Job Creators Quest Grant (Discontinued)

Chicagoland Job Creators Quest Grant is sponsored by Founders First CDC. The Chicagoland Job Creators Grant program provides funding for small businesses in Illinois. To be eligible, businesses must be based in Illinois with a founder who identifies as Black, Asian, female, LGBTQ+, a military veteran, or is located in a low-to-moderate-income area. Businesses need to have revenues between $100,000 and $5 million and more than 2 employees, and demonstrate the ability to create 1 or 2 additional premium minimum-wage jobs in the next 12 months.

Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation Loan Program is a financing program from the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation, a state-backed lender, that supports small business growth through affordable loans. The program provides capital for operational improvements, equipment purchases, and business expansion for Massachusetts-based small businesses. Applicants must demonstrate business viability and a clear plan for how the funds will support growth. Loan amounts range from $25,000 to $300,000. This program is administered through the state and is designed to fill financing gaps for businesses that may not qualify for conventional bank lending.

The MassDevelopment Small Business Technical Assistance Grant Program empowers community and economic development nonprofits, including Community Development Corporations and Community Development Financial Institutions, to deliver essential services to small and microbusinesses across Massachusetts. Eligible nonprofits with established business services can apply for funding to support programming that advances growth and stability for businesses with fewer than 20 employees and revenues under $2.5 million. Required programming must include a range of services such as one-on-one technical assistance, comprehensive business skills workshop training, and improved access to financing options. All proposed programming must focus on job creation and economic growth for the communities served.

The Freed Fellowship Grant is a grant from the Freed Fellowship that funds small business owners seeking resources, mentorship, and community to build successful companies that make an impact. The program offers $500 monthly grants on a rolling basis, with winners selected each month, plus a $2,500 year-end prize. Applicants are evaluated against the 5C Framework, which assesses Context, Content, Community, Chemistry, and Commerce. Each applicant receives feedback based on this framework and a complimentary two-month membership to The Freed Studio. The grant is open to all small business owners in the United States with no specific demographic restrictions. There is a $19 application fee, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.