Bankers can use this portal as a resource guide for potential clients who need support in the process of beginning or expanding their small businesses through access to capital, business counseling, or technical support.

There are many resources on this page from state, federal, and local partners that apply to all entrepreneurs, as well as specific programs for women, minority, and veteran-owned businesses and businesses operating in historically disadvantaged communities. We encourage lenders to increase their awareness of these resources, provide feedback on other programs and entities that should be included, and highlight this information in the communities you serve. 

Minority & Small Business Lending Resources 

The American Bankers Association offers resources on Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCPs). SPCPs are authorized by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Regulation B and help for-profit creditors meet special social needs and benefit economically disadvantaged groups. 

The National Minority Supplier Development Council provides education, networking, and certifications for minority business enterprises nationwide. 

The Virginia CDFI Coalition includes community development financial institutions located in the Commonwealth that offer mission-driven community lending. 

Federal Technical Resources

The SCORE  mentorship program, a partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, provides resources and workshops, and pairs entrepreneurs with established, local small business owners through their mentorship program. SCORE has locations across the Commonwealth. 

• Richmond 
• Williamsburg 
• Blue Ridge
• Central Virginia
• Hampton Roads
• DC and Northern Virginia

U.S. Small Business Administration Veterans Business Outreach Center offers counseling, classes, business incubator space, and financing for veterans in Northern Virginia.

Federal Financing Resources 

Each year, the federal government awards 10% of all federal contracts to Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB) through the Federal Contracting Assistance Program. Learn more about applying for SDB status here. 

Broadly, the Federal government offers funding opportunities through its online portal, grants.gov.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides several funding programs to prospective and existing small business owners.

• SBA backs loans from traditional lending partners to increase access to capital through their 7(a) and 504 programs.
• SBA licenses and regulates Small Business Investment Companies that support small businesses and startups.
• SBA provides low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters.
• SBA guarantees bid, performance, and payment of surety bonds through surety companies for small businesses that don’t qualify for other sureties.
• SBA provides limited small business grants to nonprofits, Resource Partners, and educational organizations to support entrepreneurship through counseling and training programs.
• The SBA administers America’s Seed Fund, non-dilutive funding to develop technology and chart a path toward commercialization.

USDA Rural Development offers loans, grants and loan guarantees to help create jobs and support economic development, including several business-specific programs.  

• Business and Industry Loan Guarantees (B&I) Program offers loan guarantees to lenders for their loans to rural businesses.
• Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program provides grant funding for the start-up or expansion of meat and poultry businesses. 
• Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG) provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. 
• Rural Cooperative Development Grants help individuals and businesses start, expand or improve rural cooperatives.

State Technical Resources 

The Virginia Department of Small Business & Supplier Diversity offers Business OneStop, which supports entrepreneurs and small business owners in developing and expanding their businesses.

The Virginia Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is an organization of 26 local offices across Virginia that provides professional business advising, training, and business resources to help grow and strengthen Virginia businesses.

Virginia APEX Accelerators, formerly the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAC), is administered through George Mason University and provides small businesses that want to participate in the government procurement process with free and low-cost assistance.

Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity offers tutorials for businesses applying for SWaM, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses, and Employment Services Organization certifications.  

Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation offers a wide array of resources for aspiring small business founders, including those with diverse backgrounds. They also are the lead agency for State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) venture programs, providing credit support and investment programs in traditionally underserved communities. 

State Financing Resources 

Virginia Small Business Financing Authority (VSBFA) offers direct loans, loans supporting banks, and other investment programs for small businesses. These include:

• Economic Development Loan Fund: A companion loan for fixed asset financing needs designed to fill the financing gap between the bank’s loan and private equity.
• Microloan Program: A direct loan from the VSBFA to the business client that does not require a bank’s participation in the transaction.
• Child Care Financing Program: Zero interest loans for qualifying childcare and family day home improvements.
• Cash Collateral Program: A deficiency guaranty of a bank loan in the form of a cash deposit to an account with a participating commercial bank. It can be used for lines of credit or term loans any time the bank believes it needs additional support in order to approve a business loan request.
• Loan Guaranty Program: A traditional deficiency guaranty of a bank loan. It can be used for lines of credit or term loans any time the bank believes it needs additional support to approve a business loan request.
• Small Business Investment Grant Fund: Awarded and paid to eligible investors who have invested in Virginia’s eligible small businesses.
• Bond Program: Bond financing for tax exempt manufacturers and 501 © (3) non-profits. 

Go Virginia provides funding and grants to entrepreneurs, educators, and developers to spur economic development in the Commonwealth.

The Virginia CDFI Fund (formerly the Virginia Small Business Resiliency Fund) provides direct loans to community development financial institutions to fund small businesses, housing development and rehabilitation projects, and community revitalization real estate projects.

Other Financing Resources

Bridging Virginia is a CDFI that provides capital and technical assistance to historically marginalized small businesses.

Community Business Partnership Business Finance Center provides and facilitates loans to eligible small businesses in Northern Virginia.  

LISC Small Business Capital Access Program provides 0% loans and business coaching in the greater Richmond and Petersburg metro areas.

The Virginia Hispanic Chamber Small Business Capital Access Program is a resource for Central Virginia’s Hispanic business community.

LISC Business Loans provide funding across multiple stages of business development, from predevelopment to acquisition and construction, to working capital funds.  

Latino Economic Development Center, a CDFI, provides alternative microloans and business advice in the greater Washington D.C. metro area.

Metropolitan Business League Capital Access Hub augments technical expertise, increases access to capital and stimulates business growth throughout Virginia.

HerRise Micro-Grants provides training and funding for women of color entrepreneurs. 

WomensNet provides monthly grants to women-owned businesses.  

SoGal Foundation Black Founder Startup Grant provides funding to Black and multiracial women and nonbinary entrepreneurs.

Lighthouse Labs provides seed-stage accelerator funding to diverse founders in the Richmond area.  

Opportunity Appalachia helps local community revitalization projects with outreach to investors and technical assistance in rural areas of Appalachia.

Other Technical Resources 

VAFAIRS (Rural Cooperative Development Center) provides technical assistance to those transitioning into, or involved in, value-added agriculture.

Black Brand B-Force Accelerator is a Hampton Roads-based 12-week intensive that helps Black and Latinx businesses become more fundable through workshops, consultation and technical assistance. It offers the Surge Community Business Academy to help new and emerging businesses thrive.

University of Mary Washington’s EagleWorks Business Incubation Center provides business development services to local startups and early-stage companies.

Virginia Values Veterans V3 Employment Grant program offers grants to small businesses hiring veterans.

Startup Virginia provides incubator resources and support to Central Virginia startup founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators at any stage.