Minority Business Accelerator 2026

The Minority Business Accelerator (MBA) is a 12-week program for entrepreneurs of various experience levels focused on doing business in Georgetown County. The program features business development sessions and workshops covering Legal Structure, Marketing, Finance, Budgets, Funding, Market Research, Networking, Risk Management, Business Plans and more.

At the conclusion of the program, participants will have the opportunity to pitch their Business Plans. One entrepreneur will be selected to receive a business development grant of $5,000.

Applicants accepted into the program will be notified by December 8. Classes begin January 13, 2026, and are held on the following dates (Tuesday evenings) in 2026:

January 13
January 27
February 3
February 17
February 24
March 10
March 24
March 31
April 14
April 28
May 12
May 26

APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 4, 2025 by 12 noon.

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* 1. Name

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* 2. Business Name:

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* 3. Doing Business As (DBA) Name if different from above:

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* 4. Preferred Email:

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* 5. Business Phone Number

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* 6. Cell Phone Number

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* 7. Business Physical Address

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* 8. Business Mailing Address if different from above

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* 9. Industry:

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* 10. Business Website:

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* 11. Provide links to Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn, etc. for your business.

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* 12. Please provide a brief description of your business.

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* 13. Does your business provide a service or a product?

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* 14. When did you start your business?

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* 15. Where do you primarily do business?

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* 16. Number of Employees: (Please count yourself when answering this question.)

Full-time

Part-time

Contractors

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* 17. Are you the 100% owner?

YES

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* 18. If you are not the 100% owner, what percentage of this business do you own?

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* 19. Please select all the categories that apply to you as the applicant:

Asian

Black or African American

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

White or Caucasian

American Indian

Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish Origin

Veteran

Female

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* 20. What is your current employment status?

Employed Full-time (outside of my business)

Employed Part-time (outside of my business)

Self-Employed

Student

Retired

Unemployed

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* 21. What does your business need the most to grow or thrive?

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* 22. What is your approximate annual BUSINESS income?

Less than $20,000

$20,000 to $34,999

$35,000 to $49,999

$50,000 to $74,999

$75,000 to $99,000

Over $100,000

Over $200,000

Over $300,000

Over $400,000

Over $500,000

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* 23. Have you applied or are you planning to apply for a small business loan? If so, please specify the type of loan below.

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* 24. How did you hear about this program?

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* 25. Were you referred by anyone? If so, who?

Do you have any questions about this program or about the application? Call the Chamber at 843.546.8436.

Program Acknowledgement:

Please sign below to acknowledge your understanding that this form constitutes an application only, and acceptance into the program will be based on a review by the program team and available space.

If accepted, you are committing to attend all sessions of the core program. You understand that, if accepted, you must participate in all class sessions in order to pitch your Business Plan for business grant funding. Each participant is allowed 1 excused absence to still be eligible to pitch your Business Plan.

You also acknowledge that in order to participate in the pitch session, your business must be conducted within and/or have impact in Georgetown County.

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* 26. Signature

Deadline for receiving completed applications is DECEMBER 4 by 12 noon.