SBA Funding to Support WBC Network COVID-19 Program Innovations
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO) is accepting applications for the Women’s Business Centers (WBC) Resiliency and Recovery Demonstration Grant. The purpose of this opportunity is to continue or establish innovative projects that aim to improve service delivery, training, and support provided to women-owned businesses impacted by COVID-19.
This grant program is only open to existing SBA-funded WBCs. A total amount of approximately $2.7 million in funding is available for this program. SBA expects to make 14 awards of not more than $200,000 per award. There is no matching requirement. Successful respondents will demonstrate innovative approaches to service delivery for addressing the needs of women business owners adversely affected by COVID-19. Proposals must include detailed plans to continue or establish projects to improve service delivery, training, and support provided to women-owned businesses impacted by the pandemic. Additionally, applicants will provide counseling, technical and financial skill development, comprehensive business assessments, and mentoring services to women interested in starting or growing a small business.
“The growth and recovery of women-owned small businesses are essential to our nation’s economy. During the pandemic, we have seen our Women’s Business Centers continue to play an integral role in meeting the needs of women entrepreneurs during this challenging time. We also understand that as resource providers, they too have been impacted by the changing business landscape and have had to pivot to meet community needs,” said Natalie Madeira Cofield, Assistant Administrator for SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO). “With this funding, we will support WBCs programmatically that have established innovative programming to increase outreach to aspiring and current women entrepreneurs nationwide. We look forward to supporting organizations with deep connection and understanding of the unique needs of small, diverse, and rural communities across the country.”
Single Year Project awards will be made for a one-year period of performance. Additional information about the funding opportunity, including specific coverage areas and instructions on how to apply, can be found at www.grants.gov and searching “OWBO-21-01” or GrantSolutions.
Proposals responding to this program must be posted to www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), June 15, 2021. No other methods of submission will be permitted. Proposals submitted after the stipulated deadline will be rejected without being evaluated.
Direct any questions about the WBC funding opportunity to Donald Smith at Donald.Smith@sba.gov.
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