Discretionary Funds for Refugee Microenterprise Development Projects

The Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has supported the field of microenterprise development since 1991 with discretionary grants to various public agencies, community economic development agencies, community action and other human service agencies, local mutual assistance associations, and voluntary agencies. Organizations with successful programs have typically been those with a long-term commitment to microenterprise, particularly access to lending, and to its adaptation to the refugee experience. They have committed agency resources to support refugee programs and their work in refugee microenterprise development has been consistent with the overall agency mission.