Funding For Your Business

Cultural Capital

Cultural Capital is a micro-lending program through the GWDI offered in partnership with Citywide Development and Flyer Consulting, a pro-bono student consulting organization through the University of Dayton. Funds ranging from $500-$15,000 are offered to established businesses and startups that demonstrate the potential for growth but are not “bank ready” for traditional bank loans. Applications are open in the fall and spring semester of the UD academic school year; funds are limited per semester

Flyer Pitch Competition

The Flyer Pitch Competition is an annual competition sponsored by UD’s L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Greater West Dayton Incubator in partnership with PNC Bank and The Entrepreneur's Center. Flyer Pitch awards more than $100,000 in cash prizes and more than $50,000 in in-kind prizes during the competition. Over the nine month span of the competition, participants will have the opportunity to strengthen their venture through training, mentorship, and feedback from expert judges leading up to the live pitch presentation. The Flyer Pitch Competition is open to all University of Dayton students and Dayton community members.

Application will open again September 2025

Microenterprise Education and Loan Program

Those completing the 2025 class series may be eligible to apply for a matching forgivable loan, offering eligible businesses a reimbursement of up to $8,000.  To apply, businesses must have at least two years of operating income and meet HUDs definition of microenterprise: the business must have 5 or fewer employees including the owner who must be of low to moderate income.

Funds provided through this program are forgivable, provided the business:

  • Remains operational within Kettering, and

  • Stays current on Kettering taxes for at least one year after the last draw date.

The City strongly encourages applications from minority-, women-, veteran-, and disabled-owned businesses