Melvin Feller Discusses Where to find Grants for Women Entrepreneurs
Melvin Feller Discusses Where to find Grants for Women Entrepreneurs
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. We provide workshops and resources that help companies discover how to do business God’s way and provide a positive outreach as the director. 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.
The world of entrepreneurship once evolved among the masculine and the brave has now become a common place among both men and women.
We have seen the tides change and it is already far too long since we last heard that this thing is for men and another thing is for women. There no longer is a separation of opportunities; all of us are already playing on the same terrain.
The sad thought though is that there are too few funding resources and help groups for women entrepreneurs. Good funding resources are very crucial especially for women who are just starting out with business. These are rare indeed that is why women tend to resort to using their credit cards, family loans and assistance from friends, which in most cases are hardly ever helpful.
However, you see, funding for a business is only one of the many problems among women entrepreneurs. They may also be having troubles in building websites, juggling with researches and making press releases for promotions of enterprise. In addition, there are problems in selling one or two of their products and in contacting clients. Though all that may sound difficult, they surely are worth the time of woman entrepreneur.
After all, she is building in here her business.
Various organizations and the government has seen all the hardships a woman entrepreneur has to undergo to be able to make it to the supposedly men’s world. This is why they have provided programs for minority businesses to see what it is like being among the greats in the businesses, or at least experience some of their glories.
If you are a woman entrepreneur and is interested in getting grants, the first thing you would want to do is to identify if you are qualified for being given a grant.
The most common qualifications are:
Obviously, you should be a female or depending on the program, must come from the minority sector
You must own the majority share in your business
In addition, your business must show lucrative opportunities for growth
There are a number of government and private agencies that provide grants for women entrepreneurs at various levels.
For the federal level, women can undergo self-certification and apply for the Central Contracting Registry database from which many government and private contractors gather to search for small business.
Other programs may be seen on local level where advantages are presented and benefits are granted. It is just the matter of finding them and apply for one that you think you can create your real potentials from.
In addition, because of their own commitment to provide diversified services and opportunities, large corporations are creating grants for women entrepreneurs. Normally, the federal government to create further services to improve their employment base and to create equal allocations for small business owners mandated these large companies.
Well, if you cannot be reached by these options you may always turn to your previous employer and create a market for him, make him your first client. Only, you need to be very careful and see if this would actually pass to your previous boss. If you are not tactful enough, you might find yourself facing resignation or losing your job. This might be risky but do not be too afraid. Most former employers do make outsourcing for their previous workers to help them start create their own businesses. After all, this will provide them with an extra chance to leverage their compliance to their set-aside goals.
Be warned though that the application process for grants may be time consuming and very demanding. Oftentimes, the providers set specific time for waiting periods about the processing of the grants for women entrepreneurs. In addition, sometimes, bureaucracies may even take the toll of having you wait for several months before your certification is released.
Small-business grants for women entrepreneurs are essentially free financing, as opposed to business credit cards or small-business loans that you must pay back. Understandably, the competition for small-business grants is fierce, and it takes considerable time and effort to win them. But if you’re up for the challenge, the payoff can be worth it.
Here are 10 places women entrepreneurs can look for small-business grants and financial resources.
Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Programs
Economic Development Administration
Small Business Development Centers
Eileen Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant
National Association for the Self-Employed
Women-owned businesses
The SBA helps women entrepreneurs launch new businesses and compete in the marketplace. Connect with the training and funding opportunities specifically for women.
- Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO)
- Funding for women-owned small businesses
- Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) Federal Contracting program
- Other resources for women-owned businesses
Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO)
The Office of Women’s Business Ownership helps women entrepreneurs through programs coordinated by SBA district offices. Programs include business training, counseling, federal contracts, and access to credit and capital.
The OWBO oversees Women’s Business Centers (WBCs). These centers seek to level the playing field for all women entrepreneurs, who still face unique obstacles in the business world.
Businesses receiving assistance from WBCs see a significantly better success rate than those without similar support. Find your nearest center.
Funding for women-owned small businesses
The 8(a) Business Development program helps small, disadvantaged businesses compete in the marketplace. Check with WBCs and local assistance resources for guidance, and our Lender Match tool for finding capital.
Women-owned small businesses can also take advantage of SBA loan programs. Our partners offer advice and counseling to help choose the right path for your company.
Women-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) Federal Contracting program
This program helps women-owned small businesses compete for federal contracts. Understand the eligibility requirements before applying.
The SBA also works with federal agencies to increase contracting opportunities and achieve the government’s five-percent contracting goal for women-owned small businesses. Keep an eye out for matchmaking events targeting both the federal and private procurement.
Other resources for women-owned businesses
National Women’s Business Council (NWBC)
The National Women’s Business Council is a non-partisan federal advisory council serving as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President, Congress, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Council is the government’s only independent voice for women entrepreneurs, tackling important and relevant economic issues.
Get training online with DreamBuilder
DreamBuilder introduces participants to all areas of business ownership through a carefully crafted and engaging curriculum, featured in English and Spanish. At the conclusion of the program, women leave with a business plan to start their own business or develop an existing one.
Scan below for more partner resources on women-owned small business.
- Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO)
- Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC)
- National Association of Women in Construction
- National Association of Women in Real Estate Businesses (NAWRB)
- National Association of Women’s Business Owners (NAWBO)
- U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce (USWCC)
- Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
- Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP)
- Women’s Presidents’ Organization (WPO)
Melvin Feller Business Consultants Ministries Group in Texas and Oklahoma. Melvin Feller founded Melvin Feller Business Consultants Group and Burkburnett Ministries 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 and a positive outreach with grace and as a ministries. 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.
