How to Get Minority Business Grants

Business grants aren’t easy to come by. Even more difficult is finding minority business grants. But with a little determination, finding the grant you need for your business can be easy. There are numerous places to search, including the Internet and your local library.

Some organizations that specialize in helping businesses, such as the Small Business Administration (SBA) have a wealth of information to assist small business owners with everything from business registration to grants. The SBA will guide business owners through the sea of information, taking the time to ensure the road to a productive business doesn’t turn into a nightmare.

The government also specializes in grants and loans to assist with every aspect of a business. Grants.gov is one of many resources that provides grants for various organizations, including small businesses. USA.gov also gives small business financial assistance to businesses that qualify.

There are numerous local government organizations that provide grants and loans to businesses within the same field. For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides grants for related businesses. Their objective is to help build a particular field in the community in an effort to build or revitalize a much needed resource.

Each state has valuable resources for minority business owners. The local government typically sets aside a portion of its funds for grants to help build a city or state. These funds are a huge part of building economic viability in a particular area, ensuring there are enough jobs and resources for the people. Most major corporations in these areas also have a foundation that specifically provides funds for various outside projects related to the organization, or its social or political leanings. Research that many Fortune 500 companies and you might be surprised to discover that most of them provide funding for a host of things.

Don’t forget to visit your local library. There are dozens of books that give detailed listings of every foundation in existence, as well as grant opportunities nationally.

There ARE grants out there for minority businesses; one just needs to put in a little leg work to locate them.

Here are some additional resources:

1) Minority Business Development Agency - www.mbda.gov

2) National Minority Business Council - www.nmbc.org

3) Minority Business Entrepreneur Magazine - www.mbemag.com

4) 2008 Grants For Women - www.GrantsForWomen.org