Women’s Business Centers – United States

Deadline: 16-Aug-21

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is inviting proposals for the Women’s Business Centers to provide funding for multiple non-profit organizations that will provide services to the Territory of Puerto Rico to start a new, community-based.

The purpose of this FOA is to provide funding for up to two private, non-profit organizations that will provide entrepreneurial development services to women, with an emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, within the Territory of Puerto Rico.

Eligible applicants must be non-profit organizations with 501(c) tax-exempt status from the U.S. Treasury/Internal Revenue Service and must provide services to the Territory of Puerto Rico.

The mission of the WBC Program is to act as the catalyst for providing in-depth, substantive, outcomeoriented business services to women entrepreneurs, both nascent and established businesses, a representative number of which are socially and economically disadvantaged.

This mission is accomplished through the award of financial assistance to private, 501(c) certified non-profit organizations to enable them to affect substantial economic impact in their communities, as measured by successful business start-ups, job creation and retention, and increased company revenues.

Specifically, by statute WBC’s must:

Provide prospective entrepreneurs and existing small businesses with training, counseling, and specialized services. The services provided must relate to the formation, financing, management, and operation of small business enterprises.
Provide training and counseling services that enhance a small business concern’s ability to access capital, such as business plan development, financial statement preparation/analysis, and cash flow preparation/analysis.

Funding Information

Up to $ 300,000 in funding is available for this FOA. The SBA expects to provide funding for up to two (2) Initial Phase awards, each not to exceed $150,000.
Awards will be made for up to a five (5)-year period of performance, consisting of a base period of twelve (12) months from the date of award and four (4) option periods of twelve (12) months each. The exercise of option periods will be solely at the SBA’s discretion and is subject to continuing program authority, the availability of funds, and a non-Federal entity’s continued satisfactory performance and compliance with all the terms and conditions of the award. Each base and option period will constitute a separate and distinct twelve (12)-month Budget and Performance Period.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible for this FOA, applicants must be a private non-profit organization certified under 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and have experience providing technical services to women, with a special emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs.
To the extent that they satisfy all eligibility criteria the same as all other applicant organizations, Religious Organizations are entitled to compete for Federal financial assistance (grants and/or cooperative agreements) used to support government programs. Generally, such organizations are not required to alter their religious character to participate in a government program, nor to cease engaging in explicitly religious activities outside the program, nor effectively to relinquish their Federal statutory protections for religious hiring decisions.
Applicants must document as part of the narrative proposal that they:
- Will provide services to women and other entrepreneurs who are both socially- and economicallydisadvantaged.
- Continue to be organized and incorporated in the United States and remain in good standing in the state or territory of incorporation. A copy of the certificate of good standing or applicable document must be attached to the applicant’s technical proposal.
- Are a private not-for-profit or non-profit corporation with an active 501(c) Federal tax-exempt status certification from the United States Department of Treasury/Internal Revenue Service. A copy of the 501(c) designation letter must be attached to the applicant’s technical proposal.
- Will provide technical assistance to small business concerns owned and controlled by women.
- Have an established organizational infrastructure with an internal financial management system that currently meets the requirements.
- Are responsible for hiring, supervising, and employing staff enough to ensure that the WBC is open to the public a minimum of forty (40) hours a week including evening and weekend hours and to fully provide the services required under this FOA, the NOA, and the applicant’s proposal. Staff must include a full-time (forty (40) hours per week) program director whose time is dedicated one hundred percent (100%) to managing the day-to-day operations of the WBC as well as overseeing its staff, volunteers, and all financial aspects.