Melvin Feller Business Group Looks at Grant Resources for Any Startup Business — Women — Minorities and Veterans
Melvin Feller Business Group Looks at Grant Resources for Any Startup Business- Women-Minorities and Veterans
Melvin Feller Business Group in Burkburnett Ministries and Dallas Texas and Lawton Oklahoma. Our mission is to call and equip a generation of Christian entrepreneurs to do business as ministry and with Grace. We provide workshops and resources that help companies discover how to do business God’s way and Grace for mistakes and start overs. When the heart of a business is service rather than self it can be transformed into a fruitful business ministry earning a profit and being of service to the community and their customers. Melvin Feller is currently pursuing another graduate degree in business organizations.
I have taken the guesswork out of getting a loan in the United States and have done the research for you, compiling a list of loan and financing resources for your small business. New business? No problem! Low personal credit score? I have got you covered. From startups to established businesses, these resources can help any entrepreneur achieve your business goals.
Small Business Grants for Women
We have split the above sections by the institutions giving out small business grants, but these next three organize grant programs by eligibility.
Many Federal, State, Local, and Corporate initiatives offer money to female entrepreneurs, in order to work toward fixing the gender gap and promoting equality in business — especially in STEM fields, but beyond them as well. If you are eligible, look into these excellent programs below.
Eileen Fisher Program
Awarding $100,000 in grant money to up to 10 recipients, this annual initiative is geared towards small businesses interested in creating environmental and social change — and, of course, companies owned and run by women.
Zions Bank Smart Women Grants
Zions Bank offers $18,000 across six categories, including child and elder care, arts and culture, and teacher support.
Walmart Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative
Through an international program, Walmart’s GWEEI should still be on your list if you are a female business owner: they have pledged to support women-owned businesses with over $100 million in grants. Although a lot of this money goes to overseas businesses, some is reserved for women-owned businesses in the US.
The Amber Grant
With a number of different, grant initiatives for women, Women’s Nets Amber Grant program is a great place to look for assistance with your business, especially at an early stage.
Huggies Mom Inspired
This initiative provides up to $15,000 grants to 12 “mompreneurs,” alongside business counsel and networking opportunities.
American Association of University Women Career Development Grant
If you are a woman who holds a B.A. and is looking to advance or change careers, the AAUW’s career development program can help you fund that major life shift.
Women’s Business Centers
This is not a direct grant provider, but rather a database of Small Business Administration-sponsored Women’s Business Centers. Some centers give out small business grants themselves, while others will simply help you find local corporations or foundations that do so. Either way, make sure to check yours out.
Innovate HER Women Business Challenge
Co-hosted by the SBA, this competition offers $70,000 in grant money across its first, second, and third prize winners. It is one part of the Innovate HER: Innovating for Women Business Summit.
Open Meadows Foundation
Open Meadows funds projects with $2,000 grants, as long as they are designed and led by women. The projects should also aid racial, gender, and economic justice.
The Halstead Grant
This funding opportunity is for business owners who make and sell jewelry. Although open to men, women tend to be much more active in this industry. You will receive $7,500 in cash, a $1,000 gift certificate to Halstead, and a variety of social media and public relations spotlights — as well as a trip to Arizona. The top ten runners-up receive prizes as well, so do not let anything hold you back from entering!
Idea Cafe Grant
This program gives women $1,000 micro-grants to start or grow a business. Again, men are free to apply for this grant, but most of the former winners have been women.
Small Business Grants for Minorities
In a similar vein, these small business grants are intended to help minority business owners overcome the unique social, political, and economic challenges they have historically faced.
Many governmental grant programs focus on businesses owned by individuals who belong to a federally recognized Native American tribe. Even if the grant is for a community rather than a small business, check with the grantor to see if they will make an exception. Grant seeking requires creativity, determination, and patience — so do not be afraid to think outside of the box.
Minerals and Mining on Indian Lands
This Department of the Interiors grant provides funding to both tribes and individual mineral owners seeking to make use of those resources on Indian lands.
Empowered Communities for a Healthier Nation Initiative
If you own a health-related small business, you can use this grant to spread information and awareness of health and healthcare for minorities.
POWER
President Obama began the Partnerships for Opportunity, Workforce, and Economic Revitalization Initiative to help communities hurt by the changing power industry. Look into the block grants the federal government awarded to state and local institutions, and if you are nearby, see if you can snag a contracting opportunity or second-hand grant from them.
Rural Business Enterprise Grants
Available to small businesses, the RBEG program offers funds for rural development — including, by not limited to, infrastructural development, working capital for startup businesses, purchasing equipment, and real estate development. Smaller requests are actually given higher priority, and grants usually range between $10,000 and $50,000. Federally recognized Indian tribes are among the eligible applicants.
Community Connect Grants
If you live or operate in a rural area that lacks an Internet broadband speed of 3 Mbps or more, and are looking to fix that, then check to see whether you’re eligible for this Department of Agriculture grant. Indian tribes are also a major target demographic for these programs.
Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program
Though not explicitly targeted towards small businesses, this grant initiative — like many others — includes federally recognized tribes among its eligible applicants. If you are a business owner operating in recognized tribal lands, and you would like to invest in water or waste disposal, this cash could help.
Minority Business Development Agency
The MBDA has regular grant competitions for minority business owners, alongside a long list of other resources for you to learn from.
First Nations Development Institute Grant
The Native Arts Capacity Building Initiative gives up to six grants of $30,000 each to Native American institutions supporting arts and culture. However, to qualify you must already have programs in place supporting this goal. The program is limited to those initiatives that support Native American artists in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Tribal Energy Development Capacity Grant
This program gives federally recognized tribes more resources to improve the economic influence of energy development in their areas. While this grant does not provide directly to small businesses, look for
the “trickle down” approach of funneling this government money into your business by securing the right contracts.
Small Business Administration 8(a) Certification Program
This program is not a grant — however, it is a federally-funded initiative aimed toward helping minority-owned small businesses capture more clients and work, so we decided to include it. The SBA’s 8(a) program guarantees minority-owned businesses special government contracts that they might otherwise not have access to.
Small Business Grants for Veterans
Finally, veteran-owned businesses are eligible to receive certain small business grants from the government, nonprofits, and some corporations as well. In particular, the SBA owns many programs dedicated to veteran business owners like VA SBA loans. These initiatives seek to give back to our troops for their service and dedication, and to support their entrepreneurial contributions.
Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses Program
Similar to the 8(a) program, the SBA’s SDVOSBP is not a grant, but it helps veterans who own businesses get additional contracting opportunities from the government.
Small Business Administration Veteran’s Entrepreneurship Act of 2015
The SBA’s Veteran Entrepreneurship Act removes the borrower fee on Express Loans of up to $350,000 awarded to veteran-owned businesses. Although this is not a grant, removing the fee make SBA loans more affordable for veterans.
Street Shares Commander’s Call Veteran Business Award
This program rewards veterans or military spouses who run businesses with up to $15,000 in grant money.
USDA Veteran and Minority Farmer Grant
The 2501 Program, run by the Department of Agriculture, gives small business grants — as well as education, training, outreach, and other forms of support — to veterans and minorities looking to begin or expand their agricultural operations.
UPS Franchise Discount
While not quite a grant, this initiative gives veterans looking to join the UPS franchise a $10,000 discount off the franchise fee, and 50–75%% off the initial application fee. The UPS Store ranked as the top participant of the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative program in 2008, and has a large number of its locations run by veteran entrepreneurs.
7-Eleven Veterans Franchising
Similar to UPS and a number of other companies, 7-Eleven offers special benefits to veteran franchisees. If you are eligible, you can receive up to 20% off the initial franchise fee, up to 65% financing through 7-Eleven, and special financing options.
Little Caesars Veterans Program
As you have seen by now, if you are a veteran looking to start your own business, franchising could be a worthwhile path to pursue. Little Caesars Pizza offers a set of discounts to honorably discharged veterans, including a $5,000 franchise fee discount, the same amount off the first equipment order, and other marketing and supply services that total up to $30,000. Service-disabled veterans qualify for even more, including a full waiver of the full $20,000 franchise fee and $30,000 worth of other benefits.
Small Business Grants for Startups
Many small business grants are open only to businesses that have been operating for a few years and have an established product or service. However, it is often the newest businesses that need the financial assistance. Here are a few grants to start a business.
A Grant for Greatness
Hosted by AT&T Experts, this grant offers $1,000 to unique business ideas submitted in the form of a two-minute video. (Note that if your business is already established, annual revenue cannot be greater than $20,000).
Activity Hero Business Grant
Co-sponsored by web hosting service GoDaddy, this grant awards cash and prizes (worth $15,000) to nine Kid’s Camp and Activity Providers to grow their businesses. To win, fill out an application, get three family reviews, and boost your odds with votes from customers!
Melvin Feller Business Consultants Group in Texas and Oklahoma. Melvin Feller founded Melvin Feller Business Consultants Group and Burkburnett Ministries for grace in the 1970s to help individuals and organizations achieve their specific Victory. Victory as defined by the individual or organization are achieving strategic objectives, exceeding goals, getting results or desired outcomes. He has extensive experience assisting businesses achieve top and bottom line results. He has broad practical experience creating WINNERS in many organizations and industries. He has hands-on experience in executive leadership, operations, logistics, sales, program management, organizational development, training, and customer service. He has coached teams to achieve results in strategic planning, business development, organizational design, sales, and customer response and business process improvement. He has prepared and presented many workshops nationally and internationally.
