Small Business Grants and Support

For the most up-to-date information on funding options, visit SCORE’s online resources at Coronavirus Funding Support for NYC. For additional questions, reach out to your SCORE NYC mentor or Find a Mentor through the New York City SCORE website.

Small Business Grants and Support

The small business funding landscape continues to shift as pandemic funding programs expire. However, there are still a range of resources available. In last week’s newsletter, we highlighted governmental and other lending and funding programs; this time, we’ll summarize some of the grant and other support programs available to small businesses, nonprofits and freelancers.

Small Business Grants

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce annual Dream Big Awards program offers US small businesses eight Business Achievement Awards as well as a $25,000 Small Business of the Year Award to for-profit businesses that have been operating for at least one year, have less than 250 employees or gross revenues of less than $20 million for each of 2019 and 2020
Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker will be providing 15 $10K grants through the end of the year to business owned at least 50% by a self-identified woman with a minimum of $25K in annual revenue and a product/service in one of the following categories: Entertainment & Film, Music, Journalism, Sports, STEM and Hospitality
Robin Hood is providing grants on a rolling basis to nonprofits (501(c)(3) only) providing or expanding emergency assistance to vulnerable populations
The SoGal Foundation’s Black Founder Startup Grant offers Black women or nonbinary entrepreneurs $5K or $10K startup business grants. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
WomensNet gives away at least $10,000 every month in Amber Grant money. They’ve now added an Annual $25,000 Amber Grant as well as marketing and $2000 mini grants. See the full list here

Zero-interest and Low Cost Loans

The Hebrew Free Loan Society Small Business Loan Program provides interest-free loans of up to $50,000 to low- and moderate-income residents of New York City’s five boroughs, Westchester, or Long Island to help launch or expand a business
Brooklyn Alliance Capital is offering zero-interest Bring Back Brooklyn Loans of up to $10K
The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp (BOEDC) is offering zero-interest, 2-year Bronx Business Continuity Loans of $25-100K
The Global NY Fund is open to NYS-based companies looking to create or expand export programs or serve as suppliers to larger exporters. Loans are available to purchase equipment, inventory, working capital to support foreign accounts receivable, export lines or credit, or long-term financing

Grant Databases

CovidCap provides a centralized listing of Covid-related loans and grants for small business and nonprofits. Registration is required
Candid has compiled a searchable database of Covid-relief programs and other resources
The Idea Cafe maintains a list of small business grants
Grants for Women maintains a searchable database of women-focused grants
The National Association for the Self-Employed provides information and growth-funding grants of up to $4000
The Covid-19 Freelance Artist Resource offers a crowdsourced list of grants and resources for the freelance artist community
Grants.gov provides a centralized listing of government grants. Note that these are often specialized or scientific in nature, rather than general-business grants

General Resources

Score’s Business Resilience Hub provides training, resources and information for small businesses
NYC’s Small Business Services website and programs provide Covid-related and general information and support
The Empire State Development site provides information, resources and a searchable database of programs for NY State small business
The National Council for Nonprofits compiles programs and resources for nonprofits
The US-Government run Minority Development Business Agency offers information, tools and resources to minority-owned businesses
The Office of Women’s Business Ownership is an SBA program sharing information and resources with women-owned businesses
The SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development provides information, training and assistance with certification and contracting for veteran-owned businesses
StreetShares provides information and coaching to the veteran community
Both the NY State Council on the Arts and the Bronx Council on the Arts provide grants and other resources for artists. Other resources for artists include Comedy Gives Back, the American Society of Journalists and Authors’ Writers Emergency Assistance Fund, the Recording Academy’s MusiCares Covid-19 Relief
Both the National Restaurant Association and the James Beard Foundation have resources, reopening guides, advocacy and other information for the restaurant industry
Running a business is always stressful and these are particularly anxious times. Anyone needing assistance with stress, depression, anxiety, or substance abuse can call, text or chat with NYC Well for free, confidential mental health support.