Find Business Financing Information on Business.Gov

If you are seeking business financing and you are wondering if you could qualify for an SBA loan guarantee or state business grant, here is an all-in-one site that can help. The U.S. government has a website on its Business.Gov site that helps you find small business financing.

When you go to the website, you will be asked a series of questions to determine your industry and whether you qualify for special loan status. You will also be asked which state your business is in. When you have completed the questions, you will see a list of types of loans you may qualify for, both from the SBA and from your state. The state loan information will include state grants.

When I checked "new business," "woman business owner" and "Iowa" my list of possible loan and grant sources included:

• SBA 7(a) loan program
  
• SBA Microloan program
  
• SBA pre-approval program, and
  
• Several links to loan programs specifically for Iowa businesses owned by women, minorities, or disabled persons
  
• Venture capital and seed money sources.

Included in the possible sources of information was information about two non-profit organizations that participate in the SBA micro-loan program and who loan money to small businesses:

• ACCION USA, a non-profit organization that offers loans up to $25,000
  
• SELF-HELP, whose mission statement says:
  

  Creating and protecting ownership and economic opportunity for people of color, women, rural residents and low-wealth families and communities.

The Business.Gov site also has other resources for small business owners. I am particularly pleased to see these non-profit organizations being included,