August and September 2025
Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming businesses can apply for help from On-the-Job Training (OJT) Grants will help small businesses, including those owned by MWBE owners, pay for training. Anywhere from 1K to 10K is provided to company – apply here https://amherst.org/grants/
RISE (Rome Invests in Startups and Expansions) is for entrepreneurs in Rome NY and the general Mohawk Valley area. Qualified applicants will be given anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000. The program is known as RISE and get more details here https://mvedge.org/
Women-owned businesses in Herkimer or Oneida County can apply for $5,000 grants. The money is being provided from the Women’s Fund, Griffiss Institute as well as Baird Private Wealth Management. In addition to these business focused grants there is also money for non-profits in the area – apply here https://womensfundhoc.org/
July 2025
Fairport Office of Community & Economic Development is providing grant money to businesses with a physical location. The funds will help businesses fix up their property and improve their curb appeal. This is also for businesses that lack access to traditional funding to get this work done, and get details here. https://fairportoced.org/
May and June 2025
Buffalo NY Small Business Grant Program will provide small businesses up to $20,000 as a form of working capital. The money can be used to help pay for rental costs, utilities, inventory and other daily type bills. There is an interest and application form here https://www.buffalony.gov/1792/Buffalo-Small-Business-Grant-Program
Business Growth Accelerator Program is a statewide service from Empire State Development. The program is focused on MWBE businesses in the state. The service will provide a variety of free support ranging from mentoring to help getting certified and more. This is an annual accelerator for MWBE businesses in New York https://esd.ny.gov/mwbe-business-growth-accelerator-program
Long Island based non-profits that focus on economic issues or addressing environmental challenges can get as much as $15,000 from the PSEG Neighborhood Partners Program for 2025. A major focus is on addressing inequality of race, gender and income environmental issues and economic with details here. https://corporate.pseg.com/corporatecitizenship/psegfoundation/neighborhoodpartnersprogram
April 2025
Rochester NY is providing information, and applications, to interest free loans from Kiva. There is a Thursday Thinkers session taking place in which the latest details, applications and more is offered. The 0% loans focused on MWBE and veteran owned businesses with details here. https://www.cityofrochester.gov/departments/department-recreation-and-human-services-drhs/thursday-thinkers
February and March 2025
The New York State Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Fund is a interest free-low cost loan program with some grants also offered. The money is for businesses, such as restaurants and others, at the Port Authority’s New York City airports, in particular immigrant, MWBE and disadvantaged companies. Apply and get details here. https://esd.ny.gov/airport-concessions-disadvantaged-enterprises-fund
Albany County is providing free grant money to small businesses impacted by COVID (yes COVID! even though it is 2025). The Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region is processing applications and giving out the money, with businesses (including MWBE) having to be operating since before 2020. Learn more on other criteria here. https://mycommunityloanfund.org/albany-county-arpa-grant-program/
Small businesses on Long Island can apply grant money from a program run by Optimum Businesses in partnership with the non-profit Long Island Association Foundation, or LIAF. Each qualified small business will get up to $5,000, with money offered in both Suffolk and Nassau County NY. African American Chambers of Commerce and the Long Island Hispanic Commerce will also be partners as some money will go to MWBE businesses. Apply here. https://www.longislandassociation.org/foundation/
December and January 2025
Allegany-Cattaraugus-Chautauqua Fund for Women is issuing grants to organizations (businesses or non-profits) that are focused on women’s issues. The money can help a woman start a business or non-profit that addresses economic inequality. Or funds can help with women’s health issues or really any female focused topic, and apply here. https://www.accffw.org/grants
Utica NY women and minority owned businesses can get free small business grants from the Department of Urban & Economic Development. Several grants will be issued, with a total of $165,000 to be provided in total. The money will come from the Community Development Block Grant that the development is running, and get details here. https://cityofutica.com/departments/urban-and-economic-development/index
Non-profits that focus on environmental issues, in particular conservation, can apply for $50,000 grants from the Nature Conservancy. It is a project based financial assistance program known as the Climate Resilience Grant Program. The state of NY and Nature Conservancy are partners on it, and get more details here. https://www.nature.org/en-us/
October and November 2024
The Cannabis NYC Loan Fund will provided up to $100,000 to qualified businesses in the Cannabis industry. The loans, either low-rate or interest free, will help CAURD licensees start their business and/or grow an existing one. Applicants need to be from the greater NYC area. Get more details here. https://www.cannabisnycloanfund.com/
Entrepreneurs can get low cost, or maybe interest free loans, from the Main Street Capital Program. The program is part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative and uses federal funds. The goal is to help start ups, including MWBE companies, raise led by Empire State Development. Up to $100,000 can be provided to each start up, and get details here. https://esd.ny.gov/main-street-capital-loan-fund
September and October 2024
Businesses impacted by flooding in the counties of Clinton, Essex, Oswego, Jefferson or Franklin, St. Lawrence and others can apply for interest free or low-cost SBA loans. The money will help small businesses rebuild and recover from the floods, including with money allocated to MWBE and veteran owned companies. Non-profits can apply too, and get details here. https://www.sba.gov/article/2024/08/30/sba-disaster-loans-available-new-york-private-non-profit-organizations
August 2024
Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties is providing several small businesses free grants of up to $5,000 each. The program is run in partnership with Griffiss Institute, Baird Private Wealth Management, as well as UpMobility Foundation. There is help for both “for-profit” as well as non-profits in the region and get details here. https://womensfundhoc.org./
June and July 2024
Lewis County businesses can apply for the Building Business grant. The money is offered from Naturally Lewis, Inc.. The grants are for businesses that will be expanding and creating opportunities for others in the county, with all businesses including MWBE able to apply. Get details here. https://naturallylewis.com/growing-opportunities/cedf
Suffolk County, Minority owned small businesses can apply for free $2,500 grants. The program is known as JumpSMART . Applications will be processed by the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC) in partnership with the Trellus Same-Day Local Delivery & Marketplace. The money being provided to small MWBE businesses is the result of the federal government ARPA funds. Learn more here. http://www.bytrellus.com/jumpsmart
April and May 2024
Lewis County small business and entrepreneurs can apply for grant money from Naturally Lewis program. In total, up to $300,000 will be issued to qualified applicants. It is a matching fund in which the organization will match other funds raised by the business, and find details here to the Naturally Lewis Building Business Fund. https://naturallylewis.com/growing-opportunities/building-business-fund
Long Island small businesses can get grant money from the LIA Foundation, Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (LIHCC) and Optimum Business. Up to 50 grants will be provided, each valued up to $5,000. A focus is on small businesses on Long Island owned by people of color, and apply here. https://members.longislandassociation.org/form/view/32847
March 2024
Small Business Grants in East Buffalo from Empire State Development will provide free grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to businesses in East Buffalo. A focus is on low-income areas, minorities, and those recovering from the civil unrest in the region. There are only certain neighborhoods and streets covered by the government grants and get details here. https://esd.ny.gov/esd-media-center/press-releases/esd-announces-round-3-small-business-grants-east-buffalo
Food establishments in NYC can get a free grant from the The Rising Restaurateur program. It is available in all boroughs. The money is a community grant that provides business development opportunities along with microgrants and loans. Funds are targeted at Black, Immigrant, Indigenous, Latino, Asian American, Asian, Pacific Islander, LGTBQ+ and other minorities. Partners include The Oyate Group, Grubhub, and the New York State Latino Restaurant, Bar & Lounge Association (NYSRBLA). Apply here. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WZZ5XLY
February 2024
The Zonta Club of Auburn is providing 4 women-owned businesses in Auburn with grant money of up to $750. The funds can pay for marketing help, equipment, and other costs that are approved by the club. Applications can be obtained by emailing Karen A. Macier at macier54@gmail.com.
CenterState, through their Foundation, offers counseling, mentoring, and support to minority owned businesses in Central NY. They partner with KeyBank and local corporations on the service. As part of the Foundation, there are grants, Equity Funds, Small Business Support and more. Learn about the Foundation here. https://centerstateceo.com/about-us/foundations/CenterStateCEOFoundation
$1,000 grants are available for women owned businesses from the Allegany-Cattaraugus-Chautauqua Fund for Women (ACC-FFW). Applicants need to be from those counties and meet other conditions. A major focus is on non-profits and businesses that help women grow economically, address health or other needs, and overcome poverty. Learn more here. https://www.accffw.org/grants
There are also grants and loans that were issued previous years. As an example, find details on NY 2023 MWBE grants or loans.
By Jon McNamara