Federal Programs and Resources
HUBZone Program
A program sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration that helps businesses in historically underutilized areas gain access to federal procurement opportunities.
Minority Business Development Agency
A federal agency created specifically to foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in America. Find information on financing a business as well as business opportunities.
Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conference
Information about this federally-sponsored, national conference focused on issues affecting the growth and development of minority business enterprises.
SBA Office of Native American Affairs
The Office of Native American Affairs offers programs and resources to American Indians, Native Alaskans and Native Hawaiians seeking to create, develop and expand small businesses
Visit the Business.gov for the full list of federal programs.
Starting Your Business
Starting a Minority Business Enterprise
Get free tips, advice, checklists and more.
Steps to Starting a Business
Learn the legal and regulatory steps you need to take to start a new business
Write a Business Plan
Resources to help you prepare a winning business plan.
Financing Your Business
Remember that federal and state government agencies do not provide grants to minorities for starting a business. However, there are a number of low-interest loan programs that help individuals obtain startup financing.
Illinois Minority, Women, and Disabled Participation Loan Program
Small businesses that are 51 percent owned and managed by persons who are minorities, women, or disabled, with loans up to loans up to $50,000 or 50 % of the total project
ACCION USA Small Business Loans
Offers flexible loans (up to $50,000) to small business owners who have limited or no access to traditional business credit, including women and minorities.
Tennessee Small and Minority-Owned Business Assistance Program
Financial assistance for new, expanding and existing businesses in Tennessee that do not have reasonable access to capital markets and traditional commercial lending facilities
Visit the Loans and Grants Search Tool to get a full list of grant, loan, and venture capital programs for which you might qualify.
Recommended Minority Resources
Intercultural Communication Institute (ICI) - Offers resources for intercultural, cross-cultural, multicultural, and diversity training.
SBA Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) - Official site for certifying and classifying minority-owned businesses.
National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) - Certifies and helps minority-owned businesses.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Information for Small Businesses - Legal guide for small business on laws regarding equal opportunity for minorities.
ITIM International: Intercultural Management - seminars and consultancy are designed to increase the effectiveness of anyone dealing with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) – Planning and startup information to help you establish or expand your Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)…
National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) – There are 3,500 corporate members throughout the network, including most of America’s largest publicly-owned, privately-owned and foreign-owned companies, as well as universities, hospitals and other buying institutions. The regional councils certify and match more than 15,000 minority owned businesses (Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American) with member corporations
