There are several organizations in Colorado that operate year round. The agencies provide everything from a grant to help a minority, veteran or women owned business to interest free loans and other support. All these financial assistance programs, that focus on MWBE and veterans, are provided along with coaching, mentoring, and long term support. Find help for veteran and MWBE businesses and entrepreneurs in Colorado below.
Ongoing year round financial resources for small Colorado businesses
The list of places that offer grant or interest free loans listed below cover either the entire state or certain areas on Colorado. However they all help start ups and existing small businesses, with a priority on disadvantaged businesses (such as veteran owned, women, or minorities).
Statewide MWBE and veteran business grants or loans
Colorado’s Black Business Initiative (BBI) provides resources (including capital, grants, or low-cost loans) to Black-owned businesses. A program known as the AYA Foundation is offered, and this will provide a number of assistance programs to Black women and male owned companies. There are also free training and workshops to ensure they have the “tools” and support needed to succeed. More details here. https://www.bbiprofessional.com/
Colorado Enterprise Fund has a wide variety of loan programs for disadvantaged entrepreneurs and small businesses. There is also free coaching from navigators and other resources. Get money from the startup loan fund, specialized loans or grants and more. https://coloradoenterprisefund.org/
Colorado Lending Source is a Kiva sponsored Trustee. They offer various loan products from their B-Side Capital program, whether Angel Investing, Equity raises, partnerships and more. But one program is the 0% interest rate KIVA loans, which can help small businesses start and/or grow, with a focus on MWBE, veteran, and immigrant owned companies. Learn more on The Lending Source here. https://www.bsidecapital.org/colorado-lending-source
ENERGIZE Colorado has funds for BIPOC-owned small business, including Black women, men, or Hispanics. Any business owned by people of color can look into financial assistance programs offered by the non-profit. The organization partners with the Colorado Office of Economic Development to provide grants, loans and more. Learn about the programs here. https://energizecolorado.com/bipoc-owned-businesses/
El Centro Amistad helps Latinos throughout Colorado, with offices in Boulder and Longmont., the non-profit organization offers services to help Latinos start and grow their businesses, get government grants or find loans, and offers classes, workshops, and networking opportunities. Learn more here. https://www.elcentroamistad.org/
Minority Business Office of Colorado, or MBO, is an organization made up of volunteers, corporations, and non-profits that help minority, women, and veteran owned businesses. There is a list of free grants (from corporations, donors and non-profits) as well as ongoing support. That includes online tools, counseling, coaching services, and even help with publicity or marketing. Read more on MBO here. https://oedit.colorado.gov/minority-business-office-of-colorado
Help for women, minority, and veteran businesses in Denver
The Aurora Colorado NACCP operates an Economic Development Center. While it is focused on people of color, anyone can use it. A wide variety of free resources are offered to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Learn about local and national grants, sign up for mentoring, use office equipment, use the center to network and take advantage of a host of other programs. Read about the non-profit here. https://www.auroracoloradonaacp.org/en/home/
Community Reinvestment Fund of Denver provides loans to underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses. They are a CDFI that provides financing, advice, training and other support. One of the main financial assistance programs in known as Patient Loans. Learn about the Denver non-profit here. https://crfusa.com/lending/
Denver Denver Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers a number of assistance programs for women, minorities, veterans, and others. They focus on both small businesses as well as entrepreneurs, Get help from the Leading Edge program, learn about free government grants or loan programs, free coaching and consulting services are offered and more. They work with SBA, Well Fargo, non-profits, and other corporations. Learn more here. https://www.denversbdc.org/
Denver area businesses that are owned by a low income person, or someone with poor capital and/or who needs access to Capital can try the Women’s Business Center at Mi Casa Resource Center. They focus on Latino owners, minorities and women, in particular those in lower income areas. Everything from interest free loans (in partnership with Kiva) to business plan development, a free to use resource center, licensing and permitting help and more in offered. Continue with Women Center programs here. https://micasaresourcecenter.org/
Denver Latino owned businesses, as well as some owned BIPOC owned companies, can use the Latino Leadership Institute. They have a number of programs for businesses owned by people of color, including a Latino Business Accelerator program. They help set up the legal structure, provide marketing advice, help facilitate access to capital (loans or grants) and more. Existing businesses and entrepreneurs can use the non-profit Institute. Learn more. https://latinoslead.org/
Denver entrepreneurs, start ups and micro-businesses can use The Commons on Champa center. It is a program run by the city, corporations and non-profits that help people, including women, minorities, LGTBQ+ community host of business resources. There are computer labs, networking opportunities, posting on various grant or loan programs as they are released and more more. Read more on the Center here. https://thecommons.co/
Fort Collins BIPOC Alliance offers programs such as Wealth in Numbers (WIN). The goal of the non-profit is to help businesses owned by minorities/people of color to start or grow. Get free mentoring, training, assistance raising money from banks loans or grants as well as other support – anything business oriented is offered. Learn about the Alliance here. https://www.bipocalliance.org/
Grand Junction Colorado area businesses can get help from the Business Incubator Center. A wide variety of services are offered as well as loan funds. A focus is on veteran, Black or Latino women owned businesses, and other underserved individuals in the community. There is a Business Loan Fund (BLF), Incubator and business accelerator programs, co-working spaces, free workshops and mentoring services and more. Find details here. https://gjincubator.org/
Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County helps Latino owned businesses in the area, including Lafayette CO. The programs range from networking events, information on newly released grants, counseling and more. Many programs are held at the Sister Carmen Community Center with details here https://www.latinochamberco.org/.
Prairie Rose Development Corporation is a non-profit small business and startup lender that covers all of Colorado. Qualified applicants can borrow about $15,000 at zero percent interest rates, and the funding is offered in partnership with Kiva. They support underserved small business owners, including those of color, women, LGBTQ and disabled owners among others. Various mentoring, free loans, and financial aid is offered. Apply here. https://prairierosedevelopment.org/
Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute has a number of assistance programs for disadvantaged businesses, including minority, women, LGTBQ, veteran and others. Get help with applying to loans or grants from Capital Meets Capacity, guidance and support from Whole Entrepreneur Support as well as other programs. Learn more here https://rmmfi.org/
By Jon McNamara