Minority/Women Entrepreneur Business Assistance (MEBA) Program

Are you a minority or woman owned business in need of non-monetary or financial assistance?

The Minority/Women Entrepreneur Business Assistance (MEBA) Program is a small business assistance program that was established to retain existing minority-owned businesses located within the Target Area, and to attract new minority-owned businesses to this area. The MEBA Program Target Area(PDF, 761KB) is generally described as the Parramore area of downtown, more specifically described as the area bounded on the north by West Colonial Drive, on the west by South Westmoreland Drive, on the south by West Gore Street, and on the east by Interstate-4.

The MEBA Program can provide qualified new and existing businesses (retail and services) within the Target Area with both non-monetary and financial assistance for the following purposes:

  • Business start-up or retention/relocation expenses
  • Purchase of capital equipment
  • Capital improvements
  • Marketing support

 

Email

Step 1.Check your eligibility 

To qualify for the MEBA program, you must be:

  • A minority or woman and the majority owner of a for-profit new or expanding small business, as defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration
  • Have no more than twenty (20) employees
  • Be located within the Target Area

Step 2.Review the MEBA Program guidelines

Keep in mind: Submittal of an application does not guarantee funding assistance. Funding is awarded through a competitive process and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Funding is structured as a three-year forgivable loan, and disbursements are made to grantees on a reimbursement basis only. Applicants who have received other business assistance grants from the CRA or City of Orlando (with the exception of facade grants) are not eligible for the MEBA Program.

There are additional requirements of this program that must be met.

Review all MEBA Program Guidelines(PDF, 99KB)
Application Checklist(PDF, 84KB)

Step 3.Download and submit your initial application

Applications must be submitted no later than one month (30 days) prior to the MEBA Advisory Board meeting to be placed on the agenda. Please note that additional information may be requested before the application can be forwarded to the MEBA Advisory Board, which may result in a delay until a future scheduled meeting. 

  Fill out Application

Step 4.Prepare and submit your full application package

Following review by MEBA Staff and scheduling the application for review by the MEBA Advisory Board, you must submit 16 copies of the full application package. This package will be reviewed by MEBA Program Staff, the MEBA Advisory Board, the CRA Advisory Board, and the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Step 5.We will contact you with our decision

We will email you and ask any additional questions if necessary.

Contact Us

Email

economicdevelopment@orlando.gov