Are you a small business owner looking for a grant to start-up your business? Have you had any luck finding them?
Funding opportunities for women starting up small businesses do exist. You just need to know where to look.
Here are four bonafide places to begin your search:
1. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
This is a fabulous site for all your small business needs. Plus, as a bonus, there are many local SBA offices around the country where you can go and talk with a real live person.
- Finance Start-up page - This page gives a list of grant and loan programs, though not the grants or loans themselves.
- Local Resources page - On this page, you can search for your nearest SBA.
- To be eligible for small business grant or loan monies, the business must meet the Size Standards determined by the SBA.
2. Grants.gov
On this site you can find and apply for Federal grants. For small business start-up loans, grants.gov redirects you to SBA.gov. That's because the Federal government works through agencies like the SBA when funding money for small business start-ups.
3. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)
Here you will find a listing of all Federal programs available to government, public, and private entities.
4. Rural Development Administration
The RDA provides assistance to businesses starting up in rural areas. Assistance usually comes in grant-loan combos, or just low interest loans.

That was an excellent post with some great information. We published some information on this topic too. You can see it here.
http://bizconnectionsnow.com/blog/business-funding/business-funding-where-to-start/
Posted by: Stephanie Elizabeth | June 07, 2009 at 03:32 AM
Your post over at your website has some excellent information. Especially the part about making sure you have enough money to begin with before you start!
Posted by: The Original Accidental Pren-her | June 07, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Thanks for sharing this post.... Good read.
Posted by: Small Business Opportunities | September 12, 2009 at 07:32 AM
I think this is great. Very good info.
Posted by: Sell My Business | January 08, 2010 at 12:19 AM
Thank you. A lot of research went into this.
Posted by: Lady Samurai | January 08, 2010 at 05:57 AM
Well in public works environment opportunities there are funding opportunities for women starting up small businesses do exist.
Posted by: public works environment | April 26, 2010 at 11:42 AM
Thanks for letting us know!
Posted by: Lady Samurai | April 29, 2010 at 04:00 PM