February and March 2025 Business Resource Round-Up

Los Angeles County Wildfire Assistance 

The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) has assembled resources to support residents and businesses affected by the recent fire and windstorms in Los Angeles. Learn more.

#IFW4LA Los Angeles Fires Relief Fund

The devastating fires in Los Angeles have left many members of the IFundWomen community facing unimaginable loss. If you are an IFundWomen member and are in crisis due to the L.A. fires, please sign up to be considered for a relief grant. Learn more and apply.

Looking Out Foundation

Grants up to $5,000 are available to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose interests include, but are not limited to, disadvantaged youth, public health, women, the environment, the arts, the hungry, and the homeless. Apply by Feb. 1.

Nebraska and Iowa: We Pitch Black

This competition is for emerging business owners with startups or new businesses. Businesses must be formed or will be formed in the states of Nebraska or Iowa. Pitch prize is worth up to $10,000. Apply by Feb. 1.

BMO Fellowship with Watson Institute

This program supports diverse environmental sustainability entrepreneurs and leaders from underserved communities. Fellows receive award-winning training in entrepreneurship, sustainability, and leadership to advance ventures addressing critical community challenges. Preference is given to individuals in Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Colorado. Apply by Feb. 2.   

FEATURED EVENT

Crafting Compelling Business Grant Applications

Join Meghan Rauker, DreamSpring Community Engagement Officer, in this webinar to gain valuable insights into business grant strategy, best practices, and where to find grant opportunities. Learn the ins and outs of the grant writing process and how to make your application stand out from the competition. Free for HUUB members, $2.95 donation for non-members. Webinar will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 12 – 1 p.m. MST. Register for the Feb. 4 webinar.

Halcyon Future Builders Fellowship 2025

This program brings together founders from across the U.S. to address climate challenges, health barriers, and equity gaps. In addition to a $5,000 stipend, founders gain expert training, critical resources to accelerate their ventures, a one-week in-person residency in Washington, D.C., and a one-week in-person residency in Atlanta. Apply by Feb. 16.

Hillman Emergent Innovation (HEI) Accelerator 

The HEI program provides grants to accelerate the development of bold, nursing-driven interventions that improve the health and healthcare of marginalized populations within the U.S. with grants up to $50,000. Apply by Feb. 18.

FEATURED EVENT

Maker MasterMind: Fireside Chat with Miguel A. Briones

Join DreamSpring’s Maker MasterMind series for a conversation with creative small business owner Miguel A. Briones. An award-winning educator, public speaker, and bilingual children’s book author and illustrator, Miguel will share how he turned his passion for storytelling into a career. Free virtual fireside chat will be held on Thursday, Feb. 20, from 1 – 1:45 p.m. MST. Register for the Feb. 20 Maker MasterMind.

Smart Futures Lab Incubator and Accelerator  

Smart Futures Lab is a free six-month incubator and accelerator program empowering Smart City innovators. The Incubator Track is for aspiring founders to refine ideas, build business plans, and attract seed funding. Accelerator Track is for scaling businesses to analyze competition, refine models, lead teams, and collaborate with governments. The program offers expert-led virtual training, office space, a maker-space, a private 5G lab, and a thriving community of mentors and entrepreneurs. Apply by Feb. 21.

North Carolina: Luna Launchpad Business Accelerator 

Luna Launchpad equips moonlighting women-preneurs of color with the knowledge, skills and resources to make the leap from side hustle to full-time, self-sustaining business. Business should be based in or near Charlotte, N.C., as the program includes hands-on learning and collaboration by way of in-person labs that meet every Saturday during the 10-week program. Next cohort begins in March.

New York: EmpowerHer Fund grant 

Women-led organizations, community groups, and individual women with projects that specifically benefit women and girls in New York City are invited to apply for a $1,000 grant. Apply by March 1.

Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund

DoorDash has partnered with Hello Alice to help restaurants recover in times of need. The fund supports restaurants impacted by natural disasters, severe weather events, or major infrastructure failures, and provides relief through $10,000 grants. Apply by March 3.

FEATURED EVENT

Smart Financing: Tools and Strategies for Business Owners

Are you ready to grow your business but unsure how to secure the funding you need? Join Valerie Rivas of Bank of America and DreamSpring for a free virtual workshop on navigating your financing options, with insights into what lenders look for in a successful loan application. Webinar will be held on Wednesday, March 5, from 9 – 10 a.m. PST. Register for the March 5 webinar.

SPACEPennsylvania: Small Business Advantage Grant

The Small Business Advantage Grant provides reimbursement grants ranging from 50% to 80% of eligible project costs to Pennsylvania small businesses to improve energy efficiency or reduce pollution or waste by: upgrading or replacing equipment or supplies; improving processes; or reducing runoff into affected waterways. Maximum grant award amounts will vary from up to $7,500 to up to $12,000, based on the environmental impact of the project and whether the project location is in an Environmental Justice Area in Pennsylvania. Apply by March 15.

Offshore Wind Innovation Hub Accelerator 

This six-month program is designed to support startups and innovators focused on the offshore wind industry by providing mentorship, business development resources, and access to industry leaders. Apply by March 21.

New York: Rev Summer Prototyping Hardware Accelerator 

The Rev Summer Prototyping Hardware Accelerator is open to anyone with an idea for a physical product and a passion for entrepreneurship; teams do not need to have a legally formed LLC to participate. The classic track supports product ideas across all industries, and the AgTech and CleanTech tracks offer startups the chance to work with a like-minded cohort and learn from industry experts. In-person program is located in Ithaca, New York. Apply by March 28.