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.Apply for SB OEDWB 21 002
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the name of this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Women’s Business Center (WBC) - Initial Phase grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
2. What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SB OEDWB 21 002.
3. What is the main purpose of the WBC - Initial Phase award?
The purpose is to help launch new, community-based Women’s Business Centers in the Territory of Puerto Rico and begin delivering hands-on technical assistance to women entrepreneurs, including both aspiring entrepreneurs and owners of established businesses.
4. Where must the funded Women’s Business Centers provide services?
The centers supported under this opportunity are intended to serve the Territory of Puerto Rico.
5. What kinds of services are expected to be delivered through the WBC program?
The funded WBC program is expected to provide hands-on technical assistance and skill-building support in practical areas such as finance, management, and marketing, along with other related topics described in the announcement.
6. Who is the intended client base for the WBC services?
The WBC is meant to serve women entrepreneurs at different stages, including individuals exploring a business idea and those already operating established businesses.
7. Is there a specific requirement to serve disadvantaged populations?
Yes. A key expectation is that the WBC client base must include a representative share of socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The center is expected to intentionally reach and serve women who face barriers to capital, education, networks, and other resources.
8. Can the WBC operate as a general small business help desk?
Not by itself. The opportunity emphasizes that the WBC must intentionally reach and serve women, including those who are socially and economically disadvantaged, rather than functioning only as a general small business resource desk.
9. Can the Women’s Business Center be housed within a larger organization?
Yes. The WBC may be housed within a larger organization (for example, 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.
10. Is this award a standard grant or something else?
This funding is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement, not a simple grant. That typically means SBA will have a more involved relationship during execution, with federal involvement and oversight consistent with cooperative agreements.
11. What is the overall project period structure (base period and option years)?
The FOA describes a base period followed by option periods. It references a base period of 12 months with four additional 12-month option periods, and it also notes the initial award is issued for a 6-month base period with up to four additional 12-month option years.
12. Is continued funding guaranteed after the initial period?
No. Continued funding is not automatic. The option years may be exercised depending on available funding and the center’s performance in the prior period.
13. What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $150,000.
14. How many awards does the SBA expect to make?
The SBA expects to make about two awards.
15. Who is eligible to apply?
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.
16. What is the CFDA number associated with this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 59.043.
17. What assistance category does this opportunity fall under?
The assistance is categorized under Business and Commerce.
18. What legal authority supports the Women’s Business Center program?
The authority is grounded in the Small Business Act, specifically Sections 2(h) and 29 (15 U.S.C. 631(h) and 656), as amended.
19. Is cost sharing (matching funds) required?
Yes. Cost sharing is a major feature of this opportunity, and recipients must provide non-federal matching funds at ratios that increase over time.
20. What is the required match during the base period and the first option year?
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).
21. What is the required match for years three through five?
For years three through five, the match becomes one non-federal dollar for every one federal dollar (a 1:1 match).
22. Does the match have to be cash?
At least 50 percent of the non-federal match must be cash.
23. Can program income count toward the cash match requirement?
Yes. The cash match can include program income, such as fees earned from delivering services.
24. Can in-kind contributions be used as part of the match?
Yes. The portion of the match not required to be cash may be provided through allowable in-kind contributions.
25. Why does the funding require an increasing match over time?
The match structure is designed to encourage the WBC to develop financial sustainability and community investment over time rather than relying solely on federal funding long-term.
26. When was this opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on August 3, 2021, and the original closing date was August 16, 2021.
27. What is the overall intent for timing and rollout of services in Puerto Rico?
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.
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