The Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction will create and expand programs to help women and minority business owners as part of a grant from Wells Fargo.

The $25,000 grant will help fund coaching and classes offered through the Small Business Development Center as well as the business incubator and commercial kitchen programs and assistance with loan applications.

Helen Roe, interim executive director of the Business Incubator Center, said the funding will help in reaching out to women and minority business owners and getting them the information and assistance they need to start and grow their ventures.

“BIC is so appreciative of Wells Fargo not only for this extremely generous grant, but for their ongoing financial support in the past,” Roe said. “They are a key funder for many local nonprofits, and we’re happy to be one of the beneficiaries. We expect it to make a real difference to these individuals who want to start or expand a business and do it in a way that is sustainable and profitable.”

Over the past year alone, the Business Incubator Center has assisted 26 companies start and played a role in the creation and retention of a total of about 244 jobs. 

The center also provided 39 loans and 143 grants for a total of $1.2 million in funding for recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.