Small Business Grants for Minorities

Nearly 400 billion dollars have been earmarked by the administration as federal grants and a large share of that money is for financing minority-owned businesses.

The government has recognized the need to support entrepreneurs to help develop these communities. Most federal schemes are reserved for nonprofit organizations and state government projects that work towards community development.

During economic recession, government had come up with a 787 billion dollar stimulus plan to cushion the economy. A large portion of this money was directed towards entrepreneurial projects to create jobs and benefit the people.

A good example of such a venture is a day care center, that provided employment in the community, and allowed mothers to look for employment without worrying about child care.

Before beginning your search, you must determine whether or not your concern can be classified as a minority business.

According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), they are categorized in six demographic groups, namely Asian, African American, Native American (Indian or Alaskan), Native Hawaiian, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander. To qualify, the owner must possess at least 51 percent of the company's assets or equity.

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) website provides details about minority grants and their application procedures. You can also track the status of your application on the government grants website with your funding opportunity number (FON) or CFDA number.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is a good resource for obtaining information about grant opportunities and obtaining forms. They also run a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program, through which professionally-managed funds invest in qualifying businesses for the long term.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has created the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) which is committed to assist entrepreneurs from the disadvantaged communities. They provide assistance and tips on how to start a small-scale business.

They support small minority business enterprises (MBE) in drawing up marketing plans, provide technical assistance, and financial planning guidance. The MBDA has over 45 business development centers mostly located in areas which have a concentration of minority population and businesses.

There are many other government and private agencies which provide startup capital to small minority businesses. Some of these organizations include the Prosperity Partnership and the National Minority Supplier and Diversity Council.

They also help in locating other funding opportunities. Besides, you can visit your local chamber of commerce, check the government grants website, or contact organizations like Rotary.