Minority & Women Business Resources

History
Formed in 1998, the Minority and Women Business Committee of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce set out to solve the increasing problem of little access to funds by creating a program that provides loans to minority- and/or women-owned businesses. Administered through the Orange County Business Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, the loan fund includes the following.

• Low-interest
• Fixed rate
• In amounts ranging from $2,500 - $20,000

Application Process
To print a loan application click here. (PDF File)

Start-up businesses need to submit a business plan that includes:

• Description of the business
• Market analysis and projections
• Marketing Plan
• Uses for loan
• Two years of financial
• Summary of business plan with details on current operations and need for the loan.

All applications are reviewed each month by the Peer Review Board, made up of a group of volunteer bankers and business leaders. Decisions are made based on promising proposals that are not usually funded by other traditional sources. Terms or the loan and payback periods are flexible. Only a one-time cost of $75 is needed upon approval.

Loan Contact
Carol Smith, Vice President
Government Initiatives & Special Projects
Orange County Chamber of Commerce
(845) 457-9700
carols@orangeny.com

SBA's Online Women's Business Center
www.onlinewbc.gov

Women Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century
www.women-21.gov

SCORE - Counselors to America’s Small Businesses
www.score.org
www.orangeny.com

NYS Small Business Development Center
www.nys.sbdc.suny.edu