Resources, Funding & Opportunities

Educational Programming
Programming offered through organizations to help start and grow your business.

African American Entrepreneurs Association (AAEA)
An association providing capital, education, mentoring, workshops, and additional support to assist entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses. Find additional resources here.

AT&T Supplier Diversity Programs
A program offering diverse business executive/senior leader scholarships for educational support, executive training programs, workshops, seminars, and one-on-one counseling. AT&T also provides the Business Growth Acceleration Program (BGAP), which is an initiative to mentor diverse-owned businesses to improve their business operations and enhance their abilities to win corporate contracts.

Axis Helps Miami
An organization providing financial assistance, training, and events to small business owners in Miami.

Black Founders
An organization that empowers entrepreneurs and provides founders with access to advice, mentorship, and funding. Its goal is to create an ecosystem that stimulates tech entrepreneurship and fosters economic growth in the community. The vision for Black Founders is to develop global programs that equip entrepreneurs, inspire innovation, and allow the organization to share resources and knowledge.

Black Girl Ventures
An organization providing funding, connections, and training to Black woman-identifying founders. It also hosts pitch competitions for entrepreneurs.

By Black Program and Certification
A certification provided by By Black in partnership with the U.S. Black Chambers allowing access to USBC events, conferences, and educational opportunities.

Center for Black Innovation
The Center for Black Innovation drives change by providing exposure to innovation pathways, scaling black innovation ecosystems, diversifying existing innovation ecosystems with data-driven policies, and research, with strategic long-term actions to solve the greatest funding challenges blocking Black prosperity.

Central County Community Development Corporation
As a subsidiary of the Urban League of Broward County, the organization creates thriving communities through small business support, access to capital, and housing development.

Chase for Business
Chase initiative provide education, coaching and banking solutions to minority entrepreneurs.

Comcast Rise
As many small businesses shift from pandemic recovery to long-term sustainability, the next evolution of the program will focus on helping businesses of all types accelerate growth, while continuing to focus on diversity, inclusion, and community investment. Its offerings will include complimentary marketing, technology, financial grants, business consulting, entrepreneurship training, and other services.

CVM Solutions with Supplier.io
A free diverse supplier management platform where businesses register once and are provided with exclusive access to organizations who are looking to buy the types of goods and services that businesses provide.

Enterprise Florida Business Minority and Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Capital (MaSBEC)
A Florida economic development organization providing training, development, and financial assistance to small and minority businesses.

Florida Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
SBDC assists Florida entrepreneurs by offering professional expertise, tools, and other opportunities.

Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council
An organization certifying Florida minority-owned businesses and providing other assistance.

Grow with Google
U.S. Black Chambers partnered with Google to provide training and support to enhance Black-owned businesses’ online presence.

MLK Economic Development Corporation’s Business Center
One of the MLKEDC’s purposes is to assist and support corporations and organizations for charitable, scientific, or educational purposes. The MLK Business Center located on Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., provides opportunities for business ownership, employment, and valuable services to families and individuals in the Liberty City community. Its kitchen incubator program provides licensing, business development, start-up cost and food production certification assistance for restaurants and catering companies.

Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust: Small Business and Economic Development
MDEAT ensures the equitable participation of Blacks in Miami-Dade County’s economic growth through advocacy and monitoring of economic conditions and economic development initiatives in Miami-Dade County. MDEAT helps small businesses with grants, an engagement education series, and other resources.

Minority Business Development Agency
A federal agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce aimed at growing the global competitiveness of minority business enterprises by providing access to capital, contracts, and markets.

Minority Enterprise Development Corp.
Brings together diverse men and women business owners to provide opportunities for them to grow personally and professionally, empowering minority entrepreneurs to succeed through education and meaningful connections. The organization provides customized workshops and access to minority business specialists and purchasing agents of corporations and municipalities.

National Black MBA Association
An organization offering educational, wealth building, and growth opportunities. It also hosts an annual conference.

Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation Business Fund
The OLCDC Business Fund supports small minority-owned businesses located in low-to-moderate income communities in South Florida. It does this by providing technical assistance in the form of one-on-one counselling and workshops, as well as alternative financing options.

Operation Hope – 1MBB
Aiming to start, grow, and scale 1 million Black businesses by 2030 to provide a successful path to wealth creation for the black community. It provides educational and other opportunities to Black businesses.

South Florida’s Black Professionals Network
With over 15,000 professionals connected, this organization offers networking, marketing, partnering, and sub-contracting benefits to its members.

Space Called Tribe
A Space Called Tribe is a culturally intelligent collaborative shared office/co-working space and urban innovation lab that is community centered, while connecting underserved high growth entrepreneurs, startups, and creatives. It provides comfortable workspace, a knowledgeable community, and resources to support the growth of your ideas into viable endeavors.

State of Florida Office of Supplier Diversity
Advocates for women-, minority- and veteran-owned businesses by hosting events, providing educational resources, and certifying businesses.

Technical Assistance for Small Business Program
Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce Technical Assistance Program promotes economic wealth in the small minority and black business communities in Miami-Dade County through the following initiatives: 1-on-1 consulting, free bi-monthly forums/workshops, certification, and bi-monthly networking activities.

The Black Upstart
An organization providing various educational resources for Black entrepreneurs.

Tools for Change
Tools for Change promotes and participates in community economic development initiatives targeted to primarily assist low to moderate income black entrepreneurs in Miami Dade County. It offers a combination of micro loans, small business services, technical assistance, and business education that is designed to meet all the needs of underserved entrepreneurs.

African American Entrepreneurs Association (AAEA)
The association provides capital, education, mentoring, workshops, and additional support to assist entrepreneurs in expanding their businesses. Find additional resources here.

Axis Helps Miami
An organization providing financial assistance, training, and events to small business owners in Miami.

Backstage Capital
A venture capital fund that invests in companies led by people of color and other minorities.

Black Ambition
A nonprofit initiative investing capital and resources in high-growth startups led by Black and Latinx entrepreneurs to help close the opportunity and wealth gap.

Black Business Investment Fund (BBIF)
A Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), private non-profit loan fund that specializes in providing loans and financial technical assistance services to Black, minority and underserved small businesses throughout Florida.

Black Enterprise – Black Business Development Town Hall
A Black Enterprise webinar recording discussing creating greater access to capital and contracts.

Black Girl Ventures
An organization providing funding, connections, and training to Black woman-identifying founders. It also hosts pitch competitions for entrepreneurs.

Coalition to Back Black Businesses
An initiative partnered with American Express to offer grants, financial assistance, and long-term support to small Black-owned businesses.

Collab Capital
An organization offering funding and assistance to decrease the racial wealth gap.

Comcast Rise
As many small businesses shift from pandemic recovery to long-term sustainability, the next evolution of the program will focus on helping businesses of all types accelerate growth, while continuing to focus on diversity, inclusion, and community investment. Its offerings will include complimentary marketing, technology, financial grants, business consulting, entrepreneurship training, and other services.

Community Fund of North Miami Dade
An organization providing affordable loans and other information to minority and women-owned businesses in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami Dade counties.

Enterprise Florida Business Minority and Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Capital (MaSBEC)
Florida economic development organization providing training, development, and financial assistance to small and minority businesses.

FAMU Federal Credit Union
A credit union offering financial services to its members. Membership is open to FAMU Alumni, FAMU students, and members/employees of the various organizations listed here.

Florida Black Business Loan Program – Department of Economic Opportunity
The program uses loan administrators to provide loans or investments to black business enterprises that cannot obtain capital through conventional lending institutions.

Goldman Sachs – One Million Black Women
An initiative to invest funds to help narrow opportunity gaps facing Black women. Two programs are offered: Black Women Impact Grants and One Million Black Women.

MBCC Accreditation Program
The Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) Accreditation Program is an evaluation process used to identify MBCC businesses that have been verified by the organization to be in good standing and meet basic business criteria. Successful applicants will have access to capital to expand and grow their business.

Miami Bayside Foundation
An organization providing access to funds for minority entrepreneurs.

Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust: Small Business and Economic Development
MDEAT the equitable participation of Blacks in Miami-Dade County’s economic growth through advocacy and monitoring of economic conditions and economic development initiatives in Miami-Dade County. MDEAT helps small businesses with grants, ad engagement education series, and other resources.

The Miami Foundation – Miami Open for Business
Fueled by a $20 million grant from Wells Fargo, the Miami Open for Business program aims to empower historically underserved nonprofits and small businesses to build generational wealth and resilience through the purchase and ownership of critical business assets, such as property, equipment, and technology.

Minority Business Development Agency
A federal agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce aimed at growing the global competitiveness of minority business enterprises by providing access to capital, contracts, and markets.

Minority/Women Entrepreneur Business Assistance (MEBA) Program
The MEBA Program can provide qualified new and existing businesses (retail and services) within downtown Orlando with both non-monetary and financial assistance for start-up or retention/relocation expenses, purchase of capital equipment, capital improvements, and marketing support.

MLK Economic Development Corporation’s Kitchen Incubator
The MLKEDC’s Kitchen Incubator program provides licensing assistance, business development assistance, start-up cost assistance, and certified food production benefits to restaurants and catering companies in the Miami area.

Office of Economic and Small Business Development – Broward County
The Office of Economic and Small Business Development provides financial assistance to businesses in Broward County.

Opa-Locka Community Development Corporation Business Fund
The OLCDC Business Fund supports small minority-owned businesses located in low-to-moderate income communities in South Florida. It provides technical assistance in the form of one-on-one counselling and workshops, as well as alternative financing options.

Small Business Loan Fund – Broward County
A community development financial institution (CDFI) making access to credit more readily available to minority-owned businesses in Florida. The institution is partnered with the Urban League of Broward County and Wells Fargo to provide the Dream Fund and also offers technical assistance for small business development.

Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corp (TBBBIC)
A U.S. Treasury certified Community Development Entity dedicated to providing business and funding opportunities for the long-term growth and success of small businesses.

Tools for Change
Promotes and participates in community economic development initiatives targeted to primarily assist low to moderate income black entrepreneurs in Miami Dade County, Florida. Tools for Change offers a combination of micro loans, small business services, technical assistance, and business education that is designed to meet all the needs of underserved entrepreneurs.

West Palm Beach Office of Small and Minority/Women Business Programs
Offers certification tips, a loan recovery assistance program, and other opportunities to West Palm Beach Businesses. Loan recovery assistance program information can be found here.

Accelerate Central Florida
This hands-on program from the African American Chamber of Commerce Central Florida provides the knowledge and know-how business owners need to create (and manage) a customized, three-year strategic growth plan.

Accenture Black Founders Development Program
Accenture launched the Black Founders Development Program to help Black entrepreneurs advance and grow their enterprise technology businesses through greater, more direct access to venture capital, corporate mentorship, and strategic connections with Accenture’s business partners, clients, and people.

Amazon Black Business Accelerator
Businesses can become a certified, Black-owned business on Amazon to get access to financial assistance, certifications, educational resources, and marketing and advertising support.

AT&T Supplier Diversity Programs
A program offering diverse business executives/senior leaders scholarships for educational support, executive training programs, workshops, seminars, and one-on-one counseling. AT&T also provides a Business Growth Acceleration Program (BGAP), which is an initiative to mentor diverse-owned businesses to improve their business operations and enhance their abilities to win corporate contracts.

Black Girl Ventures Change Agent Fellowship
A unique 9-month leadership skills development program created specifically to expand the capacity of early-stage entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders to strengthen the ecosystems of Black/Brown women founders.

Comcast Rise
As many small businesses shift from pandemic recovery to long-term sustainability, the next evolution of the program will focus on helping businesses of all types accelerate growth, while continuing to focus on diversity, inclusion, and community investment. Its offerings will include complimentary marketing, technology, financial grants, business consulting, entrepreneurship training, and other services.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program at Miami Dade College
A program to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing greater access to education, capital, and business support services.

KuKua Startups on the Blocks
A project created to transform ideas, launch startups, create an inclusive environment, and provide mentoring and networking support. In addition to creating jobs, educating, and developing skills and talents, the project also promotes partnerships, fosters trust and collaboration, and creates a culture conducive to entrepreneurial success.

Lightship Bootcamp
A free, underrepresented founder education program with networking opportunities. Founders are also extended access to a investor network.

Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce Accreditation Program
The MBCC Accreditation Program is an evaluation process used to identify MBCC businesses verified by the organization to be in good standing and meet basic business criteria. Successful applicants will have access to capital to expand and grow their business.

Millionaire Mastermind Academy Entrepreneur Accelerator Program
An accelerator providing mentoring, training, and growth opportunities to minority business owners.

Minority/Women Entrepreneur Business Assistance (MEBA) Program
The MEBA Program can provide qualified new and existing businesses (retail and services) within downtown Orlando with both non-monetary and financial assistance for start-up or retention/relocation expenses, purchase of capital equipment, capital improvements. and marketing support.

MLK Economic Development Corporation’s Kitchen Incubator
The MLKEDC’s Kitchen Incubator program provides licensing, business development, start-up cost, and certified food production assistance to restaurants and catering companies in the Miami area.

SBDC and FAMU Small Business Incubator Program
The FSBDC will offer entrepreneurs and small business owners the support they need to combat the challenges inflicted by the coronavirus pandemic. More information and dates can be found on the Facebook page.

Tampa Bay Chamber Minority Business Accelerator
A program designed to help Black and Hispanic businesses prepare for growth. Qualification and application information can be found here. A Minority Empowerment Program is also offered here.

The Minority Fund – 60 Days to Success
An organization committed to helping minority-owned businesses obtain entrepreneur training and education through a 60-day program.

UCF Business Incubation Program
Assists entrepreneurs with launching startups and growing business by providing business development and operational support. Three programs are offered.

Center for Black Innovation – Your Venture Cultivated
The VCIR Accelerator, an 8-week program hosted by the Center for Black Innovation, is a program meant to level up the founders who have ventures they are passionate about. Before founders are ready to have capital conversations, their business must learn how to operate pre-capital. (2022 Program Recap)