Alabama

Operations Resources

BizTech
BizTech's mission is to increase the number of successful technology-based companies in Huntsville-Madison County. To do so, BizTech helps these companies gain access to mentors, group experiences, training, shared space, professional assistance, and capital that will help them succeed. BizTech also sponsors and administers programs to nurture new entrepreneurs in operating their companies.

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Georgia

Funding Sources

The Mountain Partnership Loan Fund
The fund provides programs and services that support start-up and growing businesses. Qualified borrowers in North Georgia who want to start or grow a small enterprise and are not able to secure traditional financing can receive up to $5,000 each. Ongoing support, technical assistance, and business education are provided to loan recipients through partner organizations. Counties included in the progam are Fannin, Lumpkin, White, Franklin, Hart, Stephens, Rabun, Towns, Union, Habersham, Banks, and Elbert. Since 1989, MMF has provided a business-training course to more than 850 individuals and has disbursed over 130 loans totaling over $330,000.

Robert W. Woodruff Foundation
This foundation funds programs in Georgia, particularly those focusing in the arts, civics, health, education, the environment, social service, and economic development.

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Kentucky

Funding Sources

Blue Grass Community Foundation
Grants from the foundation go to 501(c)(3) agencies in central and eastern Kentucky. Grants seldom exceed $3,000. The grant review process starts with a letter of inquiry, a one-page letter that states the purpose of the agency, the project for which funding is sought, and the amount requested. Grants support projects such as early childhood education, concerns of the aging, the environment, and the arts. Scholarship Funds give awards to students from a particular high school or geographic area or who are studying in a specific discipline.

Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation
Founded in 1968, KHIC provides venture capital investments in start-up and expanding enterprises located in southeastern Kentucky and is one of the most successful community and economic development corporations in the country. KHIC makes equity investments and loans from as small as $500 to investments well over $5,000,000 and can also assist businesses in developing financing packages, since it has extensive contacts in conventional lending circles. KHIC operates in the Kentucky counties of Bell, Clay, Clinton, Harlan, Jackson, McCreary, Rockcastle, Wayne, and Whitley.

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Maryland

Funding Sources

Mountain Maryland Entrepreneurial Development Center
The MMEDC offers training and networking opportunities for both investors and entrepreneurs, and works to develop capital resources and support services to assist the region's growing companies.

Garrett County Micro Loan Fund for New Businesses
The fund, called MicroWorks, provides financial, training, and technical assistance to individuals interested in starting a new business. Training is provided in partnership with the Garrett Community College and the University of Maryland's Cooperative Extension Service. Networking and peer counseling are available through the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce.

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Mississippi

Funding Sources

Enterprise Corporation for the Delta
If you are located in the Mississippi Delta Region and you have insufficient collateral, fail to meet other standard lending and investment criteria, or are unable to obtain financing from conventional financial institutions, then the Enterprise Corporation for the Delta (ECD) can provide you with $10,000 to $1,000,000 of loans and in way that meets your needs.

Phil Hardin Foundation
This foundation funds programs in Mississippi, particularly those focusing on education youth services.

Enterprise Corporation for the Delta, through ECD Investments, LLC, makes a small number of venture investments in firms that can make a substantial impact on the Delta. These venture investments can take several forms, and ECD expects substantial financial and social returns for such investments. Visit the ECD Web site for more information.

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New York

Funding Sources

Alternatives Credit Union
If you are unable to borrow money from a bank, then the Alternatives Credit Union has an exciting loan program that allows you to borrow the money from a participating non-profit organization.

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North Carolina

Entrepreneurship Resources

Council for Entrepreneurial Development
CED was founded in 1984 to stimulate the creation and growth of high impact companies in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park area and has more than 5,000 active members representing 1300 companies. CED has mobilized the professional community and seasoned entrepreneurs to share their knowledge with emerging entrepreneurs. Through special-interest roundtables (biotechnology, infotech, CEO, and CFO), CED members have opportunities to meet mentors who can help them define and direct their businesses through a wide variety of entrepreneurial roundtables.

Funding Sources

Dogwood Equity
Dogwood Equity is a private, limited liability company located in Raleigh, North Carolina that serves as the general partner and manager of the North Carolina Economic Opportunities Fund. The Fund focuses on investing in and building well-managed, high growth companies located outside of the largest urban areas of North Carolina. Dogwood Equity prefers to make initial investments in the $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 range, with total investment typically not exceeding $7 million.

North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center Rural Resource Guide
This guide helps rural community leaders find funding, expertise, and information to make a positive difference in their communities. Included in the guide is a Financial Services section that offers funding sources for many types of programs.

Networking/Mentoring Resources

Council for Entrepreneurial Development
The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) operates the Capital Connection System, which consists of several entrepreneur-focused programs that assist entrepreneurs at various stages—from idea to initial funding—by providing mentors and instruction. The system provides entrepreneurs with tools to evaluate their ideas, refine their business concepts, develop business plans, and raise capital.

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Ohio

Financing Sources

ACEnet Ventures Fund
ACEnet is a community development venture fund that invests in specialty food and technology sector businesses, including start-ups, that have potential to create wealth for low-income owners and jobs for low-income residents in a 27-county section of Central Appalachia.

Adena Ventures
Adena Ventures invests between $200,000 and $2 million in equity and provides operational assistance to qualifying businesses in central Appalachia.

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Pennsylvania

Financing Sources

The North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission
NCPRPDC operates a revolving loan program that combines funds from several federal and state sources to support business development in a six-county area. NCPRDC aims to support capital development projects in firms that will create or save jobs. The loan funds are targeted primarily toward small manufacturing, industrial, and export services, as well as certain technology and computer-related services. NCPRD also operates an award-winning entrepreneurial services program that supports new business and self-employment with micro-enterprise loans and technical assistance.

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South Carolina

Funding Sources

Abney Foundation
The Abney Foundation makes grants for innovative and creative projects, and to programs that are responsive to changing community needs in the areas of education, health, social service, and cultural affairs. The foundation's primary focus is higher education. Agencies applying for funds should serve the citizens of South Carolina. The foundation endows scholarships at 12 colleges and universities in South Carolina. The site includes grant application guidelines.

Marketing Resources

The South Carolina Export Consortium
The South Carolina Export Consortium helps South Carolina's small- to medium-sized companies expand and increase their competitiveness through international trade by providing export market studies and consulting services, problem solving and on-site training.

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Tennessee

Financing Sources

Technology 2020
Technology 2020 provides financial capital and business assistance to a range of companies including those who need less than $35,000 in investment to those who need up to $2.5 million. Technology 2020 serves a region extending from Chattanooga to the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee.

Tennessee Valley Authority's Online Business Resource Center
This site provides resources and services offered by TVA Economic Development, as well as from other regions across the country. Resources include help creating business plans, finding capital, locating training or conferences, and accessing technical assistance.

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Virginia

Funding Sources

People Incorporated of Southwest Virginia
People Inc. partners with the Nature Conservancy of Virginia to provide loans designed to foster the growth of environmentally compatible businesses. The Clinch Valley Eco-Loan offers interest rates lower than typical private loan packages and can help finance projects that conventional lenders are unwilling to underwrite completely.

Virginia Resource Access System
A searchable catalog of financial and technical assistance programs and services in Virginia. The program information contained in the catalog includes both state funded and federally funded programs administered by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Virginia Small Business Financing Authority
The Virginia Small Business Financing Authority helps small businesses gain access to capital through the creative application of public and private financing.

Operations Resources

Virginia Department of Business Assistance
The Virginia Department of Business Assistance (DBA) administers the Virginia Business Information Center, which provides online information on business resources, as well as individual assistance by telephone and email. The DBA also provides programs that offer workforce training and recruiting assistance to eligible businesses.

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West Virginia

Financing Sources

Natural Capital Investment Fund of West Virginia
The Conservation Fund launched the NCIF in 2000 to increase access to financial resources by rural West Virginia businesses. The NCIF is a revolving loan and equity investment fund dedicated to financing high-potential, emerging businesses that will advance sustainable economic development throughout West Virginia with a special emphasis on the 26 distressed West Virginia counties.

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General Business Sites

Department of Commerce
Provides links to the Economic Development Administration, International Trade Administration, and Minority Business Development Agency within each state.

Small Business Administration
The SBA has information on many areas of business development, including

• Sources of counseling/training programs: Service Corps of Retired Executives, Small Business Development Centers, U.S. Export Assistance Centers, and Women's Business Centers
• Financing sources: Small Business Investment Companies, Preferred/Certified Lenders, Approved Microloan Providers, and Certified Development Companies

Business Development
Sources of Funding
Best Practices
Examples of ARC Business Development Projects
Research and Data
News & Events
Education and Training
Spotlight on Business Development Themes
Building and Sustaining a Business
Attracting Financing Sources
State-level Resources