November and December 2023
Southeast Queens entrepreneurs and small businesses can get $2500 from a grant program. The funds are from greater Jamaica Development Corporation and the free grants are for businesses owned by people of color (BIPOC). Applicants need to have been operating for a year and be either a sole-proprietor or under 10 employees. Apply here. https://gjdc.org/grant/
Canton CARES Small Business Grant Program is offered by the Economic Development. They help micro-businesses, sole proprietorships and small businesses get the funds they need, with some programs for the disadvantaged such as veterans, women, and minority owned companies. Applicants need to have less than 25 employees, and call (315) 386-2871 for details.
Small businesses and minority owned companies in Erie County can get free grant money from the SBAP program, also known as the Buffalo Small Business Assistance Program. Up to $7500 is provided to each qualified company. The program is run in partnership with the Urban League and other non-profits. Apply here. https://ndc.smapply.io/prog/buffalo_small_business_assistance_program_/
October 2023
Tompkins County non-profits can apply to the Women Building Community Grants. Up to $5,000 will be provided to each qualified non-profit. The applicants need to focus on economic equality, business development, education of women and general social issues. Apply at the City Federation of Women’s Organizations (CFWO), and get details here. https://womenbuildingcommunity.org/
July 2023 and August 2023
Albany NY Small Business Vitality Assistance program provides free grants using American Rescue Plan funds. Each qualified business will get up to $15,000. A priority is on MWBE owned businesses that have less than 20 employees and operate within the city. Apply here. https://www.businessvitalityalbany.org/
New York Forward Loan Fund 2 is a low, cost, possibly interest free loan for small to mid sized businesses (with less than 100 employees). The goal is to help businesses who can’t traditionally get capital get the money they need, so a majority of the funds will more than likely go to MWBE owned businesses. Apply here. https://nyloanfund.com/
Non-profits in Herkimer and/or Oneida County can apply for free grants. There is money from The Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. The applying non-profit needs to focus on empowering women or girls. This can be economic development, job training, career development, business entering or anything that is helping females. Get details https://womensfundhoc.org/
NYC small businesses can apply for the Pitch Tank Competition, which will provide winners with up to $25,000 in free money for their businesses. The non-profit business mentoring groups SCORE and NYWIB and Accompany Capital are offering the funds, with a focus on also having businesses owned by women, people of color, as well as LGTBQ+ to cooperate. Apply here. https://www.score.org/newyorkcity/event/pitch-tank-2023-business-competition-kickoff-webinar
Minority owned small businesses in East Buffalo can apply for free government grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. The money is coming from Empire State Development. The goal is to help businesses grow and/or recover from the economic and social challenges of the area. Learn more on the program. https://esd.ny.gov/esd-media-center/press-releases/esd-announces-round-2-small-business-grants-east-buffalo-after-successful-first-round
InvestHer and the Nasdaq Foundation have a series of programs, workshops and resources to help minority owned businesses / companies owned by women of color bridge the digital divide. The programs combines workshops, mentoring, and information on how to raise money, increase visibility and other barriers faced by women of color. Learn more here. https://www.digitalundivided.com/invest-her-power-series
Green County NY MULTI Grant Program will give $5,000 to $25,000 to qualified small businesses, with a focus on minority, women, low-credit and veterans. The free government money will focus on Capital Improvements that micro-businesses have, with a focus on growth, expansion and development. Learn more here. https://greenecountyedc.com/microenterprise-assistance-grant/
June 2023
Monroe County MicroAdvantage Loan Program is for underserved businesses, including those with bad credit and/or MWBE owned companies. Another focused is on veterans, including those with a disability. Up to $50,000 is loans is offered. Note there is an application fee though, and apply here. https://www.monroecounty.gov/planning-microloan
Minority fashion designers and businesses that are looking to participate in the NY City Fashion Week can apply for free grants. UPS and HBCUs are providing funds. The program is known as HBCU Small Business Grant, and in total up to $150,000 will be paid out. Apply here. https://app.nyfw.com/section/ups
CitizensNYC is offering $3,000 grants for community building projects. In general, the funds are for NYC businesses that will invest in the community, with a focus on minority, immigrant, and women owned businesses in New York City. The funds will help a wide variety of companies, and find details and applications here. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f29763b60ad2b5398b30ae3/t/6349d9a7e322920e7967ea47/1665784231829/2023+AING+FAQ+-+EN.pdf
May 2023
City of Newburgh Small Business Assistance Grant Program is for small businesses with under 10 employees. A total of $200,000 will be provided with a focus on dining, restaurants, concert halls, retail, hospitality, arts, bars and entertainment – businesses hard hit by COVID. https://www.cityofnewburgh-ny.gov/392/Small-Business-Assistance
Zonta Club of Auburn is providing women owned businesses with grants up to $750. This is a small non-profit with limited funds, but the agency will help a small number of women owned businesses and/or entrepreneurs. The funds will be for women businesses in Auburn NY. Apply here http://zontadistrict2.org/auburn/index.html
Cayuga County is offering $10,000 grants as part of COVID relief. A major focus is on helping businesses pay for / recover from revenue that was lost during the pandemic. Applicants need to be small to mid sized businesses, that were impacted by COVID, with some grant money focused on women or minority owned businesses. The Economic Development Agency also takes applications, and apply here https://cayugaeda.org/
April 2023
Black owned businesses in CNY can apply for free grant money from the Central New York Community Foundation. The assistance program is known as Black Equity & Excellence Fund. A major focus is on Black owned businesses (as well as non-profits) that have social cause, such as giving back to the community. Grants are available in Onondaga County, Oswego, Cortland NY and nearby regions. Apply here https://cnycf.org/receive/grants/black-equity-excellence/
Nassau County NY small businesses and non-profits can apply for $10,000 grants from the Nassau County Main Street Recovery Grant Program. Some funds will be for veterans, minorities and women, with the money for existing businesses. The applicant needs to have been operating for the last 2 – 3 years, and find details on the Nassau County grants here https://glencovecda.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023-April-May-Nassau-County-Main-Street-Recovery-Grant-Program.pdf
February and March 2023
NYC based Digitalundivided has $5,000 grants for tech focused businesses owned by women of color – Black, Asian, Latino, etc. It is an Accelerator know as Big, and the financial help is given along with multiple weeks of free, ongoing support. There is also mentorship from other female founders of tech companies. Apply here. https://www.digitalundivided.com/big-2022
Long Island based National Business Capital is providing loans, including some at 0% APR, and a “Shark Tank” type event, to small businesses. Qualified companies can get interest free loans of up to $50,000 and borrow even more money if needed. The money is for businesses that have been operating for at least 2 years, are disadvantaged (including immigrant, MWBE, etc.) and meet other criteria. Get details here. https://www.nationalbusinesscapital.com/fund-tank-landing-page/
East Buffalo Small Business Working Capital Grant Program is being offered by the state in partnership[ with Local Initiative Support Corporation of NY. $5,000 to $50,000 is being offered to small businesses in the area of the recent Tops Market tragedy. In general, the money is going to small to micro companies. The free grant money will help businesses recover, invest and grow in the mainly minority community. Read more here. https://www.lisc.org/wny/what-we-do/neighborhoodbusiness/small-business-grants/small-business-grants-east-buffalo/faq/
The City of Kingston ARPA Small Business Grant Program is providing free $10,000 grants to small businesses. Up to 100 small businesses, sole-proprietors and micro-enterprises will get help. A percentage of the funds will go to businesses owned by people of color, veterans and women, who tend to lack access to capital. The funds can help pay a wide variety of expenses. Learn more and apply here. https://engagekingston.com/small-business-grant-program
NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund is providing low cost, or in some cases 0% APR loans, to small businesses in the city. The government is partnering with Mastercard, The Department of Small Business Services, several CDFIs and other lenders to provide funds. Minority, women, and small businesses can borrow from $2,000 to $250,000 dollars from the NYC fund. Apply here. https://sbsopportunityfund.nyc/?utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery
Long Island NY based Trellus Same-Day Local Delivery is providing a couple dozen $500 grants for businesses on Long Island. The money will need to go towards paying for delivery costs that the applying business has. Some funding will be allocated to MWBE owned businesses in Long Island. But the grant money is targeted and can only be used for approved expenses. Learn more on the Local Delivery Grant https://bytrellus.com/programs/local-delivery-grant/
April 2023 and May 2023
Women owned businesses in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence County can apply for grant money from the Maxine Quigg Women in Business Fund, which is in partnership of the Northern New York Community Foundation. Up to $1,000 is provided, with a focus on women owned businesses that have a social cause. The funds will in effect help the female applicant keep the ski9lls they need for overall business success. Apply here. https://nnycf.org/
January 2023
Albany NY small businesses can apply for grants from the BIG program, formally known as the Small Business Building Improvement Grant. Capitalize Albany is processing applications for the city. The money, including grants focused on minority and women owned businesses in Albany, are for improvements to a building or real estate. The free grants are a form of economic development for the city. Learn more. https://capitalizealbany.com/Grants/
Grants and interest free loans were offered in 2022 as well. Those agencies may have referrals or support for small MWBE businesses as well. More on New York 2022 grants and loans for MWBE.
By Jon McNamara