Can I find a grant to start a business? Female-owned business? Minority-owned Business?
The answer to this question is probably not. Most "grants" in this area are actually small business loans, which are required to be paid back. As a rule, there are no grants to start up a new business unless you fall into the SBIR (Small Business Innovation and Research) category. Additionally, 99% of grant funds go to other nonprofit agencies.
Don't let this discourage you from pursuing your entrepreneurial dreams, however. Take a look at some of the following sources for inspiration and guidance.
Best sources to locate information:
Small Business Administration
1000 Walnut, Suite 530
Kansas City, Missouri 64106
Phone: (816) 426-4840
1-800-U-ASK-SBA (1-800-827-5722)
answerdesk@sba.gov
Missouri Small Business Development Centers
http://www.sbdc.missouristate.edu/default.htm
Advice on starting a new business, including information like how to sell your idea, how to write a contract, and how to get financing.
Missouri State University
901 S. National
Springfield, MO 65897
Phone: (417) 836-5685
Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
http://www.springfieldscore.org/
Can offer free counseling to small business owners. There is a chapter of SCORE in Springfield:
SCORE
830 E. Primrose, Suite 101
Springfield, MO 65809
Phone: 417-823-3758, extension 218
office@springfieldscore.org
SCORE members are available in the Library Center, in the Business Reference Department the first Thursday of the month from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
A database of Federal programs available to, among many other groups, private profit organizations. Programs listed in the CFDA include many different types of assistance programs such as loans, advisory services, and grants. A sub category in the directory includes assistance programs available from the Federal government in the area of Business and Commerce. The print version of this catalog is also available in the Funding Information Center.
Grants.gov
http://www.grants.gov
This is the main website for federal government grants from all 26 agencies. This differs from the CFDA in that it only lists grant opportunities. Although the vast majority of these grants are for nonprofit or other government agencies, there are a small number that are available to for-profit businesses.
For further research, visit:
- "Where can I get assistance starting a small business?" from the Library's website at http://thelibrary.org/faq/files/bssmbus.cfm.
- "Where can I find information on funding to start a business?" from the Foundation Center's website at http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/html/business.html.
- "Where can I get a grant to start my business?" from the Missouri Business Development Program's website at http://www.missouribusiness.net/faq.asp#grant.
Source: Aleah Weltha, Funding Information Center Coordinator
Date: June 15 , 2007