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Info Guides - Business Finance
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Are there grants to start a small business?
Source: Business.Gov: The Official Business Link to the U.S. Government"We've all seen the headlines: 'Millions in free government money for your business.' Late-night infomercials, reference guides and websites promote the availability of grant money to entrepreneurs for starting and expanding businesses. Sound too good to be true? It is.
The truth is that federal and state governments do not provide grants for starting and expanding small businesses. However, the U.S. government does offer a wide-variety of low-interest loans and venture capital financing programs to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses."
Where Can I Find Information on Funding to Start a Business?
"Foundations typically fund nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. These are organizations whose purposes are charitable, educational, scientific, religious, literary, or cultural. By and large, foundations do not make grants to for-profit enterprises..." Read more at the Foundation Center.
The Federal Government does have a grant program called the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, "designed to support innovative research conducted by small business concerns that have the potential for commercialization of the subject of the research."
Finance & Loans
- Active Capital
- An innovative service providing information to angel investors on promising small businesses seeking to raise $250,000 to $5 million in equity financing. This program is sponsored by the Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy.
- Arizona Microloan Participants (PDF)
- Local lenders for SBA's microloan program which provides loans from $100 to $250,000 to small businesses.
- Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
- Government-wide compendium of Federal programs, projects, services, and activities which provide assistance or benefits to the American public.
- Funding Tools for Communities, Businesses, and Workforce Development in Arizona
- Program descriptions, contact information, and funding calendar for federal, state, and selected private loan and financing programs related to community, economic and workforce development.
- Money Tree Report
- The latest quarterly study of equity investments made by the venture capital firms.
- PPEP Microbusiness and Housing Development Corporation, Inc.
- This non-profit corporation offers mircrobusiness loans and other financial and technical programs to help businesses grow.
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- List of loan programs covered by SBA.
- Venture Capital Resource Library
- Directory of venture capital firms, investment banks, and related business finance information.
Government Procurement
Local Government:
Federal Government:
Other Incentives
This section has information about special tax credits, job training incentives, financial assistance, entrepreneurial and workforce development available in Southeastern Arizona.
- Financial Incentives
- Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO) provides assistance and programs to local businesses in expansion opportunities, leveraging state/federal tax credits and abatements, and access to workforce training grants. For more information, visit www.treoaz.org or call 520-243-1900.