Women's Business Center- Initial Phase | SB OEDWB 21 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for SB OEDWB 21 002

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering the Women’s Business Center (WBC) - Initial Phase grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: SB OEDWB 21 002) to help launch new, community-based Women’s Business Centers that will serve the Territory of Puerto Rico. The core goal is to fund multiple nonprofit-led efforts that can stand up a clearly defined WBC program and begin delivering hands-on technical assistance to women entrepreneurs, including both people who are still exploring a business idea and those who already own and operate established businesses. The services supported under this opportunity are meant to strengthen participants’ skills in practical areas like finance, management, and marketing, along with other related topics described in the announcement.

A key program expectation is that the center’s client base must include a representative share of socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. In practice, that means the WBC cannot operate as a general small business help desk alone; it must intentionally reach and serve women who face barriers to capital, education, networks, and other resources that make business formation and growth harder. The WBC can be housed within a larger organization, such as an economic development nonprofit, but it must be clearly identifiable as a separate program or project with its own presence, services, and accountability, even if it leverages shared administrative capacity or community resources from the parent organization.

This funding is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement (not a simple grant), which typically implies a more involved relationship with the SBA during execution, including federal involvement and oversight consistent with cooperative agreements. The announced project design includes an initial base period followed by option periods. The FOA describes a base period of 12 months with four additional 12-month option periods, but it also notes that the initial award is issued for a 6-month base period, with up to four additional 12-month option years that may be exercised depending on available funding and the center’s performance in the prior period. In other words, recipients should plan for a phased build-out where continued funding is not automatic and is tied to both performance and federal budget availability.

The award ceiling is $150,000, and the SBA expects to make about two awards. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (also other than institutions of higher education), and private institutions of higher education. The assistance is categorized under Business and Commerce, and the program is listed under CFDA 59.043. The authority for the program is grounded in the Small Business Act, specifically Sections 2(h) and 29 (15 U.S.C. 631(h) and 656), as amended, which is the statutory basis for the SBA’s Women’s Business Center program.

Cost sharing is a major feature of this opportunity. Recipients must provide non-federal matching funds at a set ratio that becomes more demanding over time: during the base period and the first option year, the match is one non-federal dollar for every two federal dollars (a 1:2 match). For years three through five, the match becomes one non-federal dollar for every one federal dollar (a 1:1 match). At least 50 percent of the non-federal match must be cash, and that cash can include program income such as fees earned from delivering services. The remaining portion of the match can be provided through allowable in-kind contributions. This structure is designed to ensure the WBC develops financial sustainability and community investment, rather than relying solely on federal dollars long-term.

Timing details in the source data show the opportunity was created on August 3, 2021, with an original closing date of August 16, 2021. Overall, the opportunity is aimed at quickly establishing or expanding capacity in Puerto Rico to deliver consistent, measurable business advising and training to women entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on reaching disadvantaged populations and demonstrating strong performance to earn continued option-year support.

• The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Women's Business Center- Initial Phase" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.043.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 03, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 16, 2021 No Explanation. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for SB OEDWB 21 002

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