 TITLE: Assistance Programs for Underserved Communities CONTENT: Small Business\n--------------\nBased on who owns your business, you may qualify for a certification, such as a minority business enterprise (MBE) or women business enterprise. The definition of a minority-owned business can vary, but it's often defined as a business that's at least 51% owned by a member of an underrepresented group, such as veterans, Indigenous peoples, women, LGBTQ+ and people of color.\nThese certifications could help your business secure contracts with companies or government organizations. Businesses can also benefit from a designation as it may lead to greater access to financing, training and networking—and appeal to customers.\nHere are some grant and assistance programs for minority-owned businesses.\n*   **Accion's business loan programs**: Accion is a nonprofit that can help you find funding, advisors and local partnerships. The organization has several minority- and industry-specific loan programs that may offer low loan rates and be easier to qualify for than loans from for-profit lenders.\n*   **Black Girl Ventures (BGV)**: BGV offers woman-identifying founders with multiple types of support. There are funding opportunities from Black Girl Ventures, as well as programs that offer mentorship, incubator and connections to become corporate suppliers.\n*   **Digitalundivided**: Digitalundivided offers three programs for Black and Latinx women-led entrepreneurs and startups. There is a virtual training program for those who are starting out, an incubator program for startups and a leadership coaching program for entrepreneurs.\n*   **Grants.gov**: The Grants.gov website and database is home to thousands of grants offered by federal agencies. Although they're not all specifically for minority-owned businesses, you can filter the results and may qualify for a range of grants.\n*   **National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)**: If your business is a certified MBE, the NMSDC could help match you with member organizations looking to purchase your products or services. The NMSDC Business Consortium Fund also has two loan programs for certified businesses that are at least three years old.\n*   **Start Small Think Big**: If you're looking for guidance, Start Small Think Big specifically works with minority entrepreneurs who have a business with less than $1 million in revenue. The organization connects eligible business owners with volunteer professionals who can offer free legal, financial or marketing advice.\n*   **U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)**: This agency serves U.S. businesses that are owned and operated by African Americans, Asian Americans, Hasidic Jews, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders. The MBDA might not offer you direct assistance, but it helps run and finance business and specialty centers around the country. Those centers are where you can find help securing financing and getting new contracts or partnerships.\n*   **Venture capital funds**: If you're looking for venture backing, there are venture capital funds that focus on financing underrepresented founders. A few to start with are Backstage Capital, Harlem Capital and Fearless Fund.\n*   **[Women's Business Centers](;pageNumber=1)**: The SBA helps fund over 100 women's business centers across the country, which serve as resource centers for financing and coaching. In spite of the name, some of the centers focus on helping underrepresented business owners in general, not only women.\nThere are also many resources available to small business owners regardless of their identity, and state-specific and local programs that don't get a lot of national attention.\nThe Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has guides to state-by-state resources for small businesses and small rural businesses. You can also turn to SCORE, a nonprofit Small Business Administration (SBA) partner that can connect you with a mentor who may be able to point you toward local programs. END