Small to mid-sized minority and female owned businesses in Georgia can get free grants or low interest rate, forgivable loans. Find government programs, lenders, charities, corporations and places to get MWBE or veteran business grants near you in Georgia below. Learn how to get everything from free business consultations to grants, mentoring programs, loans, and financial help.
Any business can apply. However each of the agencies as well as assistance programs has committed to helping disadvantaged businesses in Georgia. This includes minorities (Black, Latino, Asian, immigrants, etc.), veterans, women in Georgia, and LGBTQ businesses. Any free grants (whether from a non-profit or the government) is combined with other help, including technical assistance, financial advice, budgeting, counseling, and more. Businesses that get loans will also get other support as well. A major focus is on providing grants to Black owned male and women owned businesses in the state and Atlanta.
Find small business financial assistance programs in Georgia, including in Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah and statewide. Everything from low cost loans to grants, capital, or funds to pay certain operating expenses may be offered, with priority for MWBE and BIPOC businesses (businesses owned by people of color) in Georgia.
Find minority and female business grants and loans in Georgia
The list of programs is updated daily. As noted, anyone can apply. But funds and support will be focused on Black, Latino, Veteran, and female owned companies among other disadvantaged businesses.
November and December 2023
Georgia Southern University’s Business Innovation Group provides help to small businesses and start ups as part of the BIG Edge Entrepreneurship Program. Free educational support, classroom training, grant money and other support is arranged to a few select winners. Learn more here https://research.georgiasouthern.edu/big/
August and September 2023
AGCO Agriculture Foundation is for non-profits that focus on fighting hunger, including in minority communities. Applications require a project proposal, as the Foundation needs to know how the grant money will be effectively used. Learn more here. https://www.agcofoundation.org/grants.html
Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce has a multi month business training and grant program known as “Step Up“. There are workshops, training sessions, coaching, information on raising money and more. Get details here https://mygabc.org/
Gwinnett Small Business Grant is providing anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000 to businesses impacted and that are still recovering from COVID. The funds are for small businesses with under 30 employees, with a percent of the money allocated to women, veterans, and businesses owned by people of color. Apply here. https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/departments/planningdevelopment/economicdevelopment/smallbusinessgrant
April and May 2023
Accion Opportunity Fund has a grant program for Black and Latina people either become truck drivers and/or grow an existing trucking business. Get financial help to buy a truck or make payments on loans, mentoring and other support in Georgia. Learn more here. https://aofund.org/news/opening-doors-for-more-women-and-people-of-color-in-trucking/
Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce and the City are helping minority entrepreneurs. There are free workshops, educational classes on how to start a business, grants and other funds from the City of Augusta Business Equity Fund. Learn more here. https://mygabc.org/about/
November 2022
Southern Crescent Women has a business pitch program. It will help female-owned businesses in the form of grant money, counseling and more. The non-profit has helped fund a number of businesses over the years, and learn more here. https://scwibga.org/fundingpitch
August 2022, September 2022 and October 2022
City of Valdosta as well as The Black Business Alliance as well as Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce is using up to $1 million dollars of American Rescue Plan Act funds to provide grants to small businesses. The free government grants are part of COVID relief, and applicants need to have been impacted by the pandemic. A focus is on women, minority, and veterans. Apply here https://www.valdostacity.com/sites/default/files/uploads/featured-image/arpasmallbusinessfinal-english.pdf
The city of Norcross Georgia is providing free grants as part of the financial assistance program known as Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs. The money is part of the federal government American Rescue Plan Act. The grants can pay for operating costs, payroll, inventory, rent, and other bills. A major focus is in businesses owned by people of color in the city as well as women or veterans. Apply here for the Norcross program. https://www.norcrossga.net/2214/ARPA-Small-Business-Grant-Program
The Atlanta Commercial Property Improvement Grant is open for applications to both non-profit and for-profit businesses, with a focus on those in lower-income parts of the city. Another focus is on minority as well as Black men and women owned businesses. The funds are for businesses with a physical presence and up to $50,000 can be used to update, repair, modernize the property. The goal is to help “revitalize” and improve the city of Atlanta. Apply here. https://www.investatlanta.com/openforbusiness/commercial-property-improvement-grant
May, June 2022, and July 2022
Atlanta Recovery Loan program is for businesses in the city only. There will be interest-free loans issued to help businesses grow and expand. A major focus is on disadvantaged businesses that lack access to capital, equity, or bank loans. The Atlanta financial assistance program will disburse a few million in loans total, with a focus on Black women, men, and minorities in Atlanta. Wells Faro, the United Way, and other non-profits will be partners too. Learn more and apply here for 0% rate loans in Atlanta. https://www.investatlanta.com/businesses/small-businesses/atlanta-recovery-loan-program
Columbus Georgia Small Business Grant program is for non-profits as well as for profit businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry. There are 3 different versions offered. The funds will help non-profits and service industries recover from the recent pandemic. with one of the grants focused on tourist businesses. In all instances, a focus will be to give money to disadvantaged businesses, which include women, veteran, and minorities. Find the various grants in Columbus GA here. https://www.columbusga.gov/arp
Atlanta area businesses can apply for free $10,000 grants from Comcast Rise. The financial assistance will be combined with technical assistance, marketing support, free internet access, coaching and so much more. The cable provider is providing the free grants to businesses owned by women and/or people of color, including Latino, Indigenous, Black, Asian American or immigrants. The company needs to be a “small business” and independently owned. Apply for Comcast Rise Grants in Atlanta here. https://www.comcastrise.com/rise-apply/
April 2022
Fulton County Recovery Loan Program and Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) are working together to provide low cost (or interest free loans) of up to $10,000 to small business owners. There are also business advisory services provided. Priority is given to businesses that were most impacted by COVID as well as disadvantaged businesses that lack access to capital, such as women, minority, LGTBQ and veterans. Continue reading. https://aceloans.org/fulton/
Chatham County and Savannah businesses can apply for free government grants that are being issued as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. A major focus is on service businesses, including minority and women, that were impacted by COVID. This can be a restaurant, hotel, travel business, hairdresser, or countless other small to mid-sized businesses that are in the service industry. The money can help pay for operating costs, rent, utilities, inventory and other expenses. Learn more on the Chatham Small Business Grant Program by dialing 912-335-5314.
February and March 2022
Small businesses in the city of Atlanta can apply for financial help from the Resurgence Grant Fund. Up to $40,000 may be given to each business. The money will go towards helping small businesses, including minority, veteran and women-owned recover from COVID. The assistance program is known as Invest Atlanta, and it can even help more mid-sized businesses such as those with up to 250 employees. Find more details. https://www.investatlanta.com/businesses/small-businesses/resurgence-grant-fund
November and December 2021
Restaurants in the Atlanta region can apply for financial aid and free grants from the QuickBooks Restaurant Relief Initiative as well as the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA). The corporation and non-profit are working together to help bars, restaurants, cafes, and food service places. A major focus is on helping disadvantaged, MWBE as well as veteran owned restaurants. The grant money can help pay for bills, salaries, rent, and other operating costs. The funds are for smaller businesses. Apply here. https://mailchi.mp/5157303a77f4/grafoundation
January 2021 and February 2021
Metro Atlanta Chamber is offering RESTORE ATL grants. The financial assistance, in the form of free grants, is for small as well as medium sized businesses in the greater metro area, including multiple counties. $5,000 to $10,000 may be issued to Black owned businesses. Apply here. https://www.metroatlantachamber.com/restore-atl-grant
Back2Business is an assistance program from FisServ, and black and minority owned businesses can apply for cash grants of up to $10,000. The funds are for the Atlanta region, including Fulton, Cobb, and Gwinnett County. Not only are funds used to help businesses impacted by COVID, but there is also free expert advise, SME programs, webinars, coaching and more. Partners include Atlanta Black Chambers, Metro Atlanta Chamber, and other non-profits are also supporting minority owned small businesses, including Salons, restaurants, bars, hotels, travel companies and other businesses. Apply here. https://aeoworks.org/fiserv/
November – December 2020
Free small business grants, counseling, technical help and assistance is offered to small, minority run businesses as well as entrepreneurs in Atlanta. The Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative is a non-profit that is trying to assist disadvantaged businesses. They provide mentoring (from business leaders), help black male and women owned companies get off the road, provide information on funding sources and loans, and much more. The goal is to help close the racial wealth gap. Continue reading here. https://www.atlantawealthbuilding.org/
September 2020
Decide DeKalb offers the Better Business Loan Program is offering low cost loans to businesses under 20 employees. Each minority or female applicant/small business can be given at most $40,000. The non-profit is the Economic Development Agency for DeKalb County, and the business needs to be located there. The address is 125 Clairemont Avenue, Suite 150, Decatur, GA 30030. For information on the loans, dial 404.687.2730 or more details here. https://www.decidedekalb.com/
By Jon McNamara
