The ability to access funds to start or grow a business is even more challenging for Black, women, Latino, LGTBQ, Veterans and other minorities. Find information below on free small business grants or loan programs that are available for minority or women owned businesses (MWBE) or BIPOC-owned businesses (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) near you.

The list is ongoing and each state (as well as the national directory) will be updated daily as announcements are made. Find announcements on how and where to get loans or grants to help fund your small business, and select your state below or look for national programs.

There are a number of grants for black owned business, including women. Fund are also offered for veteran, Hispanic / Latino owned businesses as well as LGTBQ or female owned small businesses as well as entrepreneurs. These grants and micro-loan programs can help them get the money they need.

Women, Black, Latino, and other minorities often use their own personal cash (or family money) to fund their business, with almost 20% % of black owned businesses also using their credit card (vs. about 10% of white owned businesses) and Latinos also tend to rely more on high cost debt. Women also often face challenges as well in the form of bias or discrimination in trying to get funds. Black owned, minority and women owned businesses all struggle to get bank loans, and their funding challenges is much greater than white owned businesses. Other minority groups as well as women owned or run businesses also struggle with funding.

Lack of capital also is a barrier for growing sales for Black, Latino, women, veteran and minority businesses. Whether starting a company, or growing one, funding is critical and can be the life-blood of your company. The other statistics around access to funding all highlight the challenges for minorities and women. But there are many free small to mid-size grant as well as loan programs out there to help!

MWBE loans and free grants for minorities, veterans and women near you

There is a list of states below. However, in addition to those more local and state resources, there are corporations, banks, and federal government grant or loan programs that offer funds across the country to BIPOC or MWBE businesses. Each one will be allocating some of their funds, as well as other business support such as free coaching or mentoring.

There are small dollar as well as low credit funds from microloan lenders for startup companies and small businesses as well as borrowers with poor credit scores.

Crowdfunding is another option for raising money, including loans, investors or equity type partnerships. There are crowdfunding platforms that focus on female owned businesses, Black or Veteran companies, and startups too. Learn how crowdfunding works and find platforms that can provide loans and funds.

All of those assistance programs above are available nationwide. Minority owned businesses (or entrepreneurs) can try them for free grants as well as loans, or find more help from their local state below. Latinos, Asians, veterans, women, and other disadvantaged companies will always be allocated some of the funds from every program listed.

State loan and free grant programs for disadvantaged businesses

There are many non-profit and government programs that help minority, women, Black, Latino and other businesses regardless of where the business is located. They are listed below, by state. Some state government, corporations based in a state, community banks and other lenders have a more local focus. Find grants as well as small business loans for minorities or women owned businesses in your state below.

In addition to the state resources below, there are national resources too, that cover all 50 states. Find grants and loans for all states – nationwide

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Other programs are available as well from various organizations. Locate additional free small business resources in CA

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington DC – District of Columbia

Washington

Wisconsin

By Jon McNamara

Free small business grants