Opportunity Information: Apply for OWBO 2008 029
Apply for OWBO 2008 029
- 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 01/24/08. (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 $125,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 14 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 Women's Business Ownership (OWBO) Program Announcement (Funding Opportunity No. OWBO 2008 029) is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) competitive funding opportunity designed specifically for existing Women"s Business Centers (WBCs) that have already demonstrated long-term program performance under prior SBA support. The announcement invites eligible centers to apply for a three-year renewable award structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the SBA expects to have substantial involvement in the funded project rather than providing a hands-off grant. The overall purpose is to ensure continuity and quality of WBC services that help women entrepreneurs start, stabilize, and expand small businesses through practical technical assistance.
Eligibility is limited and targeted. Applicants must be private nonprofit organizations with 501(c) status that have successfully completed both (1) a five-year initial WBC grant and (2) a five-year sustainability WBC grant, and must continue to meet the WBC program requirements described in the announcement. In other words, this is not an entry-level opportunity to create a new center; it is intended for established centers with a proven track record under SBA funding and continued compliance with program criteria.
Funded activities focus on delivering long-term, community-based business development services for women who own and control small businesses or who are preparing to launch one, with an emphasis on reaching women who are socially or economically disadvantaged. The WBC must operate as a distinct, identifiable unit within the recipient organization, with its own dedicated budget covering staffing, facilities, equipment, and other resources needed to deliver services. Required service areas include financial assistance and literacy, management guidance, marketing support, Internet and electronic commerce training, and help with government procurement and certification processes. While the centers must cover these core service categories, they may also tailor programming to specialized populations or sectors such as women veterans, women with disabilities, agribusiness entrepreneurs, home-based businesses, manufacturing firms, and women in rural communities or inner-city areas.
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement with a one-year base period plus two option years, making the maximum project period three years, contingent on available funding and satisfactory performance. The opportunity anticipated up to 14 awards. The stated award ceiling is $125,000, with a floor of $0 (which typically indicates there is no guaranteed minimum award amount and that award sizes can vary based on SBA decisions and available appropriations). The program is listed under CFDA 59.043, Women"s Business Ownership Assistance, and falls under the Business and Commerce activity category.
A significant feature of this opportunity is the cost-sharing requirement. Award recipients must provide a dollar-for-dollar non-federal match: one non-federal dollar for every federal dollar awarded. The match must be at least 50 percent cash, while up to 50 percent may be provided through allowable in-kind contributions. This structure reinforces that WBCs must have strong community support and sustainable funding partners rather than relying entirely on federal dollars.
Key administrative details in the posting include a posted date of December 20, 2007, with the closing date extended to January 24, 2008 (archived January 25, 2008). Questions and access issues related to the full announcement are directed to the SBA Office of Women"s Business Ownership via OWBO@sba.gov, and additional program information is referenced through the SBA WBC webpage. The authorizing legal basis cited for the program is Section 29(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(1)), as amended by Public Law 109-108.
FAQs: SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO) Program Announcement (Funding Opportunity No. OWBO 2008 029)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO) competitive funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity No. OWBO 2008 029) intended to support established Women's Business Centers (WBCs) that have already demonstrated long-term performance under prior SBA support. The purpose is continuity and quality of WBC services that help women entrepreneurs start, stabilize, and expand small businesses through practical technical assistance.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means SBA expects substantial involvement in the funded project, rather than providing a hands-off grant.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to private nonprofit organizations with 501(c) status that have successfully completed both (1) a five-year initial WBC grant and (2) a five-year sustainability WBC grant, and that continue to meet the WBC program requirements described in the announcement.
Can a new Women's Business Center apply to start up operations?
No. This opportunity is not an entry-level program to create a new center. It is targeted to established WBCs with a proven track record under SBA funding and ongoing compliance with WBC program criteria.
What is the overall purpose of the funded project?
The purpose is to ensure continuity and quality of long-term, community-based business development services that help women entrepreneurs start, stabilize, and expand small businesses through practical technical assistance.
Who are the intended clients or beneficiaries of WBC services under this award?
Services are aimed at women who own and control small businesses and women preparing to launch a small business, with an emphasis on reaching women who are socially or economically disadvantaged.
What services are WBCs required to provide?
Required service areas include financial assistance and literacy, management guidance, marketing support, Internet and electronic commerce training, and help with government procurement and certification processes.
Can a center tailor programming to specific groups or industries?
Yes. While centers must cover the core service categories, they may tailor programming to specialized populations or sectors such as women veterans, women with disabilities, agribusiness entrepreneurs, home-based businesses, manufacturing firms, and women in rural communities or inner-city areas.
Does the WBC need to be a separate unit within the applicant organization?
Yes. The WBC must operate as a distinct, identifiable unit within the recipient organization, with its own dedicated budget covering staffing, facilities, equipment, and other resources needed to deliver services.
What is the project period and how is it structured?
The maximum project period is three years, structured as a one-year base period plus two option years. Continuation into option years is contingent on available funding and satisfactory performance.
How many awards does SBA anticipate making?
The opportunity anticipated up to 14 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The stated award ceiling is $125,000.
What does it mean that the award floor is $0?
The listed floor of $0 generally indicates there is no guaranteed minimum award amount, and award sizes can vary based on SBA decisions and available appropriations.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Recipients must provide a dollar-for-dollar non-federal match (one non-federal dollar for every federal dollar awarded).
How much of the match must be cash versus in-kind?
At least 50 percent of the required match must be cash. Up to 50 percent of the match may be provided through allowable in-kind contributions.
Why is there a matching requirement?
The matching structure is designed to reinforce that WBCs have strong community support and sustainable funding partners rather than relying entirely on federal dollars.
What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 59.043, Women's Business Ownership Assistance.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
It falls under the Business and Commerce activity category.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting date is December 20, 2007. The closing date was extended to January 24, 2008, and the opportunity was archived on January 25, 2008.
Who should applicants contact with questions or access issues related to the full announcement?
Questions and access issues are directed to the SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership via OWBO@sba.gov.
Where can applicants find additional program information?
Additional program information is referenced through the SBA WBC webpage (as noted in the posting).
What is the legal authority for this program?
The authorizing legal basis cited is Section 29(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(1)), as amended by Public Law 109-108.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (OWBO 2008 029) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Office of Womens Business Ownership Program Announcement Apply for OWBO 2008 030 Funding Number: OWBO 2008 030 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| SBA Emerging 200 Initiative Apply for GCBD 2008 01 Funding Number: GCBD 2008 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Portable Assistance Project Apply for SBDC 2008 04 Funding Number: SBDC 2008 04 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Portable Assistance Project Apply for OSBDC 2008 04 Funding Number: OSBDC 2008 04 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Veterans Business Outreach Center Program Apply for VBOC 2008 003 Funding Number: VBOC 2008 003 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Womens Business Center Program Renewable Grant Apply for OWBO 2008 031 Funding Number: OWBO 2008 031 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Small Business Development Center Apply for OSBDC 2009 01 Funding Number: OSBDC 2009 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $5,820,330 |
| Small Business Development Center Apply for OSBDC 2009 02 Funding Number: OSBDC 2009 02 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $5,820,330 |
| Small Business Sustainability Initiative Apply for OSBDC 2008 06 Funding Number: OSBDC 2008 06 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| The Small National Information Clearinghouse Apply for OSBDC 2009 03 Funding Number: OSBDC 2009 03 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Afghan Womens Empowerment through a Sub Grant Umbrella Mechanism (AWESUM) Apply for RFA306 09 0500 Funding Number: RFA306 09 0500 Agency: Afghanistan USAID Kabul Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $26,300,000 |
| Supplemental Funding to Small Business Development Centers to Assist Businesses Affected by Natural Disasters in 2008 Apply for OSBDC 2009 04 Funding Number: OSBDC 2009 04 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $6,000,000 |
| Womens Business Center Renewal Grants Apply for OWBO 2009 02 Funding Number: OWBO 2009 02 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| SBDC Portable Assistance Program Apply for OSBDC 2009 06 Funding Number: OSBDC 2009 06 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Paul D. Coverdell Drug Free Workplace Program Apply for SBDC 2009 0007 Funding Number: SBDC 2009 0007 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) ( new Solicitation for Tribal Organizations or Economic Enterprises only) Apply for DLA 050509 001 Funding Number: DLA 050509 001 Agency: Defense Logistics Agency Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Small Business Development Center FY Renewal of the Cooperative Agreement for Current Recipient Organizations Apply for OSBDC 2010 01 Funding Number: OSBDC 2010 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $6,564,096 |
| Small Business Development Center CY Renewal of the Cooperative Agreement for Current Recipient Organizations Apply for OSBDC 2010 02 Funding Number: OSBDC 2010 02 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $6,564,096 |
| Program for Investment in Microentrpreneurs Act (PRIME) Apply for PRIME 2009 01 Funding Number: PRIME 2009 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Womens Business Center Initial Grant Apply for OWBO 2009 01 Funding Number: OWBO 2009 01 Agency: Small Business Administration Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $150,000 |
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