MDA Minority & Small Business Loan Programs

Mississippi Development Authority's Minority & Small Business Loan Programs are a statutory lending suite for small businesses, minority-owned firms, women-owned firms, and socially and economically disadvantaged businesses. The collection sits inside MDA's state economic-development toolkit rather than a competitive grant round, and it is built to widen access to credit where conventional lending can be tighter. The portfolio includes contract financing, guarantees, low-interest loans, bonding support, and micro loans. The named routes include the Capital Access Contract Loan Program for businesses with fewer than 50 employees or disadvantaged businesses with public-entity contracts, the Small Business Loan Guaranty Program, the Small Business and Existing Forestry Industry Loan Program, the Minority Surety Bond Guaranty Program, the Minority Business Micro Loan Program, and the Minority Business Enterprise Loan Program. The only published ceiling in the public materials is the micro-loan cap of $35,000, while the rest are kept open by statute rather than by a fixed grant cycle. Eligibility is especially favorable for minority- and women-owned businesses, and some routes are specific to forestry or construction bonding. For applicants, the practical angle is credit support rather than project grants. Businesses that need a guarantee, a small working-capital loan, or bond support are the best fit, especially when the company can show a public contract, a minority ownership profile, or a clear expansion need. Because several routes overlap with other MDA credit programs, the right entry point depends on whether the need is micro-capital, guarantee support, or a bonded contract.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.