Official Government Website
Immigrant/Refugee Business Start-up Help
- Economic Opportunity by Jannus (formerly MicroEnterprise Training and Assistance) – EO Business Development
- 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 and SBA 8(a) business development program for disadvantaged businesses
- National Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.
Native American Resources
- Onaben – A Native American business network initiative also serving other communities of color
- 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 and Native American Owned Businesses
- Native American Business Association
- Native CDFI – provides funding to advance economic opportunity
- Nimiipuu Fund – serving Nez Perce in Idaho, Oregon and Washington
- Idaho Rez Rising
- Northwest Native Chamber – economic development and business assistance
Hispanic Resources
- 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
- Hispanic Business/Professional Association of Spokane – Nuestras Raices
- South Central Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- League of United Latin American Citizens
- Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA)
- Hispanic Business Association – serves southwest Idaho
African American Resources
- Idaho Black Community Alliance
- African American Entrepreneurs Association
- Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA)
- National Black Chamber of Commerce
- Brown Like Me – mentorship organization serving Black youth in southwest Idaho
- Idaho Falls African American Alliance
- Carl Maxey Center Spokane – Small Business Resiliancy Network
Asian-American
- Asian American Business Development Center
- U.S. Pan-Asian American Chamber of Commerce
- Asia America Multi Technology Association
- South Asian American Women’s Alliance, Inc.
- Idaho – Asia Trade Office
- Idaho Japan Business Council
Arab American
Arab American Women’s Business Council
Arab American Business Advisory 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.
- Military Spouse Businesses
U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service
Department of Defense SkillBridge Program
U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Getting Started With Veteran-owned Small Business Support – U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs
Veterans Benefits Administration
Mission43 – an Idaho based non-profit that assists veterans and spouses with education and employment opportunities
Starting a Small Business as a Veteran in Idaho
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
- Female Entrepreneur Association
- U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce
- 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. The Small Business Administration assists small experienced disadvantaged businesses with federal contracting and training.