Business.gov - The Official Business Link to the U.S. Government
Loans & Grants Search API
Description
Business.gov's Loans & Grants Search API provides access to a collection of links to Federal, state, and local financial assistance programs that help small businesses get started or expand operations. Each program is categorized to several attributes, including specialized types of financing (e.g., start-up loans for women entrepreneurs).
The base URL for all calls to the Loans & Grants Search API is http://api.business.gov/loans_grants/.
The API is RESTful and output formats are available in XML and JSON.
Methods
The following methods will return information on small business financing programs in the Loans & Grant Search database.
- Federal Programs
Returns financing programs available from Federal government agencies and select non-profit organizations nationwide. - State-Specific Programs
Returns financing programs available from state and local government agencies and select non-profit organizations operating within a specific state. - Federal and State-Specific Programs
Returns both Federal and state programs. - Programs by Industry
Returns financing programs for specific industries. - Programs by Specialty
Returns financing programs for specific business groups (e.g., women, minorities, veterans, etc.) or specialized business activities (e.g. export, energy efficiency, disaster recovery, etc.). - Programs by Industry and Specialty
Returns financing programs for specific industries AND specific business groups or specialized business activities. - Programs by State and Industry
Returns all financing programs for a specific industry in a specific state. - Programs by State and Specialty
Returns state programs for specific business groups or specialized business activities. - Programs by State, Industry and Specialty
Returns state programs by industry and specific business groups or specialized business activities.
Return Values
Each result from the Loans & Grants Search API contains many fields, that contain descriptive data about the result. Complete descriptions of each field are found below:
| Tag Name | Description | Length | Data Type | Possible Values |
| state_name | The state in which this loan/grant is applicable | 25 | String | State or territory name (or nil if the loan/grant is not state-specific) |
| gov_type | This specifies whether the loan/grant is applicable nationally (Federal) or limited to a particular state (State) | 50 | String | Federal, State, Private, Local |
| loan_type | This column specifies whether this is a Loan, Grant, Venture Capital offering, or tax incentive. | 45 | String | Grant, Loan, Venture Capital, Tax Incentive |
| agency | The agency offering this loan/grant | 200 | String | Any String |
| industry | The industry to which this loan/grant applies | 45 | String | Any String |
| title | The title of the loan/grant | 400 | String | Any String |
| description | A brief description of the loan/grant | 600 | String | Any String |
| url | The url of the website where more information may be found | 600 | String | Any valid URL |
| is_general_purpose | This column specifies whether this loan is general purpose | 1 | Integer | 0, 1 |
| is_development | This column specifies whether this loan is applicable to businesses involved in development | 1 | Integer | 0, 1 |
| is_exporting | This column specifies whether this loan is applicable to business involved in exporting | 1 | Integer | 0, 1 |
| is_contractor | This column specifies whether this loan is restricted to contractors | 1 | Integer | 0, 1 |
| is_green | This column specifies whether this loan is directed towards businesses that promote environmentally friendly practices | 1 | Integer | 0, 1 |
| is_military | This column specifies whether this loan is restricted to businesses owned by military personnel | 1 | Integer | 0, 1 |
| is_minority | This column specifies whether this loan is specifically for minority owned businesses | 1 | Integer | 0, 1 |
| is_woman | This column specifies whether this loan is restricted to woman owned businesses | 1 | Integer | 0, 1 |
| is_disabled | This column specifies whether this loan/grant is for the use of disabled persons only | 1 | Integer | 0, 1 |
| is_rural | This column specifies whether this loan/grant is permitted for use in rural areas | 1 | Integer | 0, 1 |
| is_disaster | This column specifies whether this grant/loan can be used for disaster relief | 1 | Integer | 0, 1 |
