Find loans as well as free grant programs in South Carolina that will give priority to women as well as minority owned businesses. There are funds available, as well as free counseling or mentoring services, for Black owned companies, Latino businesses, LGBTQ organizations, veterans, women owned businesses as well as other disadvantaged groups. Each month there are programs targeted at small to mid sized minority or women owned business that operate in South Carolina, including in Charleston, Greenville, Columbia and other cities. Find the latest free grant and MWBE business loan programs in SC below.
Small business assistance is provided by corporations, the state of South Carolina or the federal government, credit unions, banks, charities, and other lenders. There may be zero percent interest loans or forgivable loans. Grant programs may also provide the funds that veteran, Latino, or women owned businesses need to grow or succeed. Not only may financial assistance be provided, but there is also generally other assistance such as legal support, help with marketing/advertising, management training, mentoring, tax advice and more for MWBE, Veteran, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) owned businesses.
Any entrepreneur, a small to mid sized businesses owner or start up company in South Carolina can apply. However each of the organizations or lender has designated a certain amount of funding, as well as other support, for women or minority owned companies. This means that women, Black owned companies, Asians, Latinos, veterans and others either (1) get priority or (2) have a certain amount of funding allocated to their businesses. Learn more below.
Loans and free grants for minority or women businesses in South Carolina
This list below is updated daily. There is generally a short window of time to apply. Find details below by “category”, including by city/county/geography. Therefore it is strongly recommended that any interested minority owned or run company, or a woman owned business, should apply right away. As the funding is always favorable and the assistance goes quickly.
January and February 2026
Farmers in SC can looking into the Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The money is for farmers that are involved in growing and/or developing other specialty type crops or investing in research. Other types of farmers may benefit as well with more information on the program at this link https://agriculture.sc.gov/divisions/agency-operations/grants/specialty-crop-block-grant/.
November 2025
Charleston County Business Accelerator is open for applications for 2026. It arranges free mentoring, coaching, information on grants and many other tools for small businesses in the tri-county area – details here. https://www.charlestonchamber.org/economic-opportunity/lowcountry-business-accelerator/
If interested in past opportunities, read about other previous year grants and loans in SC.
By Jon McNamara
