Private-Sector Loan and Grant Opportunities

This resource provides an extensive, aggregate, but not necessarily comprehensive, list of funding sources that may be available to small business owners. Of note, the list flags where a grant program may be targeted at specific historically disadvantaged groups including e.g. Black, Immigrant, Person of Color, or Woman owned businesses.

This information should not be considered comprehensive. This information should not be construed as an endorsement of any specific financial program.

To apply for assistance for your small business, click here.

Cocokind Impact Foundation

The Cocokind Impact Foundation provides financial grants to female entrepreneurs in health, wellness, and sustainability industries who are focused on creating social impact through business. The Foundation is providing grants of $2,500 to $10,000 to enable female founders with the financial assistance needed to further their business and social impact.

Site Type
Grant
Tags
Start-ups
Minority
Women
Eligibility

Applicants must be women, US residents, and 18 years or older. Additionally, applicants must not have raised institutional capital yet. The Foundation’s goal is to help assist companies in the “pre-seed” stage. The female entrepreneurs must be focused on the health, wellness, or sustainability industries, and must also have a goal to create greater social impact through their business.

External URL
https://www.venturesfoundation.org/cocokindfoundation/
Target Geography
National

Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF)

CEDF is a nonprofit community lender and a U.S. Treasury-certified Community Development Financial Institution. In order to provide business support services and financing at reduced or no cost, we must maintain philanthropic funding from government, corporate and charitable sources. This requires we measure and demonstrate the impact of our mission, so we ask our program recipients to provide personal and business information required. We share your information only in aggregate from unless required by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a participant in one of their programs and as authorized by you. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in completing our intake form.

Site Type
Loan
External URL
https://www.cedf.com/forms/program-intake/
Resource Type
Individual Program Listings (Connecticut, New Jersey, and Massachusetts)
Target Geography
Connecticut

Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF) - Women and Minority Loan Guarantee Program

Special loan guarantee in conjunction to help women- and minority-owned businesses obtain flexible financing. This program is for start-up businesses as well as existing businesses planning to expand. CEDF provides the loan and the Department of Economic and Community Development provides up to a 30% guarantee

Site Type
Loan
Tags
Startups
BIPOC
Women
Eligibility

Women- or minority-owned business;50 or fewer employees;Loan amount up to $50,000

External URL
https://www.cedf.com/loans/women-and-minority-loan-guarantee-program/
Target Geography
Connecticut

Community Investment Corporation (CIC)

An economic development lending company that offers financing and support to small businesses in Connecticut and Rhode Island (USA).  Up To $15,000 (MicroNOW Program), $15,000 – $50,000 (MicroLoan Program), $50,000 – $250,000 (Community Advantage Program) and $250,000 – $5 Million (SBA 504 loan)

Site Type
Loan
Tags
Start-ups
BIPOC
Latinx
Women
Eligibility

MicroNOW Program has specific requirements: Business open for at least one year;Personal credit score 650 or better;ZERO late payments in the last year.

External URL
http://ciclending.com/business-loans/
Target Geography
Connecticut
Rhode Island

Community Investment Corporation (CIC)

An economic development lending company that offers financing and support to small businesses in Connecticut and Rhode Island (USA).  Up To $15,000 (MicroNOW Program), $15,000 – $50,000 (MicroLoan Program), $50,000 – $250,000 (Community Advantage Program) and $250,000 – $5 Million (SBA 504 loan)

Site Type
Loan
Tags
Start-ups
BIPOC
Latinx
Women
Eligibility

MicroNOW Program has specific requirements: Business open for at least one year;Personal credit score 650 or better;ZERO late payments in the last year.

External URL
http://ciclending.com/business-loans/
Target Geography
Connecticut
Rhode Island

Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc (CCAT)

Starting a new business and creating a strategy to grow and succeed is a challenge, especially in today’s economic environment. Securing the funds to get you started and keep you going can be daunting.  There are resources that can help.

Let us know what you need

Simply contact us and we will work with you to determine possible funding and grant opportunities.

Site Type
General Information
Tags
Startups
Technology
External URL
https://www.ccat.us/about/facilities/funding-business-incubator/
Target Geography
Connecticut