SB-OEDWB-22-001 (MSI) | SB OEDWB 22 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for SB OEDWB 22 001

SB-OEDWB-22-001 (MSI) is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) discretionary grant opportunity under CFDA 59.043 focused on expanding entrepreneurial development support for women in Alaska, specifically in communities that fall outside the service areas of existing Women s Business Centers (WBCs). The central goal is to fund entrepreneurial training, counseling, and related small business assistance for women, with a clear emphasis on reaching socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs who often have fewer local resources and less access to mainstream business support networks.

The SBA indicates it intends to fund up to one private, nonprofit organization to deliver these services in Alaska. While the broader notice references expected awards, the narrative for this specific Alaska-focused effort is framed as a single award aimed at filling geographic gaps where WBC coverage is not currently available. The award ceiling listed is $150,000, positioning this as a relatively targeted investment meant to stand up or strengthen capacity to serve women entrepreneurs in underserved parts of the state.

Eligibility is centered on private nonprofit organizations that can provide services in Alaska and that have appropriate tax status. The announcement highlights 501(c) tax-exempt status as a requirement in the descriptive section, while the eligibility fields also mention certain nonprofit categories and an "others" category subject to clarification in the full notice. In practice, the opportunity is geared toward mission-driven nonprofit entities capable of delivering WBC-style entrepreneurial development services and meeting SBA program expectations.

A key nuance in the announcement is how it treats organizations with prior WBC experience. If an applicant is currently operating, or has operated, an SBA-funded WBC within the last five years, and is selected, the award would be made as an Initial Phase Project. Similarly, an organization that previously ran an SBA-funded WBC but is no longer operating may still apply; if selected, it would also be funded as an Initial Phase Project because the application would be treated as an effort to re-establish the WBC presence. This language signals that SBA is open both to new operators and to experienced organizations returning to the program, but it expects selected applicants to follow the structure and ramp-up approach associated with an initial phase award.

The FOA also makes an explicit outreach push to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and related entities because of their established role in serving disadvantaged markets. Examples named include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) associated with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with their auxiliary entities. The intent is to encourage these institutions, where eligible, to bring their community ties, pipelines, and culturally competent programming to entrepreneurship support for disadvantaged women entrepreneurs.

Religious organizations are also explicitly encouraged to apply, with the announcement underscoring that participation in the federal program does not require them to change their religious character or stop engaging in religious activities outside the grant-funded program. It also notes that such organizations do not have to give up federal statutory protections related to religious hiring decisions. This is included to clarify that faith-based nonprofits can compete for the funding on the same basis as other eligible nonprofits without being required to secularize their broader operations.

From an administrative standpoint, the submission rules are strict. Applications had to be submitted through Grants.gov only, with no alternative submission methods allowed. The deadline was 11:59:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on March 14, 2022. Late submissions were to be rejected without evaluation unless the applicant could clearly document, using Grants.gov documentation, that they attempted a timely submission and were prevented solely by Grants.gov system issues. The opportunity was created on February 2, 2022, and listed as closing on March 14, 2022, making it a relatively short application window.

In short, this FOA is a targeted SBA grant designed to extend WBC-type entrepreneurial development services to underserved areas of Alaska, prioritizing support for socially and economically disadvantaged women entrepreneurs, while actively encouraging applications from MSIs and faith-based nonprofits that can demonstrate the capacity to deliver high-quality, accessible business assistance within the state.

• The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SB-OEDWB-22-001 (MSI)" 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 Feb 02, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 14, 2022 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 50 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for SB OEDWB 22 001

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