Deadline: 16-Aug-21
The Small Business Administration is offering Women’s Business Center (WBC) 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 mission of the WBC Program is to act as the catalyst for providing in-depth, substantive, outcome oriented 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
- Estimated Funding: 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.
- Expected Number of Awards: The SBA expects to make up to two (2) awards under this FOA.
- Period of Performance/Budget Periods: 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.
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 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.
For more information, visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=335095