Technical Assistance

SBA: Funding Opportunity to Provide Entrepreneurship Training to Service-Disabled Veterans Announced

Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced a new funding opportunity for eligible non-profit organizations, state and local government agencies, private sector firms, and institutions of higher learning to provide entrepreneurship training to service-disabled veterans. The awarded organization(s) can use the funding to market, deliver, and scale existing service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs’ training programs for veterans, service-disabled veterans,…

EDA: Last Week, Over $15 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds Invested

Last week, the following grants were made under the American Rescue Plan Funds program and the CARES Act Recovery Assistance program: July 6, 2022 – U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $2.5 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Establish Business Incubator in Fairhope, Alabama July 5, 2022 – U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $7.2 Million in American…

SBA: Landmark Collaboration with Historically Black Fraternities and Sororities to Address the Wealth Gap Through Black Entrepreneurship Announced

First of its Kind Agreement That Will Focus on Improving Financial Literacy, Outreach and Capital Access Opportunities Across Communities Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 32.5 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM)–an authority unique to the SBA among federal agencies–with…

EDA: $1.6 Million Invested to Establish Business Incubator in Charleston, WV

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.6 million grant to the University of Charleston, Charleston, West Virginia, to establish the Downtown Innovation Hub, a local business incubator. This project will assist small businesses to create new jobs and economic opportunities. This EDA…

EDA: $500,000 Invested to Support Tech-Based Entrepreneurs in Baton Rouge, LA

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $500,000 grant to Research Park Corporation dba Nexus Louisiana, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to spur tech-based entrepreneurial growth. This EDA investment will allow Nexus Louisiana to increase planning, outreach, and training assistance to tech-based startups through its Ignition Accelerator and Venture Capital Assistance…

SBA: Five New Women’s Business Centers Announced and to be Operated by Minority Serving Institutions

The latest SBA investment triples the number of Women’s Business Centers at HBCUs in support of women entrepreneurs Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 32.5 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced the selection of five new Women’s Business Centers (WBC) operated by established Minority Serving…

EDA: $789,724 Invested to Expand an Entrepreneurial Training Program in Charleston, SC

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $789,724 grant to Lowcountry Local First, Charleston, South Carolina, to support their Good Growth Program. This project will support an initiative to expand the Good Enterprises entrepreneur training and support program. The project will be matched with $306,087 in state and local…

USDA and EDA Launch Resource Guide to Boost Economic Development in Rural Communities

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small and U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Assistant Secretary Alejandra Y. Castillo today released a joint resource guide to help community organizations access USDA and EDA resources to build strategies to boost economic development in rural America. “America’s rural communities are critical to the success of…

SBA: T.H.R.I.V.E., Executive Level Business Training for Entrepreneurs Ready to Maximize Their Full Potential, Launched

Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 32.5 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, announced the launch of T.H.R.I.V.E. (Train, Hope, Rise, Innovate, Venture, Elevate), a reimagined training program for small business leaders, formerly known as Emerging Leaders. “T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined initiative will provide up-and-coming small business leaders with…

SBA: Two New Courses Introduced on Partnerships and Entrepreneurial Leadership in the Ascent Online Digital Learning Platform

The digital tool provides women-owned small businesses resources to drive growth through business partnerships, building and refining leadership skills Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the launch of two new educational modules. Ascent is a digital platform comprised of targeted education modules, called Journeys, that gives small business owners 24/7 access to critical information backed by research and addresses…