The fastest grant to win in 2026 is the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 grant: complete two free courses on the platform, unlock the application, and Verizon selects 10 businesses every month from June through December 2026. Below are eight verified programs open to Hispanic and Latino business owners this year, each with the real dollar amount, who qualifies, and how to apply. Grants are competitive and most run on cycles, so the table at the end also lists the Latino-focused lenders that bridge the gap when a window closes.
On this page
- The short answer
- What counts as a grant for Hispanic-owned businesses
- The 8 programs (table)
- Program details
- When grants run out: Latino-focused lenders
- How to apply (5 steps)
- FAQ
The short answer {#the-short-answer}
There is no single federal "Hispanic business grant." Real money comes from three places: corporate small-business grant programs (Verizon, Comcast, FedEx), the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and its corporate partners (Wells Fargo, JPMorganChase via Elevate Together), and Latino-serving CDFIs and microlenders that offer low-cost capital when grant cycles are closed. The grants below are real and currently documented for 2026. Most pay $5,000 to $15,000.
What counts as a grant for Hispanic-owned businesses {#what-counts-as-a-grant}
> Definition: A Hispanic business grant is non-repayable funding awarded to a company that is at least 51% owned and controlled by a person of Hispanic or Latino heritage. Eligibility usually also requires U.S. operation, a minimum time in business, and sometimes a revenue cap or completed training. Unlike a loan, you do not pay it back, but you may owe taxes on it and must often report how the funds were used.
A point worth knowing before you spend hours applying: in FY2024, Latino-owned firms received just 8.3% of approved SBA 7(a) loan dollars versus 39.4% for white-owned firms, per a 2026 Brookings Institution analysis of SBA data. Grants and CDFI capital exist partly to close that gap, so apply to both.
The 8 programs {#the-8-programs}
| Program | Amount | Type | Who qualifies | How to apply / status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon Small Business Digital Ready | $10,000 | Grant | For-profit U.S./PR/USVI business, owner 18+, completed 2 courses/events on platform | Open. 10 selected monthly Jun–Dec 2026; decisions by Jan 12, 2027 |
| USHCC + Wells Fargo chamber grants | $5,000–$15,000 | Grant (via chamber) | Local Hispanic chambers and member businesses | Through local USHCC-affiliated chamber |
| USHCC + Elevate Together (JPMorganChase) | Varies (cash grants) | Grant | Member businesses in named cities (Chicago, Miami, Dallas, LA, Atlanta, more) | Through participating local chamber |
| Comcast RISE | $5,000 + tech/marketing package | Grant package | Independently owned, 2+ years, ≤100 employees, eligible region | 2026 cycle not yet announced (typically opens spring) |
| Accion Opportunity Fund | $5,000–$250,000 | Loan | 12+ months in business, credit from 600; 90%+ clients are women/POC/LMI | Open year-round at aofund.org |
| Grameen America | Up to $2,500 | Microloan | Women entrepreneurs; group lending, no credit score required | Open; form a 5-person group |
| Grow with Google (via USHCC) | $0 (free training/tools) | In-kind | USHCC members and entrepreneurs | Through USHCC programs page |
| SBA Microloan (via intermediaries) | Up to $50,000 | Loan | Small businesses and startups; through SBA-approved nonprofit lenders | Apply through a local SBA microlender |
Amounts and eligibility verified June 2026 from program sources (see fact-check note). Grant cycles change; confirm on the official site before applying.
Program details {#program-details}
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready ($10,000)
USHCC corporate grants (Wells Fargo, $5,000–$15,000)
Comcast RISE ($5,000 + package)
Grow with Google (free, via USHCC)
When grants run out: Latino-focused lenders {#latino-focused-lenders}
Grant cycles are competitive and seasonal. Latino-serving CDFIs and microlenders give you capital you can actually count on:
- Accion Opportunity Fund lends $5,000 to $250,000, works with credit scores as low as 600, and reports that more than 90% of its clients are women, people of color, or in low-to-moderate-income communities. You need at least 12 months in business.
- Grameen America offers microloans up to $2,500 to women entrepreneurs with no credit-score requirement, using a group-lending model that also helps you build personal credit.
- SBA Microloans of up to $50,000 are available through SBA-approved nonprofit intermediaries, many of which prioritize underserved founders.
Compare diversity-friendly banks and CDFIs side by side in our lender directory before you sign anything.
How to apply (5 steps) {#how-to-apply}
- Confirm you're 51% Hispanic/Latino-owned and operated. Most programs verify this, and a formal MBE certification strengthens every application.
- Get organized. Have your EIN, business formation docs, 1–2 years of tax returns or P&L, and a one-paragraph use-of-funds statement ready.
- Apply to the always-open option first. Create your Verizon Digital Ready account today and start the two required courses so you're eligible the moment you submit.
- Find your local USHCC chamber. Corporate grant dollars flow through chambers, so membership is often the gate to Wells Fargo and Elevate Together money.
- Line up a lender as backup. Submit a CDFI pre-qualification so you have capital regardless of whether a grant lands.
FAQ {#faq}
Are there free government grants for Hispanic-owned businesses? There is no federal grant reserved for Hispanic ownership. Federal support comes mostly through contracting set-asides and SBA-backed loans, not cash grants. The real grants come from corporations and the USHCC's corporate partners.
What is the easiest grant for a Latino business owner to get in 2026? The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready $10,000 grant. Eligibility only requires a free account and two completed courses or events, and Verizon selects 10 winners every month through December 2026.
Do I have to pay taxes on a business grant? Usually yes. Most business grants are treated as taxable income at the federal level. Set aside a portion and confirm with a tax professional.
Is Comcast RISE accepting applications in 2026? As of June 2026 the next cycle has not been announced. RISE has historically opened in spring; check ComcastRISE.com for the current window.
What if I don't qualify for a grant? Apply to a Latino-focused CDFI. Accion Opportunity Fund and Grameen America fund borrowers with thin credit, and SBA microloans go up to $50,000. Compare options in our lender directory.
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Last updated: June 7, 2026. Program amounts, eligibility, and deadlines verified against each program's official source (see fact-check note). Grant cycles change frequently; confirm details on the official site before applying.
