Grant to Support Women, LGBTQ, and Minority Entrepreneurs

The Cincinnati Chamber Foundation, thanks to a generous grant from the Johnson Foundation, will launch a $100,000 grant program to support women-, minority-, or LGBTQ-owned small businesses that are opening in downtown, Over-the-Rhine, and Pendleton. The program will support the revitalization of currently vacant retail storefronts in the center-city, the creation of new jobs, and the growth of minority- or women-owned businesses.

The Cincinnati Chamber and the Johnson Foundation will have a selection committee that reviews all applications to determine application eligibility and size of grant. Grants in the amount of $5,000 and $10,000 will be available based on size and scope of the new business. Targeted businesses are retail, restaurant, and customer-facing industries that add to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods. Grants are available to new women-, minority-, or LGBTQ-owned businesses that open within 90 days of receiving the grant award and are not currently open. Businesses must be located in the neighborhoods of the Central Business District, Over-the-Rhine, or Pendleton.

Application details:

• Qualifying businesses must have already signed a lease with a landlord prior to acceptance of the grant. The length of the lease term should be disclosed as part of the application.
• Qualifying business must be a new women-, minority-, or LGBTQ-owned business that will open a storefront location within 90 days of receiving the grant award and are not currently open.
• Businesses must be located in the neighborhoods of the Central Business District, Over-the-Rhine, or Pendleton.
• Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis, and the committee will meet monthly to make awards.
• Grant applications will be hosted on the Cincinnati Chamber’s website.

To complete the application you will need the following information:

• General Contact Information
• Business Address
• Business Partner Names
• Tell us how these funds will be used
• Describe the services your business provides
• Tell us how these funds will help your employees
• If the location is leased, please provide the terms of lease along with name and contact information for the landlord
• A document upload containing budgets. Include total costs of startup, how much has been raised to date, and thsource of funding (bank loan, personal funds, friends/family, etc.)
• A document upload of your business plan
• A document upload containing letter letter(s) of reference from building owner/leasing agent of property where the business is located. If the building is owner-occupied, a letter of reference from financial partner will be accepted. (3 maximum)

*In order to be eligible for funding your business must be a new women-, minority-, or LGBTQ-owned business that will open a storefront location within 90 days of receiving the grant award and are not currently open. Businesses must be located in the neighborhoods of the Central Business District, Over-the-Rhine, or Pendleton.