Increasing H.O.P.E.

Increasing H.O.P.E., a minority-owned, woman-owned, and veteran-owned nonprofit community development corporation based in North Charleston, South Carolina, received a $150,000 Project Grant awarded on September 30, 2025, under the Small Business Administration's Women's Business Ownership Assistance program (CFDA 59.043), administered by the Office of Entrepreneurial Development. The award supports the organization's operation of a Women's Business Center that delivers comprehensive financial education, business training, and mentoring services tailored specifically to women entrepreneurs facing barriers to capital access. Through this grant cycle, which extends through September 29, 2026, Increasing H.O.P.E. provides technical assistance in finance, management, and business development to economically disadvantaged women entrepreneurs and low-to-moderate income residents in its service region.

The organization leverages its longstanding experience administering federal grant funding to deliver services that promote economic self-sufficiency and small business development. As part of its broader community development mission, Increasing H.O.P.E. maintains detailed client activity records documenting the nature and variety of services provided and adheres to comprehensive financial management and reporting requirements mandated under the Women's Business Centers program.