Navigating Entrepreneurship: Mississippi’s Growing Support for Women-Owned Businesses

In Focus: Some resources for women entrepreneurs like initiatives, schemes and grants

#WomenInBusiness #MississippiEntrepreneurs #WomenEmpowerment #MSBusiness #WomenLeadership #Entrepreneurship

Women entrepreneurs in Mississippi are increasingly shaping the state’s economic landscape, despite some challenges. A reality check – Mississippi ranks 47th in the nation for women’s entrepreneurship. But, recent initiatives have been put in place to address this gap and create more opportunities for women to thrive in business.

Organizations like the Mississippi Women’s Business Center (WBC) are providing essential resources, from mentorship to financial literacy, to help women business owners succeed. Additionally, programs through Mississippi’s community colleges and local chambers of commerce are fostering entrepreneurship – by offering training and networking opportunities. So, women entrepreneurship in Mississippi presents a unique landscape.

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Mississippi: Resources and Opportunities

Cities like Jackson and Oxford are emerging as hubs for women entrepreneurs – driven by a growing startup culture and a supportive business ecosystem. Key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture & hospitality offer potential for growth, while innovative sectors like tech and creative services are seeing a rise in women-led ventures. Despite the hurdles, Mississippi’s women entrepreneurs are carving out spaces for themselves and proving that the Magnolia State has much to offer in terms of resources, community, and opportunity.

Here are some initiatives, schemes and grants that women entrepreneurs can avail of in Mississippi.

> Innovate Mississippi

Committed to assisting technology entrepreneurs and emerging companies in the state is “Innovate Mississippi”.

Whether you are developing your business plan or seeking early-stage investment capital, their team of experienced business and economic development professionals will try to help you find the resources you need to grow your enterprise and create jobs in Mississippi. Innovate Mississippi accelerates startups and drives entrepreneurship throughout the state.

– Startups: The organization works directly with pre-revenue and post-revenue startups to develop your business strategies, find funding, and grow your business.

– Investors: One spot for all investor resources in Mississippi to help you secure early-stage funding.

– Ecosystem: Collaborations with partners around the state help strengthen the innovation ecosystem that is Mississippi through a Regional Accelerator Program and the Mississippi Coding Academies.

– Events: Regularly scheduled events include Startup Weekends, Discovery Luncheons, Mississippi New Venture Challenge, Conference on Technology Innovation, and others.

So, Innovate Mississippi helps startups using two core tactics: coaching and connecting. Their coaching is based on a rigorous entrepreneurial assessment tool. It contains evaluations to measure a startup’s product, market and financial risk. They work with each startup to develop strategies to mitigate risk and fill gaps.

Women and Minority Entrepreneurial Development Program

The Minority and Women Entrepreneur Development Program is an entrepreneurial technical assistance program, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. This tries to focus on developing companies led by women and minority founders. The LaunchFund provides zero-interestloans to low-income startup founder.

https://www.innovate.ms/women-and-minority-entrepreneurs/

> Mighty Mississippi

Mississippi supports woman-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses and small businesses with a bevy of resources that encourage growth, including several programs and workshops to help increase market competitiveness. Here you can discover untapped business opportunities in this state.

So, register here and learn about resources, funds, how to get an easy business set up and more.

https://mississippi.org/

> Amber Grant

Amber Grant for women provides a great place to start your search for funding. There is a simple 2-question application that gives you a chance to share your business dreams. They award three Amber Grants of $10,000 each month. At the end of this year, three of those monthly winners will be awarded an additional Amber Grant ($25,000). So, move ahead because – time has come that will put you on the path to $35,000 in total grant funds for your business.

https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/business-grants-women-mississippi/

Mississippi Government Agencies

> Mississippi Development Authority – Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The Mississippi Development Authority offers a variety of services to help businesses succeed, including The Entrepreneur Center and a host of business incubators focused on providing young firms with funding and resources.

> The Entrepreneur Center: The Entrepreneur Center helps startups by providing finance and accounting recommendations, marketing help, retail and general business assistance and other learning opportunities. the Entrepreneur Center has experience with businesses of all sizes and stages – from small scale startups to seasoned businesses looking to expand.

> Business Launchpoint: Business Launchpoint provides a step-by-step path for startups in the early stages of their business development plan.

> Business Incubators: Mississippi business incubators nurture young firms, providing guidance, management advice, access to financing, and strategic exposure to local business communities.

> Mississippi Small Business Administration – SBA

The Mississippi SBA is supported by a main district office in Jackson and an additional location in Gulfport. They provide many services including – funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications and disaster recovery.

They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed.

https://www.lisamasiello.com/mississippi-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business

Mississippi Agencies & Non-profit Organizations

> SCORE Mississippi

SCORE Mississippi is focused on helping small businesses get off the ground and also provides free and confidential one-on-one business counseling by phone, email and in person too.

SCORE Mississippi can help you in all areas like – when you need help evaluating a new business idea or plan, stimulating business growth, or developing long-term stability.

Their volunteers are successful real-world business professionals, who help existing and startup businesses succeed. And they are experts with experience in areas such as accounting, finance, human resources, consulting, import/export, law, operations, production, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, sales, marketing, management, business plan preparation, strategic planning, and many other business disciplines.

> Mississippi Small Business Development Center – MSBDC

MSBDC’s mission is to foster Mississippi’s entrepreneurial ecosystem; and providing businesses expertise and resources that drive business success. The Mississippi SBDC serves all 82 counties in the state of Mississippi.

The services provided include:

Confidential Business Counseling: Whether you need help with business planning, financial analysis, marketing strategies, or any other aspect of entrepreneurship – these confidential one-on-one counseling sessions are a valuable resource to help you navigate the complexities of the business world with confidence and success.

Business Plan Development: You can take advantage of comprehensive business plan development services designed to empower entrepreneurs and business owners. Training: The Mississippi Small Business Development Center offers pivotal training and consulting to entrepreneurs and small business owners through -workshops, courses & personalized consulting.

Disaster Relief: In case your business been impacted by a natural disaster, or if you need help with business resiliency, MSBDC is here to extend full assistance.

RISE – Resources for International Success and Expansion: In today’s globally connected marketplace, taking your business beyond borders is the key to continuous growth and success. RISE Center services help you navigate exponential business growth.

> Lighthouse Business & Professional Women

Uniting Mississippi professional women in the workplace, Lighthouse’s mission is to support business and community relationships and provide leadership skills and networking opportunities – to women across the Gulf Coast.

> Women’s Business Enterprise Council – WBEC South

Women’s Business Enterprise Council – WBEC South – serves Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and the Florida Panhandle.

WBEC South is a regional partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the largest certifier of women-owned businesses in the US and a leading advocate for women business owners and entrepreneurs.

Certification: WBEC South facilitates the nationally recognized and most relied upon certification program, WBENC Certification.

Opportunities: Connecting women-owned businesses with major corporations to facilitate business opportunities.

Resources: To address the challenges that women face in building and growing a business including educational workshops and tools to strengthen supplier diversity partnerships.

Engagement: WBEC South fosters engagement through regional events, robust recognition, and awards programs.

https://www.lisamasiello.com/mississippi-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business

Funding – State and Federal Sources

> U.S. Small Business Administration – Funding Resources

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps small businesses get the funding they need. Funding resources include:

Loans: Start or expand your business with loans guaranteed by the SBA.

Investment capital: Find an investor for your business. Investors make both debt and equity investments.

Disaster assistance: Get help after a disaster with low-interest disaster loans.

Surety bonds: Protect your work and your client with an SBA-guaranteed surety bond.

Grants: Look for government grants that help businesses do scientific research and development.

> Mississippi Development Authority – Minority and Small Business Loans and Grants

Small, minority- and women-owned businesses have several options when it comes to in-state loans and programs that provide technical assistance, training, access to opportunities, and other resources that support their economic viability.

Examples of loan programs include:

Capital Access Contract Loan Program

Small Business Loan Guaranty Program (SBLGP)

Small Business and Existing Forestry Industry Loan Program

Minority Surety Bond Guaranty Program

Minority Business Micro Loan Program

Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Loan Program

https://www.lisamasiello.com/mississippi-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business

> Minority and Small Business Development Division

Women and minority business owners who are looking to connect with industry leaders and to land partnerships with organizations in the private and public sectors.

> WomensNet – Mississippi

If you are a female entrepreneur with the vision and drive to build a sustainable business, Small Business Grants for Women in Mississippi was designed with you in mind.

> Small Business Administration (SBA) Mississippi District Office

The Small Business Administration (SBA) Mississippi District Office services small business owners across the state of Mississippi.

> Mississippi Small Business Development Center

Acting under the belief that small businesses are the foundation of any financially healthy ecosystem, Mississippi’s SBDC encourages entrepreneurs to take advantage of the number of programs made available to them.