December 2022
Several BIPOC businesses in the NYC region will be given up to $500,000 grants from the BKXLAccelerator program. There is also in-coaching coaching, advise, marketing support and more. The grant money, and program, is in partnership of the Social Justice Fund and Visible Hand. The grants are known as an early accelerator – meaning they focus on new, yet established companies, that need capital to take off. Apply here https://bk-xl.com/
September 2022 and October 2022
Women-owned businesses in Oneida and Herkimer County can apply for a free, $5000 grant that is the result of a partnership from The Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Baird. There will be multiple “winners”. A major focus is on businesses that help empower women, such as through employment, entrepreneurship, income equality and more. Though women owned businesses can of course apply, but social causes may take priority. Learn more here. https://womensfundhoc.org/
The Westchester County Business FIRST Grant is for DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises), Certified Veteran-owned businesses as well as MWBE – Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises. All applicants need to be certified by the state as well as have been impacted by the COVID pandemic. The amount of the free grant will be anywhere from $5,000 to $45,000, based on many criteria. Apply here. https://westchestercatalyst.com/business-first-programs/grants/
The NY Seed Funding Grant Program has hundreds of millions of dollars available to help micro and small businesses as well as early stage companies. The majority of the money has historically gone to women and minority owned businesses in the form of a free government grant. The state is using Pandemic Small Business Recovery Grant Program to help businesses. Applicants can receive anywhere from $5000 to as much as $100,000 or more. Apply here for grant money from Seed Funding. https://nyseedgrant.com/
Women owned businesses in Herkimer or Oneida County can get free $5000 grants. Several applicants will be given funds as part of Griffiss Institute as well as The Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida. The program is known as Women Investing in Women. The grant money can pay for marketing help, training, hardware, online websites and more. Learn details here. https://womensfundhoc.org/business-grants.php?utm_source=The+Women%27s+Fund&utm_medium=social,+web,+email,+google&utm_campaign=Women+Investing+In+Women+Business+Grants
July 2022, August 2022 and September 2022
Albany area BIPOC owned businesses can apply for financial help to help them build best practices around diversity, inclusion, and creating additional opportunities. KeyBank as well as the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce are working together on the program. All the grant funds can only be used for certain indicatives and bills, and the program has restrictions. There are also certification workshops and other services, read more here. https://capitalregionchamber.com/business-resources/minority-women-owned-business/
Over the next 90 days or so, millions of dollars will be available from the State Small Business Credit Initiative. The main goal is to provide low cost (or interest free) loans to small businesses in underserved parts of NY. There may also be grants, capital infusion, equity and other Capital offered. This will give priority to businesses owned by people of color, women, veterans and the disadvantaged. Funds will be disbursed by Empire State Development with local non-profit partners. Read more. https://esd.ny.gov/ssbci
Free grants are offered in NYC as part of the NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre. Applicants need to be female owned and in those industries. The funds and program is offered in partnership of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), the city, as well as the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA). The funds can pay for videos, stages, exhibits and related costs. Apply here. https://www.nyfa.org/awards-grants/nyc-womens-fund-for-media-music-and-theatre/
Scale-Up WNY is a grant program for women and male, black owned businesses in western NY, including Buffalo-Niagara and nearby counties. Up to a couple dozen black owned businesses will be provided up to $15,000. The program is run by LISC as well as General motors. A focus is on BIPOC businesses in construction, manufacturing, day care, tech, or “physical” industries. Learn more and apply here. https://www.lisc.org/wny/what-we-do/neighborhoodbusiness/small-business-grants/lisc-gm-scale-wny-grant/
May and June 2022
NYC artists, designers, and creative businesses can get scholarships, coaching, and possible grants from The Fearless Artist (TFA). $100,000 is being disbursed to the artistic community as the result of funds provided by Olay Body as well as Procter and Gamble. TFA also hold events to publicize the artistic businesses as well, and apply for assistance (and learn about) the programs here. https://thefearlessartist.artstorefronts.com/home
NYC area small as well as micro-businesses can get free grants of up to $10,000. The financial aid program covers only the regions of Chelsea, Hudson Yards, as well as Hell’s Kitchen. The resource is known as the The West Side Small Business Grants (WSSBG) program, and the focus is on service industries such as café, food carts, restaurants, pubs and other service sector businesses. Another focus of WSSBG is on giving financial help to women, veterans, immigrants, minority and especially free grants for black women owned businesses in the region. Learn more here. https://www.citizensnyc.org/grantmaking
March and April 2022
Maxine Quigg Women in Business Fund is offering between $500 to $1000 in the form of a free grant to qualified businesses. The money is being distributed in partnership with the Northern New York Community Foundation. The money can help expand women owned businesses, coordinates education, coordinates leadership classes and more. The free grants are for women owned businesses as well as non-profits. To get an application, dial 315-782-7110.
February and March 2022
Ithaca women owned businesses can apply for a $10,000 grant from the Women Building Communities non-profit. The goal is the funds is to help female owned companies that are committed to addressing inequality and businesses that open the door for other female owned companies. The program is called Unexpected Needs, and get more details here. https://womenbuildingcommunity.org/available/
Black owned businesses in Harlem can apply for $10,000 grants from the Harlem Entrepreneurial Microgrant. The financial assistance is being provided as part of the Apollo Theater, BET Television and 125th St Business Improvement District. All applicants need to be operating in Harlem and be a Black owned business. Not non-profits can also apply. The applicants also need to be a “small” business. Learn more and apply here. https://125thstreet.submittable.com/submit/8cf78ce1-bcf4-4ac4-8b9e-4617fa8ab781/harlem-entrepreneurial-micro-grant-initiativ
Rockland County small businesses can apply for $5 to $25 grants as part of the Small Business Assistance Grant Program. The financial aid helps pay for operating expenses, such as rent, utilities, salaries, inventory and more. The free government grants are focused on helping small businesses and micro-companies recover from COVID, and women, veteran, and minority owned businesses in Rockland County will be given priority as well. Apply here http://rocklandgov.com/departments/economic-development-and-tourism/small-business-assistance-grant/
Farmingdale State College, on Long Island, is providing grants to Black (1) alumni or (2) current students who want to, or are currently, in business. The financial aid is known as the Business Boot Camp and Grant Program. There are free training and workshop programs for MWBE companies, free grants, loan programs, and BP plan development services as well. All these programs are at the Business Center. Learn more here. https://www.farmingdale.edu/small-business-development-center/
December 2021 and January 2022
Rochester NY restaurants that are willing/able to help feed the elderly in the city can apply for free $5000 grants from the city. The Senior Meals Program is a government resource that will help feed senior citizens across the city. The grant funds can help the restaurant pay for the transportation, wages, and other costs incurred by the restaurants. Some of the restaurants selected will also be women or minority owned, and apply here. https://www.cityofrochester.gov/restaurantgrant/
The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce will help local businesses, and free grants of up to $5,000 are provided. The funds are for businesses from low income parts of the borough, with a focus on women, LGBTQ, veteran and minority owned businesses. Restaurants, sole-proprietors, service industries, tech companies and any small business can apply. The program is known as the Small Business Grant Program, and learn more here. https://www.brooklynchamber.com/
NYC businesses in low to moderate income parts of the city can apply for free government grants. The financial assistance will focus on certain types of businesses, including arts, bars or cafes, entertainment, recreation, restaurants, accommodation, hotels, and food sectors. The program is known NYC Small Business Resilience Grant. A large percentage of the small business grants will most likely go to immigrant, MWBE, veteran, and LGTBQ owned businesses. Learn more on Small Business Services in the city and apply here for support. https://www1.nyc.gov/site/sbs/index.page
Ontario County businesses can get free grants from the COVID Relief Program. Qualified businesses, including MWBE companies, can get from $10,000 to $60,000 dollars. The Economic Development agency will be accepting applications and distributing the funds. The money will go to companies that have been impacted by the COVID pandemic and that need financial aid to recover. Free grants can help pay rent, operating costs, payroll and other bills. Learn more. https://ontariocountyny.gov/940/Economic-Development
Grants and interest free loans were offered in 2021 as well. Those agencies may have referrals or support for small MWBE businesses as well. More on New York 2021 grants and loans for MWBE.
By Jon McNamara