Opportunity Information: Apply for OWBO 2008 028
Apply for OWBO 2008 028
- The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Office of Womens Business Ownership Program Announcement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.043 Womens Business Ownership Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 28, 2007 and posted on Dec 20, 2007.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 24, 2008 Closing date has been extended to 1/24/08. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Private 501(c) organizations that have successfully completed both a five year initial grant and a five year sustainability WBC grant and that continue to meet the program criteria as provided in the Eligibility section of the announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Office of Womens Business Ownership Program Announcement (Funding Opportunity No. OWBO 2008 028) is a U.S. Small Business Administration grant competition aimed specifically at existing Women s Business Centers (WBCs) that have already demonstrated long term performance. Rather than funding brand new centers, this opportunity invites women s business centers that have successfully completed both their initial five year WBC grant and a subsequent five year sustainability WBC grant, and that still meet all program requirements, to apply for a three year renewable award. The SBA makes these awards using cooperative agreements, which generally means the agency expects ongoing involvement and coordination during the project period, not just a one time transfer of funds.
The purpose of the funding is to keep experienced, high performing WBCs operating and delivering hands on services that help women start and grow small businesses. Funded centers are expected to provide business training, one on one counseling, mentoring, and other forms of technical assistance for women entrepreneurs, with a particular emphasis on supporting women who are socially or economically disadvantaged. The WBC model is described as community based, and the program is grounded in federal law under Section 29(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(1), as amended by Public Law 109 108), which authorizes SBA support for these kinds of entrepreneurship development services.
A key program requirement is that a women s business center must operate as a distinct unit within the recipient organization. In practical terms, that means the WBC cannot be an informal activity buried inside a larger nonprofit; it must have its own identifiable project structure and dedicated budget covering staffing, facilities, equipment, and the other resources needed to carry out the work. Service delivery must span core small business competency areas, including financial assistance, management, marketing, Internet and electronic commerce, and support related to government procurement and certification. While these core services are required, applicants are allowed to tailor programming toward particular populations or business types, such as women veterans, women with disabilities, women in agribusiness, home based businesses, manufacturing, rural communities, or inner city areas.
Financially, the grant includes a cost sharing requirement. Awardees must provide non federal matching funds at a 1:1 ratio, meaning one non federal dollar for every federal dollar awarded. The announcement specifies that up to 50 percent of the match can be provided as in kind contributions, but at least 50 percent of the match must be cash, so applicants need a realistic and documentable fundraising plan and committed sources of cash support. The funding details in the listing indicate up to about 20 expected awards, with an award ceiling of $100,000 and no stated minimum award floor.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted in late December 2007, with the closing date extended to January 24, 2008 (and an archive date of January 25, 2008). The CFDA program number associated with the opportunity is 59.043, Womens Business Ownership Assistance. Eligible applicants are described as private 501(c) organizations that meet the prior grant completion requirement and continue to satisfy the eligibility and program criteria stated in the full announcement. For questions or access issues, SBA directs applicants to contact the Office of Womens Business Ownership at OWBO@sba.gov, and it also provides an informational link to SBA s online WBC resources.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is this funding opportunity?
This is the Office of Womens Business Ownership (OWBO) Program Announcement (Funding Opportunity No. OWBO 2008 028), a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) grant competition for eligible Women s Business Centers (WBCs).
2. Who is this opportunity meant for?
The competition is aimed specifically at existing Women s Business Centers that have already demonstrated long term performance and that continue to meet all program requirements.
3. Does this grant fund new Women s Business Centers?
No. This opportunity is not for creating brand new centers. It is designed for established WBCs that have already completed prior SBA WBC grant periods and are operating successfully.
4. What prior grant experience is required to be eligible?
To apply, a WBC must have successfully completed both (1) its initial five year WBC grant and (2) a subsequent five year sustainability WBC grant, and must still meet the program requirements described in the announcement.
5. What type of award does SBA use for this program?
SBA makes awards using cooperative agreements. This generally means SBA expects ongoing involvement and coordination during the project period, rather than a one time transfer of funds.
6. What is the purpose of the funding?
The purpose is to keep experienced, high performing WBCs operating and delivering hands on services that help women start and grow small businesses.
7. What services are funded WBCs expected to provide?
Funded centers are expected to provide business training, one on one counseling, mentoring, and other forms of technical assistance for women entrepreneurs, with a particular emphasis on supporting women who are socially or economically disadvantaged.
8. What are the required core service areas?
Service delivery must span core small business competency areas, including financial assistance, management, marketing, Internet and electronic commerce, and support related to government procurement and certification.
9. Can a WBC tailor services to specific groups or industries?
Yes. While core services are required, applicants may tailor programming toward particular populations or business types, such as women veterans, women with disabilities, women in agribusiness, home based businesses, manufacturing, rural communities, or inner city areas.
10. Does the WBC have to be organizationally separate within the recipient organization?
Yes. A key requirement is that the WBC must operate as a distinct unit within the recipient organization, with an identifiable project structure and a dedicated budget.
11. What does a "distinct unit" requirement imply in practical terms?
It means the WBC cannot be an informal activity within a larger organization. The center should have a dedicated budget covering staffing, facilities, equipment, and other resources needed to carry out the work.
12. Is there a cost sharing or match requirement?
Yes. Awardees must provide non federal matching funds at a 1:1 ratio, meaning one non federal dollar for every federal dollar awarded.
13. How much of the required match can be in kind?
Up to 50 percent of the match may be provided as in kind contributions.
14. How much of the required match must be cash?
At least 50 percent of the match must be cash. The announcement emphasizes the need for a realistic, documentable fundraising plan and committed sources of cash support.
15. How many awards does SBA expect to make?
The listing indicates up to about 20 expected awards.
16. What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling is $100,000.
17. Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum award floor is stated in the information provided.
18. What is the award period?
Eligible WBCs may apply for a three year renewable award.
19. What is the CFDA program number for this opportunity?
The CFDA program number associated with the opportunity is 59.043, Womens Business Ownership Assistance.
20. What kind of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are described as private 501(c) organizations that meet the prior grant completion requirement and continue to satisfy the eligibility and program criteria stated in the full announcement.
21. What is the legal authority behind the WBC program?
The program is grounded in federal law under Section 29(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(1), as amended by Public Law 109 108), which authorizes SBA support for entrepreneurship development services delivered through the WBC model.
22. When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted in late December 2007. The closing date was extended to January 24, 2008. The archive date is January 25, 2008.
23. Who can applicants contact for questions or access issues?
SBA directs applicants to contact the Office of Womens Business Ownership at OWBO@sba.gov for questions or access issues.
24. Is this program described as community based?
Yes. The WBC model is described as community based.
25. What is the primary audience or focus of services under this program?
The primary focus is helping women entrepreneurs start and grow small businesses, with particular emphasis on serving women who are socially or economically disadvantaged.
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