Capital Access Program

Our goal is to build the capacity of key businesses and nonprofit organizations to support, create and scale green jobs in our local communities. We do this by providing tools, like research papers, reference guides and how-to toolkits. By addressing issues regarding employment, procurement and access to capital, we seek to empower our stakeholders -- particularly those constituents coming from historically marginalized areas -- to engage in policy decisions both locally and nationally.

• Business Guide to the Recovery, and the accompanying webinar with officials from the Small Business Administration and the Department of Energy
  

• Business FAQs about the ARRA
• Overview of Urban Farming
• Overview of Green Retail Real Estate
  
• Other helpful resources (links with brief description of how each can help)
  • SCORE: SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. It is America's premier source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs.
  • FedBizOpps: This site is the U.S. Government's one-stop virtual marketplace. Through this single point-of-entry, commercial vendors and government buyers are invited to post, search, and retrieve opportunities solicited by the entire federal contracting community.
  • Minority Business Development Agency: This is the only federal agency dedicated to advancing the establishment and growth of minority-owned firms in the United States. Through a network of minority business centers and strategic partners, MBDA works with minority entrepreneurs who wish to grow their businesses in size, scale and capacity.
  • Environmental Protection Agency "Small Business Gateway": This federal agency provides a gateway to environmental information and contacts for small businesses.

Small businesses provide more than 70 percent of America's jobs. The Capital Access Program is committed to increasing the capacity of these emerging businesses and entrepreneurs -- particularly those owned by women or people of color -- to be leaders in the green economy. Through online and offline content, the Program seeks to improve the business skills, social capital and financial support of green business.

Introductory Entrepreneurship Workshops

Below are links to a wealth of introductory workshops that provide helpful instruction – in English and Spanish – on how to start your own business or social enterprise.  These workshops, provided by SCORE, are tremendous resources that explain the fundamentals of entrepreneurship in a very easy-to-follow manner.  While they admittedly do not address critical issues around eco-equity, it is important to note that any successful green enterprise must first learn and master these principles.  There are also handy tools within each workshop, such as a Worksheets section, which allows participants to apply the teachings to their business idea, and a Glossary, in case anyone does not understand a certain term.  Regardless of where you are in the entrepreneurial process, and whether you’re attempting to start a for-profit or nonprofit social enterprise, each of the 10-15 minute workshops below (listed in no particular order) contains something for you.

• Assessing Your Organization's Financial Needs
• Partners and Investors 
• Developing a Business Plan
• Creating a Strategic Plan
• Building a Website
• Conducting a Market Analysis
• Targeting Your Market
• Determining Your Business Legal Structure
• Promoting Your Business
• Advertising Your Business

CAP initiated a pilot mentorship program back in December 2008, which linked budding entrepreneurs across the country with business leaders willing to help them get their business or nonprofit off the ground. We have scaled and distinguished the program by launching a unique Coaching Platform.  CAP has built a group of professional, certified business coaches who are dedicated to providing select leaders from small businesses and social enterprises with the sort of valuable professional insights that can help their organizations mature and grow.  Please click here to see a list of participating entrepreneurs and coaches.

If you are interested in being a part of this Platform as a Coach, please download the Coach application.

If you are interested in participating as a Entrepreneur, PLEASE NOTE that the business or social enterprise must meet the following criteria:

• For-Profits: 1-3 years operating experience; revenue positive; focused on providing green products, sustainable services, or renewable energy
• Nonprofits: work with underserved communities; focused on both employment and the environment; existing or planned social enterprise that aims to fulfill the organization's overall mission
• If your organization meets these strict criteria, please download the Entrepreneur application.

CAP is always looking for solid financial opportunities in for profit and nonprofit businesses.  We have relationships with a variety of financing partners, and occasionally we will put together investment summaries of unique opportunities for circulation amongst this syndicate.  Please review the criteria below to see if you are eligible.  If so, please download and complete the application.

Criteria:  We are looking for both for-profit and non-profit enterprises that fulfill the mission of building an inclusive green economy.  In the case of for-profit businesses, we look for revenue-generating companies, with 1-3 years of operating experience, that are focused on providing green products, sustainable services, or renewable energy.  Women and minority business owners are encouraged to apply.  In the case of non-profits, we look for organizations that are working with underserved communities, attempting to provide pathways out of poverty.  In all cases, preference will be given to entities located in the following cities: Oakland, Albuquerque, Boston, Detroit, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Portland. 

Download the Application Now