Women Based Grants

[ascoach]

Has anyone had any previous luck in obtaining a women based business grant?  Looking for any advice on applying for a grant.  I see there are quite a few out there and some do have a fee to apply so just looking for some direction.

[KayMandi23EXP]

Hi, 

I am following your thread. Has anyone commented? I am not seeing any posts? 

Thanks, 

Mandi 

[Moneymaster]

I never tried to get a grant I just have no experience 

[ascoach]

I will share what I come across as I venture through this.

Her Agenda | The Breakthrough Grant: Vol II - this one closes on January 18.  So coming up quick.  I went through the application and is easy to go through.  Some optional things you may add to your application is a 1 minute video pitch, a testimonial from a customer, peer, or mentor.  Has a $25.00 application fee.

Amex Shop Small Grants Program | Main Street America - deadline is Jan. 16.  Not women based.  You do need to be in a brick and motor location and have a proposed project and budget in how your business will grow, innovate and support your local community.

[JUYBoutique20]

Thanks for this info.  If I come up on some suggestions, I'll add them here.

[Twpchair]

On a federal level I have not. State and local have many different ones I applied through one that was I was nominated from our Chamber of Commerce and it’s in the news paper called faces in the crowd. It was a 15 k grant for expansion, inventory, advertising etc. It was meant for growth, any other equipment I needed to help make the business better and more efficient. You have to keep all receipts and turn them in quarterly I picked. I am in Michigan and also, our Michigan works Department if you sign up they send out each available grant and you can pick and choose which ones you want to apply for. About 50% I am usually not qualified for. Both grants you had to be a brick and mortar store front business. Some where start up loans and others downtown district only and for store improvement only. I’m retail furniture store and the only one in town besides Amish (all men owned). The other is a rent a center and didn’t qualify. Best advice is sell yourself and your business. Push how much this would improve your business which equals increased sales. Paperwork is a must. State and local is where I would start and then jump into the big pool of businesses on the federal level. Good luck. On a federal level, I have not. State and local have many different ones. I applied through one that I was nominated from our Chamber of Commerce, and it’s in the newspaper called Faces in the Crowd. It was a $15k grant for expansion, inventory, advertising, etc. It was meant for growth, any other equipment I needed to help make the business better and more efficient. You have to keep all receipts and turn them in quarterly, I picked. I am in Michigan, and also, our Michigan Works Department. If you sign up, they send out each available grant, and you can pick and choose which ones you want to apply for. About 50% I am usually not qualified for. Both grants you had to be a brick-and-mortar storefront business. Some were start-up loans and others downtown district only and for store improvement only. I’m a retail furniture store and the only one in town besides Amish (all men-owned). The other is a rent-a-center and didn’t qualify. The best advice is to sell yourself and your business. Push how much this would improve your business, which equals increased sales. Paperwork is a must. State and local is where I would start and then jump into the big pool of businesses on the federal level. Good luck. You will be surprised how many are available right in your area. 

[ascoach]

Thank you for all the great info!  I'm getting ready to apply to my local county grant and it is a little intimidating, but you hit on some key points for me to keep in mind.

[Twpchair]

You are so welcome and best of luck!

[CareyJo]

Great topic!!  I will ditto what @Twpchair said.  It's all local - based on your county and state.  Each state does things differently.  Here in Montana, we have grants at the county level as well as the state level.  Most of them pop up in the spring and we have to be right on top of them.  The sad part is, that most of them have such a large number of restrictions, that few people ever qualify for them.  We even have a couple of different offices here that help people find the grants and apply.  I would recommend going to your county commissioner's office and seeing what they have, as well as looking for any non-profit business organizations that help support the economy where you live.  You can find such resources through both your local chamber and libraries.