What is Start Up Muscatine?
Startup Muscatine is a Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry initiative focused on meeting all of Muscatine’s entrepreneurs, startups, and innovators at their point of need.
Events & Education
Third Thursday – Are you a Muscatine area entrepreneur, small business owner, or supporter of local small businesses? No matter if you have been in business for a while or just have an idea, we want to meet you! Network. Meet new friends. Learn where to get the support you need to succeed or learn how you can support others!
Educational Sessions – Startup Muscatine seeks to provide practical and meaningful educational programs to help entrepreneurs not only identify what kind of business they seek to become, but teach entrepreneurial principles in a nuts and bolts, no nonsense fashion.
Click here to download the checklist for How To Write Engaging Social Media Captions
Click here to download the checklist for Optimizing social media profiles
Starting a Business in Muscatine
As a companion resource to the SmartStart Dashboard, we have a booklet guide available that gives an overview of a wide range of resources and information available to help you start or support your business in Muscatine.
Financing & Incentives
#MAKEITMUSCATINE STARTUP GRANT – Muscatine’s first and only startup grant funding initiative makes $1,000 investments into its early-stage entrepreneurs looking to take a great idea and turn it into action.
#MAKEITMUSCATINE MICROLOAN – What is a microloan? It is a short-term loan with a low-interest rate that is offered to self-employed individuals or small businesses with only a few employees. Use a microloan to solve the small issues that will help you do big things. Borrow amounts from $1,000 up to $10,000 for working capital, purchasing inventory, buying equipment, machinery and hiring needs. Repayment terms vary based on amount, needs of borrower and use of funds. Typical periods range from 12 months to 36 months. Microloans offer interest rates that are lower than traditional lenders average market rate.
