FOLKLORE

Minority Owned
Small Business Grant Program

The Folklore Business Grant is awarded to qualified minority-owned businesses to support their growth and sustainability while addressing systemic barriers to access to capital for historically underserved communities.

For the third consecutive year, the grant will be administered in partnership with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Wells Fargo, and Fresco Marketing. This year, ten (10) grants of $10,000 each will be awarded to selected applicants, totaling $100,000 in funding.

Priority will be given to businesses that demonstrate:

A clear plan for growth and sustainability.
Active engagement in their local community.
Commitment to addressing systemic challenges or creating economic impact.

Support Provided Through the Grant:

A financial award to contribute to the growth and/or sustainability of the business.
Membership to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and related benefits.
Business consulting and educational training to aid in business success.
Routine check-ins to facilitate connection between ongoing needs and available resources.

Business Eligibility

The business must be located within a 25-mile radius of Kansas City, MO City Hall (414 E 12th St, Kansas City, MO 64106).
The business must have been in operation for at least two years as of November 1, 2024.
The business must have 10 or fewer employees and a physical location or brick-and-mortar establishment.
The business must be registered and in good standing with the Missouri and/or Kansas Secretary of State.
Applicants must provide a clear explanation of how the funds will be used to support business growth or sustainability, identifying specific opportunities for sales in a target market.
Priority will be given to minority-owned businesses, including Hispanic-owned businesses, with additional consideration for women-owned businesses.
Membership in the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is not required to apply.

Grant Guidelines

Ten (10) grants of $10,000 each will be awarded.
A committee will review all qualified applications and select the recipients.
Funds may only be used for business costs associated with sustaining and/or growing the business and cannot be used to pay off previously acquired debt.