In Focus: Some schemes, initiatives & grants for women entrepreneurs in Missouri
#WomenInBusiness #MissouriEntrepreneurs #FemaleFounders #BusinessGrowth
Women’s entrepreneurship in Missouri, USA, has been gaining traction in recent years. According to statistics from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, between 2014 and 2019, the number of women-owned businesses in the state increased by 25%. This surge is notably evident in industries such as – healthcare, education, and retail, where female entrepreneurs are making substantial impacts.
Missouri’s Resources Fueling Female Business Success
Missouri provides a wealth of resources to support these enterprising women. Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) and the Missouri Women’s Business Development Centers (WBCs) play a crucial role by offering training, mentorship, and access to capital. These organizations are dedicated to – helping women entrepreneurs start, manage & grow their businesses effectively.
Furthermore, Missouri’s commitment to fostering women entrepreneurship is reflected in its national standing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Missouri ranked 5th in the country for the percentage of women-owned businesses in 2020. This achievement underscores the state’s supportive environment for female entrepreneurs.
The state’s major cities, Kansas City and St. Louis, boast vibrant startup ecosystems and innovation communities that further enhance opportunities for women-led businesses. These cities offer networking events, incubators, and accelerators designed to help startups flourish.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in the Heartland
Missouri’s strong network of supportive organizations and resources, including the Missouri Women’s Business Center and the Small Business & Technology Development Centers, provides a robust foundation for women entrepreneurs. These initiatives ensure that women business owners in Missouri have the tools, knowledge, and support needed to succeed and thrive in the competitive business landscape.
Let’s take a look at some schemes, initiatives & grants that are open to women entrepreneurs.
> Missouri Women’s Center
With a clear mission behind the Missouri Women’s Center, MoWBC is dedicated to breaking down barriers to entrepreneurship & entrepreneurial success, with a focus on women-owned, minority-owned, and low-to-moderate income-based businesses. They assist entrepreneurs – as they plan, start, build, and scale their businesses by providing accessible resources, programming, and whole health business coaching, at no cost, to all our clients.
The Missouri Women’s Business Center is a program of CMCA dedicated to providing small business development assistance with a focus on women, minorities, and low-to-moderate income-based entrepreneurs throughout Mid-Missouri. This is accomplished through – coaching, relevant programming, training, events & continued support and resources to help entrepreneurs set and reach their business goals.
From initial concepts to building a steady stream of economic resources, their mission is to break down the barriers that women and minorities in our community face when owning and operating or growing a business. The deeper purpose of the MoWBC is – to assist CMCA on their mission – to eradicate the causes and conditions of poverty through individual empowerment, access to resources, and entrepreneurial success.
> Amber Grants for women
Through WomensNet, Amber Grants are available, where you can get help to find real grants, loans, and other funding for your business venture.
So, start with the Amber Grants for Women. Businesswomen from Missouri (and all around America) are eligible to apply for these grants. Each month, the judges award a trio of $10,000 Amber Grants to a women-owned business.
At the end of this year, three of their monthly winners will earn an additional Amber Grant of $25,000. It’s the single largest grant they have awarded in our 25-year history. After you’ve applied for our Amber Grant, please check out the resources. Look in the right places, and you’ll find people in Missouri waiting to help women business owners just like you.
https://ambergrantsforwomen.com/business-grants-women-missouri/
> Missouri Small Business Startup Guide
The information in this Guide is focused on giving a general understanding of the various types of entities which you could form for your business.
The information is not a substitute for the advice of a lawyer, tax advisor or other professional. Taxation issues, startup capital, liability concerns, delegation of management responsibilities, allocation and distribution of company income and profits, succession plans, limits on transfer of ownership, contract matters and customer relations all enter into the determination of which entity is optimal for a business.
https://www.sos.mo.gov/business/outreach/startup_guide
Missouri Government Agencies
> State of Missouri – Business Resources Portal
This business resources portal is a gateway to your business in Missouri, a one-stop shop for you to access online information on operating a business in this state. The site focuses on four key areas in business operations: research, registration, maintenance & resources.
There is information to guide you through the procedures and regulations for starting a business, growing a business, and wrapping up a business. It also provides links to other state and federal agency websites with information on employment taxes, development, and capital raising programs and business consulting.
> Missouri Secretary of State – Business Services
The Secretary of State’s Small Business Startup Guide provides a step-by-step understanding of the various types of entities that you could form when starting on your entrepreneurial journey, taxation issues, startup capital, liability concerns, delegation of management responsibilities, allocation and distribution of company income and profits, succession plans, limits on transfer of ownership, contract matters & customer relations.
> Missouri Small Business Administration – SBA
The Missouri SBA is supported by two district offices, and a total of three offices across Missouri and Kansas. They provide 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/missouri-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business
Missouri Agencies & Non-profit Organizations
> Missouri Small Business Development Centers – M SBDC
The Missouri Small Business Development Centers – M SBDC – tries to help businesses in every stage. From concept to startup, growth to renewal, mature to succession, business specialists can help you succeed across your business’ lifecycle.
Missouri SBDC experts are conveniently located all across the state providing assistance and hosting events on a variety of business topics.
Business specialists use their expertise to help Missouri businesses with:
– critical business development issues.
– guidance addressing topics such as management, marketing, and strategic planning for new and existing businesses.
– one-on-one confidential counseling.
In addition to the Missouri SBDC location in Columbia, centers are located in Hannibal, Jefferson City, Joplin, Kansas City, Kirksville, Rolla, Sedalia, Springfield, St. Joseph, and St. Louis.
> Women’s Business Development Center – WBDC
The WBDC Missouri office in St. Louis supports and accelerates business development and growth, targeting women and serving all diverse business owners.
Coaching and education services include strategic one-on-one and group business advising, specialized cohort-based curricula and workshops, and digital learning.
Contract assistance is available for private sector procurement opportunities, public sector contracting assistance, and WBE (Women’s Business Enterprise) certification. Capital-related services include – financial education, debt and equity placement, direct lending and Kiva microlending.
> Missouri Women’s Business Center – MoWBC
The MoWBC is dedicated to breaking down barriers to entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial success with a focus on women-owned, minority-owned, and low-to-moderate income-based businesses. They assist entrepreneurs as you plan, start, build, and scale your business – by providing accessible resources, programming, and whole health business coaching, at no cost.
From initial concepts to building a steady stream of economic resources, the organization’s mission is to break down the barriers that women and minorities face when owning and operating or growing a business.
Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. – Women’s Business Center The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. Women’s Business Center is dedicated to providing micro-business development for aspiring entrepreneurs, with a primary focus on minority women in the community. Partnering with other institutions and community organizations, the Center is able to offer a variety of programs and services to further individuals’ aims of entrepreneurship. The WBC offers comprehensive services to support all stages of entrepreneurship.
> SCORE Southwest Missouri
SCORE Southwest Missouri is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground. Whether you need help evaluating a new business idea or plan, stimulating business growth, or developing long-term stability, SCORE Southwest Missouri can indeed, help at little to no cost.
SCORE provides women entrepreneurs with a wealth of resources, templates, tools, and free \ expert mentoring to foster your business growth and development. The Women’s Entrepreneur resource hub offers a comprehensive array of – tailored materials and guidance to adeptly navigate through entrepreneurial challenges and opportunities.
Volunteers are successful real-world business professionals who 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. SCORE provides:
> volunteer mentors who share their expertise across many industries
> free, confidential business mentoring in person, via email, or by video
> free business tools, templates, and tips here online
> inexpensive or free business workshops
SCORE Southwest Missouri serves Springfield and the Greater Ozarks area.
> Professional Women’s Alliance
Professional Women’s Alliance or PWA provides a meeting ground for professional women to meaningfully connect and become indispensable resources to each other and the community through personal and professional development.
Part of the mission of Professional Women’s Alliance is – to provide resources to improve women’s careers, assist in making meaningful connections, and in finding leadership and professional development opportunities.
> MOSourceLink
MOSourceLink’s mission is to help entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state of Missouri grow and succeed by providing free, easy access to the help you need – when you need it.
MOSourceLink connects entrepreneurs and small business owners with a network of nonprofit resource organizations that provide business-building services. Network resource partners provide a wide range of business-related services, including:
> Marketing
> Financial Planning
> Sales
> Loans
> Technology
> Product development
> Education
> Government contracts
> Operations
https://www.lisamasiello.com/missouri-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 that makes 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.
> Missouri Innovation Center – Accelerator Fund
The Accelerator Fund was created by the Missouri Innovation Center – to help entrepreneurs launch market-changing companies in the state of Missouri.
The accelerator fund provides early investment to selected companies who have a well-defined plan for a technology-based product or service. The Accelerator Fund leads investments of up to $50,000 to help a startup company create an initial product and/or launch their product or service.
Recipients can receive additional business services and mentoring at the Mid-MO Tech Incubator – to successfully flesh out a business model and investment strategy. In exchange for the investment capital and business coaching, companies will be required to enter into a convertible note agreement or equity purchase agreement with the Accelerator Fund.
https://www.lisamasiello.com/missouri-women-entrepreneurs-start-a-new-business
> Business Women Of Missouri Foundation, Inc.
The Missouri Federation is committed to women helping women through education, legislation and building self-sufficiency.
The foundation is committed to women helping women through education, legislation and building self-sufficiency. The foundation expects to work alone or with other persons, organizations, or institutions to further such educational goals.Tthe foundation strives
to prepare people for competitive and technological demands that face our nation’s workers into the next century.
Goals and objectives
• to promote full participation, equity, and economic self- sufficiency for working people through research, education and information.
• to strive to prepare people for the competitive and technological demands that face our nation’s workers in the 2000s and beyond.
• to establish, maintain, and distribute a scholarship fund or funds to enable deserving citizens of Missouri (male or female) to acquire the education/training necessary for careers in business and the professions.
• to give financial support to schools, colleges, and other accredited institutions for training and education for careers in business and the professions.
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
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