SSBCI Mississippi — Small Business Credit Initiative

Mississippi's State Small Business Credit Initiative allocation sits under the Mississippi Development Authority and channels federal capital into five routes to expand small business credit access. The umbrella is built around the state's roughly $86 million allocation under the American Rescue Plan Act, with delivery split across MDA, Innovate Mississippi, and the Mississippi Small Business Development Center. It is a credit-access platform rather than a single grant call, and its value lies in how it supports lenders, funds, and founders at different stages. The main pieces are the CDFI Small Business Loan Fund at $45 million, the Small Business Loan Guarantee Program at $15 million, the Venture Capital Program at $15 million for VC funds, the Direct Investment Program at $11 million for pre-seed through Series A startups, and a technical-assistance route. The direct-investment side can reach up to $3 million with a $1 million SSBCI match in early-stage deals, with a $500,000 match maximum later in the fund, and it requires a lead investor. The program is rolling until the allocation is depleted. Applicants need to choose the right channel, because the VC program is aimed at fund managers while the direct-investment program is the founder-facing route. The strongest fit is a Mississippi small business that can bring private capital alongside the state match, document a credible growth plan, and use the technical-assistance layer to harden the financing case. The technical-assistance arm is aimed at socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and small businesses, so the route is not only about capital but also about preparing the business to raise it.

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