Official Government Website
Immigrant/Refugee Business Start-up Help
- Jannus (formerly MicroEnterprise Training and Assistance) – Economic Opportunity
- Small Business Administration – Minority Owned
Minority Business Help
- Jannus (formerly MicroEnterprise Training & Assistance (META) – serving southwestern and south central Idaho
- Minority Business Development Agency
- Minority Entrepreneurship Institute – provides education, funding and networking opportunities
- Small Business Administration – Minority Owned
- National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.
Native American Resources
- Onaben – A Native American business network initiative
- U.S. Department of Labor – Indian and Native American Programs
- National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development
- U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs – Office of Indian Economic Development
- Small Business Administration – Office of Native American Affairs
- Office of Native American Programs – Federal Inter-agency website delivering information from government agencies and other organizations to Native American communities and tribal leaders, including funding opportunities.
Hispanic Resources
- Small Business Administration website in Spanish
- OSHA – Spanish Language Compliance Assistance Resources
- U.S. Department of Labor – Spanish Resources
- Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs
- TechLatino
- Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Idaho Hispanic Foundation
- SCORE for Hispanic Entrepreneurs
- Hispanic Business/Professional Association of Spokane
African American Resources
- Idaho Black Community Alliance
- National Black Chamber of Commerce
- Funding for African-Americans Starting a Business
- SCORE for Black Entrepreneurs
Asian-American
- Asian American Business Development Center
- U.S. Pan-Asian American Chamber of Commerce
- Asia America Multi Technology Association
- SCORE for Asian American and Pacific Islander Entrepreneurs
- South Asian American Women’s Alliance, Inc.
Arab American
Arab American Women’s Business Council
Veterans’ Resources
Idaho Department of Labor Veteran’s Services:
Small Business Administration:
- Office of Veterans Business Development
- Boots to Business – on-line training program
- Veteran Contracting Assistance Programs – helps veterans qualify to contract with federal agencies; certifies veteran owned small businesses.
U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service
U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs Veteran Entrepreneur portal
Veterans Benefits Administration
Veterans Business Fund
Starting a Veteran Owned Retail Business: a Comprehensive Guide
Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce
Veteran Entrepreneur Alliance
Helmets to Hardhats
Feds Hire Vets – Federal employment information for veterans, transitioning military service members, their families and federal hiring officials.
Women Business Owners
- National Association of Women Business Owners
- National Association of Women in Construction
- National Women’s Business Council
- Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
- Small Business Administration – Women-Owned Businesses and Woman Owned Business Certification
- American Business Women’s Association
- U.S. Department of Labor – Women’s Bureau
- Arab American Women’s Business Council
- Center for Women & Enterprise – Self-Assessment Tool
- U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce
- Idaho Women’s Business Center – locations in Nampa and Twin Falls
- Purdue Global – Resource Center for Women in Business
Disadvantaged Businesses and Government Contracting
Woman, veteran and minority-owned businesses, collectively known as disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE), may have preference in bidding on certain government contracts through the various federal agencies’ Offices of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization. In Idaho, the Idaho Transportation Department handles certification and contracts. Also visit Idaho Apex Accelerator for assistance in bid preparation and see the Small Business Administration website for details.