limited too), Hispanic, Black, Indigenous, and Asian American owned small businesses. Each business can be provided up to $10,000. However Comcast also provides other technology solutions (in addition to the financial help) such as free internet programs, marketing and more. Apply here. https://www.comcastrise.com/
July and August 2022
African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida has a pitch competition for Black owned businesses in the region. Winners, mostly entrepreneurs, will be given assistance to help launch or grow their business. There will be access to funds, skills training, workshops and other assistance programs to the winner of the pitch. It is a yearly event. Apply to the Accelerate competition here. https://programs.interise.org/accelerate-central-florida/#lp-pom-box-134
City Of Orlando offers grants, marketing help, and more from the Minority/Women Entrepreneur Business Assistance (MEBA). A major focus is to help minority, women, and veteran owned businesses stay in the city. or help new companies relocate to the city. The financial aid from the free government grants are combined with other forms of assistance as well. Learn more here. https://www.downtownorlando.com/Business/Incentives/MinorityWomen-Entrepreneur-Business-Assistance-MEBA-Program
Banesco USA (in Miami) is providing low cost (or interest free loans) to small businesses that have at least 2 years of operating history. The funds are part of the federal government Emergency Capital Investment Program. Financial help is focused on minority owned businesses as well as those from disadvantaged parts of Miami-Dade County. Find more on the loan programs here. https://banescousa.com/
Community Fund of North Miami Dade is providing grants, low cost and/or forgivable loans to small businesses in the Miami Gardens area. Formula One, Truist, and Opa-locka Community Development Corporation are partners, with the goal to help small (in particular black owned businesses) in the Miami Gardens area. It will help businesses get the capital they need as well as access to coaching, mentoring, technical help and much more. Find details on the Community Fund programs here. https://www.cfnmd.org/
West Palm Beach has the Small and Minority/Women Business COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Program. This provides micro-loans or free government grant money to businesses with the city of West Palm Beach. Applicants need to be small businesses (under 1 million in revenue), have been in operation for at least 18 months, were negatively impacted by the COVID pandemic and meet other application criteria as well. Apply here. https://www.wpb.org/government/office-of-mayor-keith-a-james/office-of-small-and-minority-woman-business-programs/loan-recovery-assistance-program
NW Florida black owned businesses, including in Pensacola, can apply for $1500 grants from an organization known as Bantucola. A number of donors are working with Bantucola to help Black male and women owned businesses access the capital they need. All applying Black owned businesses must be located in the region, including counties of Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton, or Washington County Florida. Apply for the free grants here. https://bantucola.com/grants/
May and June 2022
Manufacturing businesses in Lee County can get technical help, information, and possibly grants from the Southwest Florida Manufacturers Association (SRMA) as well Lee County Economic Development Office. The assistance program is aimed at businesses, including those owned by women, veterans, or minorities, who operate in lower or moderate income parts of Lee County. The funds are also a form of COVID relief and can help manufacturing businesses that were greatly impacted by the pandemic. There is also information on international sales, business planning, opening new markets and other aid. More details here. https://srma.net/arpa-lee-county/
March and April 2022
St. Pete area businesses, that need to make physical improvements to their property, can apply for a free $7500 grant from the city. The financial assistance is part of the St. Pete Beach Business Site Improvement Program. The funds can pay for landscaping, code enforcement needs of a building, parking lot improvements, roadwork, and much more. Some funds will be allocated to disadvantaged businesses, including veteran, women, and minority among others. Find details and applications here. https://www.tampabaybeaches.com/BSIP/
Miami-Dade businesses can receive a free grant from the Mom and Pop Small Business program. It is available throughout the city, by district. The grant money can be used to pay for advertising, rent, operating costs, marketing, website development, and several other approved expenses. The Mom and Pop grants are even offered for sole-proprietors, but minority, veteran, Latino and woman owned businesses are given priority. Apply here. https://www.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1471548035447835
February and March 2022
City of West Palm Beach minority and women owned businesses (that are small in size) can apply for microloans of up to $20,000. The money is being provided as part of the COVID-19 Recovery Assistance Program. All applicants need to be small in size (under 1 million in revenue) and be MWBE owned. In addition, the low interest and/or free microloans are focused on helping businesses recover from the Pandemic – meaning applicants need to have been impacted by COVID. Apply here and learn more. https://www.wpb.org/Home/Components/News/News/2480/
Women owned businesses in the area of University of South Florida, University of Florida and Florida Tech can get assistance from an Incubator program. There may be financial help, guidance, Business development support or coaching and much more. The assistance is for any business, that is women owned, in the central Florida area. Find details. https://incubator.ucf.edu/launch-your-startup/
January 2022
Miami-Dade Beacon Council is offering financial help, free coaching, and other support to dozens of “existing” businesses in Miami-Dade County, with a focus on minority, Latino, women, veteran, and the “underserved” community. The organization is committed to helping as many as 100 companies. There will be partnerships arranged, financial help in the form of grants or loans, networking events, help with business plan development and much more. The company needs to be existing and just need help to bring their business to the “next level”. Read more. https://www.beaconcouncil.com/
October and November 2021
MWBE businesses in West Palm Beach can apply for microloans ranging from $5,000 to $25,000. The interest rate will vary, but it will be lower than other sources of capital. The main goal is to help small businesses overcome any financial hardship they have incurred from the pandemic. Dial 561-822-1273, or read about the low cost loan program. https://www.wpb.org/government/procurement
September and October 2021
Women owned businesses can apply for $10,000 grants from Bank United. The regional lender is running a financial aid program canned Small Business, Big Dreams – Women in Business. The goal is to provide capital to help women owned businesses, whether Black, Latina, White, etc. get the funds they need to start or grow a company. Judges will decide the winners. Learn more. https://www.bankunited.com/small-business/small-business-big-dreams-challenge/
February 2021, March 2021, and April 2021
Tampa Bay businesses that are owned by a woman, veteran, disabled, minority or LGBTQ person can apply for free $50,000 grants from an assistance program known as Backing the Bay. The grants are intended to help a disadvantaged business pay for marketing costs and advertising so that they can grow their sales. The Tampa Bay Lighting and partners are paying for the program. Read more. https://www.nhl.com/lightning/community/backing-the-bay
Leon County and Tallahassee minority and/or female owned businesses can apply for Microloans from the FAMU Credit Union. Up to $50,000 can be borrowed (while funding lasts). The money comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). There is also help for borrowers with limited or bad credit. The interest rates will be very low, even a low as one to three percent. To learn or apply call (850) 222-4541.
PPP Loans (round 2) will help businesses that have been hit by COVID. Black, women, Latino, and other minority or disadvantaged businesses can apply first. There are hundreds of banks, non-profits, and credit unions across Florida that accept applications. Use the free government grants to pay rent, payroll, and other bills. Read more. https://floridasbdc.org/disaster/cares-act/sba-ppp/
October – November 2020
Broward County and/or Coral Springs Black Business Owners can get financial help. The Black Chamber of Commerce and Fiserve are helping minority, Black men and women owned businesses across Broward County. Each qualified business, or startup, will be given at most $10,000. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScMINEc2WztQqTruNnazZ6lR7q5Wx69Mob4WIZLaJBFt7DRbQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR0fP0ikoeD_106izuQxPnJGLmIqIF4dT5SwCusi_P3RN9oY_7pHjU80XEA
Tampa Bay area and the Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women is assisting female business owners and entrepreneurs., regardless of their race. The CARES project helps owners find, and apply for the capital they need for their business. There are also networking events, women’s leadership programs and other services. http://thecentre.org/
By Jon McNamara
