Black, Latino, LGBTQ, Asian, Veteran, and Women owned businesses in Ohio can find free grant programs as well as low cost loans to help them finance their business (or start up). Find lenders, government programs, non-profits, and sources of funding including in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and other Ohio towns. Locate loans, free grants, mentoring programs and more in Ohio for women and/or minority businesses.
The money can cover various business expenses, including payroll, sales, rent, website or technology costs, marketing and more. Each lender (or grantor) will have their own terms and conditions in place as well as application process for a free MWBE or BIPOC grant or loan. But each of the programs listed below (which are updated daily) have agreed to provide some of their funds to minority owned as well as women owned companies.
Not only may a small business in Ohio get the funds they need to grow (or save) their business, but there are also programs that help minority or women entrepreneurs, grants for Black women, as well as money for startup businesses. The assistance can come from a bank, foundation, government agency, non-profit, corporation or other lenders.
Find small business loans or free grants in Ohio for women or minority companies
The funds and programs below are updated daily and by month. As noted, some of the low cost loans or grants are allocated to veterans, LGBTQ, Black businesses, Asians, Latinos and women owned businesses.
January and February 2026
The Shelby Foundation Women’s Fund has a grant program aimed at non-profits in the area. Grant money is for non-profits that focus on the needs of women and/or children, with causes of intellectual, physical, emotional, social, economic and cultural growth being priorities. Learn more about the grants at https://www.theshelbyfoundation.org/
One South Eulid (OSE) and the 2026 Neighborhood Grants Program will be accepting applications. The money can be used for diverse reasons, with one being for business improvements. such as signage and more. It is a matching grant program that will be open up to the end of March / very early April. More details and applications can be found here https://www.onesoutheuclid.org/business-grants
December 2025
Cleveland Ohio small businesses can get grant money from the Steelyard Commons Tax Increment Financing (TIF) grant. The funds are for businesses in area of the city that are in low-income areas and have been negatively impacted by changes in economic conditions, with more details here https://makeitincleveland.org/incentives/steelyard-tif-grant-placemaking-and-small-business-grant
Anyone looking for programs in previous years can find resources too using our list of list of previous OH business grants and loans.
By Jon McNamara
