Funding: Grants, Crowdfunding & Loans

Why funding

Funding is required to increase the capacity of your business with regard to equipment, ingredients, infrastructure, facility expansion, marketing &promotion, staffing, and more. Working capital serves as a safety net when your business needs extra money, and having enough funding allows your company to grab any opportunities that come your way, such as investing in new products and services that can help your business grow.

What would you fund?

• Open a new location
• Grow your CPG
• Expand production
• Go from pop-up to permanent

Funding opportunities

• Hello Alice is a free platform designed for AND by small business owners. This platform is designed to support small business owners through the ins and outs of entrepreneurship. From a grant to jazz up an online storefront to a loan to help stock up on inventory, the Small Business Funding Center connects small business owners with the capital they need to launch and grow their small businesses. They work with over a million individuals to secure relevant business solutions and funding opportunities.
• The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven has awarded nearly $684,000 to programs that are dedicated to careers for a more inclusive economy. Local job programs for Greater New Haven residents are expanding access to careers in growing economic sectors with the support of recent funding from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. The Community Foundation office building is open to vaccinated (including boosters) visitors by appointment; staff are available during normal business hours Mon - Fri by phone or email to conduct business or to schedule a time to visit. 
• Sustainable CT's innovative Community Match Fund provides fast, flexible funding and support to implement projects that align without menu of sustainability actions. Unlike traditional funding programs, the Community Match Fund is focused on decreasing the hurdles faced by community leaders when applying for grants. Contact the Sustainable CT Community Match Fund to help make your idea a reality. They will work with you to develop and run a crowdfunding campaign, and match the donations you receive dollar-for-dollar.
• HEDCO is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to a wealth of personalized services, best practices and proven methods to meet the ever-changing needs of small business that inspire desired performance and achieves targeted results. Contact them here.
• The Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund links Connecticut small businesses and nonprofits to the financial support they need to thrive. Supported by the Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development, working capital loans are provided between $5,000 and $500,000 (subject to eligibility) with no origination fees, fixed 4.5% interest rate, and 60- and 72-month payback terms depending on loan size. Complete your pre-application now!
• Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program (ConnCORP) is focused on economic development in New Haven. ConnCorp was designed to advance ConnCAT’s mission to provide opportunities to New Haven’s underserved residents. Contact them here.
• Liberty Bank offers Express Business Loans that can help small businesses with the financing they need to grow successfully. The application is simple, and you’ll have a decision in as little as 24 hours. Contact them here.
  
• The Black Business Alliance offers services to minority business owners through business training, technical assistance and online marketing services to help small businesses get access to capital, improve business acumen and strengthen online branding presence. Scroll to the bottom of the page for their contact form and information.
  
• The U.S. Small Business Administration guarantees loans that can help start or expand your business. Use Lender Match to find lenders that offer loans for your business. Contact them or learn about their other services here.
• The Community Economic Development Fund provides loans to Connecticut small business owners, primarily in low-to-moderate income communities, who are not able to obtain traditional bank financing. Contact them here.
• Woman's Business Development Council provides the training and education necessary for women to launch and scale their businesses. WBDC is dedicated to providing the tools and resources to help women thrive in business. They believe that when desire, education, and preparation come together, opportunities are created, ideas are ignited, and economies are expanded. Contact them here.