Part B · Startup-relevant scheme
Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME)
Small Business Administration
Other
Ideation
PRIME funds nonprofit microenterprise development organizations (MDOs) to deliver training, technical assistance, and capacity-building for microentrepreneurs — businesses with fewer than five employees who typically lack access to conventional financing.
Type of support
Other
Best suited for
Ideation
Headline amount
N/A — funds MDOs, not entrepreneurs directly
How much
$50,000-$400,000 (to MDOs)
Objectives
Reach the very smallest and most disadvantaged entrepreneurs, who are often too small even for microloan programs to serve well without accompanying technical assistance.
Who can apply?
- Direct grant applicants are nonprofit microenterprise development organizations, not individual businesses.
- A majority of funded activity must target disadvantaged microentrepreneurs.
What do you get?
- Awards have generally ranged $50,000-$400,000 per MDO since FY2018.
- FY2024 distributed $7M across 28 organizations, assisting 15,000+ microenterprises in FY2023 alone.
How to apply
Microentrepreneurs seek out a local PRIME-funded MDO for training and technical assistance; MDOs themselves apply to SBA during PRIME's annual funding cycle.
Key links
Details as most recently confirmed against the official source linked above. Deadlines, amounts and windows change — verify on the official portal before applying.