The Hill Institute helps aspiring entrepreneurs and founders launch social and entrepreneurial ventures. Ideal for students, supporters or the greater-Greenville business community, the Hill Institute provides a supportive entrepreneurial community.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Funding Opportunity Exchange is a directory of all available energy-related funding opportunities nationwide.

The purpose of this first-of-its-kind, blended finance investment and innovation platform is to raise $100M to scale food waste reduction solutions by mobilizing critical capital into the sector. With an emphasis on catalytic funding, the platform is designed to provide private and philanthropic financing and other support for organizations, municipalities, and innovators that are developing solutions to help reduce the 35% of food that goes unsold or uneaten annually.

The DOE Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Program & Funding Opportunities include up 60 new DOE programs, including 16 demonstration and 32 deployment programs, and expands funding for 12 existing Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment (RDD&D) programs over the next five years. See the full list of funding announcements and opportunities.

The SBA offers disaster assistance in the form of low interest loans to businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters located in regions affected by declared disasters. SBA also provides eligible small businesses and nonprofit organizations with working capital to help overcome the economic injury of a declared disaster.

The Lowcountry Minority Business Accelerator uses the award winning and internationally-recognized StreetWise ‘MBA’™ curriculum created by Interise. The curriculum aids business owners in developing a three-year Strategic Growth Action Plan™, which is customized to their individual business and details the strategies and tactics the owner and staff will take to increase revenue, financial management and improve access to capital.

During the 12-month program, participants will learn:

• Business development strategies
• Strategic planning
• Financial management and analysis
• Human resources
• Accessing capital
• Securing corporate and government contracts

Become a member of the South Carolina Healthy Business Challenge and reap the rewards. Enjoy a suite of services, access to networking seminars, and be eligible for recognition as a certified South Carolina Healthy Business.

Once registered, participants will have access to best practice resources to assist businesses and organizations in their efforts to create a culture of wellbeing as a SCHBC Member. 

SCHBC Members will also be invited to attend exclusive educational seminars featuring renowned speakers and a wide variety of topics related to wellbeing including:

• Wellness Culture & Environment

• Risk Assessment & Outreach

• Nutrition & Food Environment

• Physical Activity

• Tobacco-Free

• Emotional & Mental Wellbeing

• Financial Wellbeing

• Engagement Strategies

• Evaluation

• Workplace Health & Safety

• Professional Fulfillment 

Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) – Working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes meet their ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of the disaster. These loans are intended to assist through the disaster recovery period. 

Under the recent, regional drought declaration, the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available to eligible farm-related and nonfarm-related entities that suffered financial losses as a direct result of this disaster. Apart from aquaculture enterprises, SBA cannot provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers or ranchers. Nurseries are eligible to apply for economic injury disaster loans for losses caused by drought conditions. 

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at 
https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance. 

In August 2016, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) awarded Catawba Regional grant funding of $1,040,000 to start an agribusiness revolving loan fund. Loans will be available to family farmers, agribusinesses, and aquaculture companies in 35 counties across the state.

South Carolina Agribusiness Loan funds can be used in conjunction with bank financing to fund up to 90% of eligible project costs. A market interest rate and negotiable terms can significantly lower overall debt service.

SC Agribusiness Loan General Guidelines:

• Loan amounts from $50,000 - $400,000
• Fixed Interest Rate
• Negotiable Terms
• Legal fees vary
• Uses for Loan Funds include: Land; Building; Building Expansion; Machinery Equipment; Working Capital; Agricultural & Farm

Find out more and apply.

Grow a More Profitable, Efficient, and Competitive Business

The U.S. Small Business Administration’s T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined is a 6-month intensive training program that helps CEOs and Executives get unstuck and take their business to the next level. Accelerate your leadership skills, learn an MBA-level curriculum, receive tailored business coaching, and build relationships with a community of business owners, advisors and experts. Learn more about qualifying participants and how to apply.