North Mankato, Minnesota

Business

Business

Grant Opportunities & Resources

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses
Apply now to take your business to the next level

NEW opportunity for small businesses across Minnesota!
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses is a great opportunity for business owners to gain access to tools and knowledge to grow their businesses. Through classes delivered online and in-person, business owners learn from some of the brightest minds in the business, learn about access to financial capital, and build a powerful network of professional support.
 
KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAM:
  • The program is offered at no cost to the business owner – every business owner selected receives a full scholarship, with tuition funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation.
  • Hands-on education for business growth with a curriculum focused on practical business skills, including negotiations, marketing, and employee management.
  • Within 6 months of graduating, 67% of businesses report increasing revenues and 44% added new jobs in the same 6-month time period.
  • Access to highly trained professionals who understand what it takes to grow a small business.
  • An expansive peer network of small business owners from across the country
Apply by June 21 for the upcoming class which begins October 2024. Questions? Contact Rural10ksb@icic.org.
Learn more and apply here: https://www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/10000-small-businesses/US/growing-with-rural-america/index.html

Small Business Association Grant & Loan Programs

Attention small business owners, Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available through the SBA for farm and non-farm related businesses impacted by the lack of snowfall this winter. The application deadline for this loan is May 28.
Learn more at the following link and on Greater Mankato Growth's blog:

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Small Business Environmental Improvement Loan
$2 million available for small businesses to upgrade or purchase capital equipment

The MPCA is currently accepting applications for the Small Business Environmental Improvement Loan! 0% interest loans are available to assist Minnesota’s small businesses improve their business practices to meet or exceed environmental regulations. More information can be found on the loan web page. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. 

Apply today: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/grants-and-loans/environmental-assistance-loans

Funding available 
Approximately $2 million in funding is available. The minimum loan amount is $1,000 and the maximum loan amount is $75,000. The interest rate is zero percent (0%). 

Eligible applicants and projects 
Eligible applicants include existing Minnesota small businesses. The small business must also have:
  • less than 100 full-time employees.
  • an after-tax profit of less than $500,000.
  • a demonstrated ability to repay the loan.
Examples of eligible projects include:
  • Upgrade refrigerants to a lower GDP
  • Upgrade winter maintenance equipment (i.e. brine equipment, snow blade equipment)
  • Water Based Paint Equipment/Booth
  • Auxiliary Power Unit
Ineligible projects: Lighting, HVAC and the purchase of a new vehicle 

Questions? Email any questions regarding the loan program to smallbizfunding.pca@state.mn.us.