There are plenty of grants available for starting a small business. You can apply for federal grants, but they are mostly open to businesses in the science, tech, and health industries. The Department of Energy, NASA, the Department of Defense, the National Institute of Food & Agriculture, and the Rural Energy for America Program are also some examples of government backers for business financing.
This is one of the best ways to get small-business loans for minorities and other disadvantaged groups. Each state also offers a special grant for its residents, and you can also apply for SBA grants, although the requirements are pretty high.