• Microgrants Program

    The purpose of the Microgrants Program is to provide assistance to promote growth of Historicallhy Disadvantaged Businesses and help them access capital for that growth. Historically Disadvantaged Businesses are defined as businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more historically disadvantaged individuals who are residents of Pennsylvania.

  • Eligible Use of Funds

    The Microgrants Program will provide grant funds that approved businesses may use for the following purposes. Any other use of funds is not permitted by this program.

    • Business filing fees
    • Business licensing fees
    • Diverse business certification
    • Working/operating capital (such as utilities, rent, business services such as website development, marketing,  technology costs, accounting, etc.)
    • Inventory
    • Funding to support seeking public sector procurement opportunities, including but not limited to:
      • Business certifications
      • Equipment
      • Insurance
    • Other costs to support the ongoing operation of the business, as approved by the Network

  • Individual Eligibility Screening

    Please review the individual eligibility requirements below before proceeding with your application. Completion of this screening does not guarantee funding. All information provided is subject to verification by the Pennsylvania CDFI Network.

  • Historically disadvantaged individuals include persons who are among any of the following categories:

    • African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans
    • Women
    • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning Sexuality
    • Persons with a Disability
    • Veterans
    • Others with documented lack of access to finance or business assistance
  • Is your business at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more historically disadvantaged individuals who are residents of Pennsylvania?*

  • Business Eligibility Screening

    Please review the business eligibility requirements below before proceeding with your application. Completion of this screening does not guarantee funding. All information provided is subject to verification by the Pennsylvania CDFI Network.

  • To be eligible for a microgrant, a business must:

    • Be a for-profit business.
    • Be physically located and operating in Pennsylvania.
    • Generate at least 51% of its revenue within Pennsylvania.
    • Have fewer than 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
    • Be currently operating at the time grant funds are awarded.
    • Not be in active default on federal, state, or local taxes or fees unless a formal repayment plan is in place and current.
    • Not be engaged in activities that are illegal under federal, state, or local law.
    • Not be a nonprofit organization, church, religious institution, government entity, or elected official office.
    • Not be primarily engaged in lending, banking, financing, passive real estate investment, life insurance, political activities, lobbying activities, or other ineligible business activities identified by the program.
    • Not have an owner of 20% or more who is currently incarcerated, on probation, on parole, under indictment, or otherwise subject to formal criminal charges, or who has certain disqualifying felony convictions as described in the program guidelines.
    • Not have already received or applied for a microgrant under this program for another business owned by the same individual(s).

    By continuing, you acknowledge that eligibility will be reviewed and verified by the Pennsylvania CDFI Network and that applicants found to be ineligible may be removed from consideration at any stage of the review process.

  • Based on the eligibility requirements above, do you certify that your business meets the minimum eligibility requirements for this program?*
  • Should be Empty: