U.S. Government Business Start-Up Grants for Women

• U.S government provides monetary assistance to women-owned business startups Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

  Starting a business requires money or capital. Raising money to fund a start-up business can be challenging. One source of financing for women-owned start-up businesses is the U.S. government's small business grants and loan program. The federal money is funneled to approved applicants through federal agencies, state and local governments, non-commercial or non-profit organizations and research institutes.

Conditions for receiving grant money

• The federal goverment offers about 1,000 small-business grants for women. building of administration image by Arkady Chubykin from Fotolia.com

  A minority woman or a woman with a disadvantaged economic background who has a special product or service to offer, stands a better chance for getting government grants. According to Business.Gov, the official business link to the U.S government, "The grants are not free money and usually require the recipients to match funds or combine the grant with other types of financing,such as loans."

  For a detailed overview of what is available in each state go to the Business.Gov website and click on "Loans and Grants" search tool. Select an industry and find the grant program for which your business might qualify.

Specific State Loans

• For rural business there are Rural Business Enterprise Grant programs (RBEG). New York City Skyline image by Gary from Fotolia.com

  Most U.S. states have grants or low-interest loan programs for business women. If your new business is not eligible for grants, try loan-assistance programs that target women-owned start-ups. Along with loan opportunities, the programs often include training programs. Check whether your state offers the Community Development Financial Institution assistance program, which provides micro-loans to women and minorities. Visit the "Women Owned Businesses" page on the Business.Gov website for information about each program.

  Many state initiatives are targeted at women-owned start-ups that do not meet the eligibility requirements of most private banks. The government-backed programs are flexible. Some even offer subsidies to lenders.

  Find nonprofit organizations in your state that offer loans, business training and support to small-business women. Keep yourself informed on municipal-level initiatives as well.

U.S Small Business Administration

• Twenty-six federal agencies provide grants to women-owned businesses start-ups. Ornate ballustrade on grounds of United States Captiol image by dc_slim from Fotolia.com

  Visit websites such as the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA), an independent agency of the federal government that offers specific financing programs for women-owned start-up businesses. The SBA women's business center provides grants, training, counseling and free online courses to help women start and grow their businesses. It also gives important insight into how to win federal contracts.

  Visit the website of ACCION USA. It specializes in lending to women, immigrants and minority business owners. Women make up 40 percent of its clientele.

Other websites

• Check out CFDA for sector-specific projects. business woman lay on the red sofa with laptop image by Elena Vdovina from Fotolia.com

  Take advantage of grants that may not be specifically targeted at women start-up businesses. Learn how these federal grants are allocated by visiting website of the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at http://www.cfda.gov. It offers details for 2,073 federal-assistance programs.