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A local grant program offers funding to support Black and Latinx-owned small businesses in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. The Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) grant fund is focused on improving business success, job retention, and job creation for minority-owned businesses.
Guidelines
- Grants up to $25,000 are available.
- Eligible uses of grant funds are special projects and general operating expenses such as salary, wages, lease, rent payments, working capital, and capital expenditures.
Eligibility
- Businesses must be Black- or Latinx-Owned.
- Businesses must be located in Forsyth County and in operation as of January 1, 2023.
- Businesses must be for-profit and gross annual sales must not exceed $1 million.
- Businesses must have at least 1 but not more than 25 full-time employees.
Applicants should read the entire criteria and gather supporting documentation prior to submitting an application.
Required Documentation – Gather Before You Begin Your Application
MBE Grant Information Session
MBE Grant Financial Statements Workshop
Resources
The Forsyth Tech Small Business Center has business mentors available for assistance with the grant application process. The SBC also offers a full schedule of educational opportunities for small business owners. View events calendar.
The Small Business Technology Development Center (SBTDC) at Winston-Salem State University is available to assist with the grant application process.
Grant recipients will receive a one-year scholarship membership to Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. to support their ongoing growth and business success. Learn more.
Entrepreneurial Advisory Committee
The MBE grant program will be managed by the Entrepreneurial Advisory Committee, consisting of African American and Latino business leaders in the local region. This committee will review applications, provide technical assistance, and determine grant recipients.
Alan Caldwell – Retired Director-Community & Civic Engagement at Reynolds American Inc.
Brenda Diggs – Retired SVP at Wachovia Bank
Dwight Lewis – Associate Athletic Director at Wake Forest University
Reginald McCaskill – Executive Director at Maximum Enterprises Inc. of Winston-Salem
Bill McClain – Executive Director at The Guiding Institute for Developmental Education, Inc.
Hasani Mitchell – Community & Economic Development Program Administrator, Forsyth County
Karla Mounts – Operations Manager, iGnosis Management and Founder of Soy Emprendedor
Lorena Muñoz Holladay – Real Estate Investor & Financial Coach
Randon Pender – Winston-Salem Black Chamber of Commerce
Ongoing support is critical to assist as many businesses as possible.Contact Us to Donate
MBE Grant Program funds are administered through Greater Winston-Salem, Inc.’s 501(c)3 foundation, The Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. Foundation. All funding received is distributed directly to recipient businesses.
Current Donors
Allegacy Federal Credit Union, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Babcock, The Budd Group, Alan and Lisa Caldwell, Cook Medical, Jean C. Davis, Brenda Diggs, Duke Energy, Flow Automotive, Flow Lexus, Front Street Capital, Paul Fulton, Drew and Kelley Hancock, Javara, Bill McClain, Modern Automotive, L. David Mounts, David Neill, Novant Health, the Prim Family Foundation, Reynolds American, Ben C. Sutton, Jr., the Truist Charitable Fund, Claire and Randall Tuttle, Wells Fargo (Business) and the Wells Fargo Foundation, John Whitaker, and the Whitaker Park Development Authority.
