Opportunity Information: Apply for WHAP WHAAQPPC 16 002
Apply for WHAP WHAAQPPC 16 002
- The DOS-WHA in the business and commerce, employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Business Regional Training" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.750.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 27, 2016 and posted on Apr 27, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 07, 2016. (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 $990,099.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Small Business Regional Training grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number WHAP WHAAQPPC 16 002) is a discretionary U.S. Department of State program administered by the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (DOS-WHA) under CFDA 19.750. It is designed to strengthen the small business support ecosystem in Central America by improving the quality, consistency, and reach of services provided through Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and related business counseling networks. The overall aim is to build regional capacity so that micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) can access better guidance, tools, and institutional support, ultimately improving their competitiveness and growth prospects.
At the core of the project is the development of a standardized, regionally appropriate training curriculum for business counselors and SBDC staff across Central America. Rather than relying on ad hoc or country-by-country training approaches, the grant emphasizes creating a consistent training package that reflects local business realities while still meeting shared regional standards. In addition to the curriculum itself, the project includes establishing an accreditation or certification component, meaning counselors and SBDC staff would be trained to a recognized standard and validated through a formal credentialing process. This helps ensure service quality, supports professionalization of business advising roles, and enables SBDCs to scale up with a consistent model.
The grant also places a clear emphasis on women-owned small businesses and the broader promotion of womens entrepreneurship in Central America. This focus signals that applicants should integrate womens economic participation into the training content and advising methods, such as strengthening counselor ability to address barriers women entrepreneurs commonly face (for example, access to finance, market linkages, formalization challenges, and networking constraints). The intention is that improved counseling capacity will translate into more relevant, accessible, and effective support for women-led enterprises, not as a side activity but as an integrated project priority.
In terms of measurable reach, the opportunity targets technical training for more than 250 business counselors and includes the development of standard operating procedures for an expanding network of SBDCs. These standard operating procedures are meant to help centers deliver services more consistently, manage client engagement effectively, and sustain program quality as more centers are established or expanded. Through these capacity-building efforts, the project aims to enhance the competitiveness of more than 16,000 MSMEs across Central America, using improved counseling quality and institutional systems as the primary mechanism for impact.
The funding instrument is a grant with an award ceiling of $990,099, and the agency anticipated making one award. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, along with other eligible entities as clarified in the opportunitys additional eligibility information. The opportunity was originally posted on April 27, 2016, with a closing date of June 7, 2016.
Small Business Regional Training Grant (WHAP WHAAQPPC 16 002) - FAQs
What is the Small Business Regional Training grant opportunity?
It is a discretionary U.S. Department of State program administered by the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (DOS-WHA) under CFDA 19.750. The program is designed to strengthen the small business support ecosystem in Central America by improving the quality, consistency, and reach of services delivered through Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and related business counseling networks.
What is the main goal of this grant?
The overall goal is to build regional capacity so micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Central America can access better guidance, tools, and institutional support, ultimately improving their competitiveness and growth prospects.
What type of activities does the grant emphasize?
The grant emphasizes regional capacity building through: developing a standardized training curriculum for business counselors and SBDC staff; creating a formal accreditation or certification component; and producing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support consistent service delivery across an expanding SBDC network.
What is meant by a "standardized, regionally appropriate training curriculum"?
The project calls for a shared training package for Central America that avoids ad hoc or country-by-country approaches. The curriculum is expected to reflect local business realities while still meeting shared regional standards for counselor training and service quality.
Who is the training curriculum intended for?
The curriculum is intended for business counselors and SBDC staff across Central America, with the grant targeting technical training for more than 250 business counselors.
What does the accreditation or certification component involve?
The opportunity includes establishing an accreditation or certification component so that counselors and SBDC staff are trained to a recognized standard and validated through a formal credentialing process. The intent is to help ensure consistent service quality, support professionalization of business advising roles, and enable SBDCs to scale with a consistent model.
How does this grant address service quality across SBDCs?
Beyond training, the grant includes developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for an expanding network of SBDCs. These SOPs are intended to help centers deliver services more consistently, manage client engagement effectively, and sustain quality as additional centers are established or expanded.
Is there a focus on women-owned businesses?
Yes. The grant places a clear emphasis on women-owned small businesses and the broader promotion of women's entrepreneurship in Central America. Applicants are expected to integrate women's economic participation into the training content and advising methods as an integrated priority rather than a side activity.
What kinds of barriers for women entrepreneurs should be addressed through the project?
The opportunity highlights common barriers such as access to finance, market linkages, formalization challenges, and networking constraints. The intent is to strengthen counselor ability to provide relevant and effective support that reflects these realities.
What outcomes or scale of impact does the opportunity target?
The opportunity targets: technical training for more than 250 business counselors; development of SOPs for a growing SBDC network; and improved competitiveness for more than 16,000 MSMEs across Central America through better counseling quality and stronger institutional systems.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $990,099.
How many awards did the agency anticipate making?
The agency anticipated making one award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, along with other eligible entities as clarified in the opportunity's additional eligibility information.
Which U.S. government office administers the program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (DOS-WHA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is WHAP WHAAQPPC 16 002.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 19.750.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was originally posted on April 27, 2016, and the closing date was June 7, 2016.
What region is the project intended to serve?
The project is intended to strengthen the small business support ecosystem in Central America through regionally consistent training and systems for SBDCs and related counseling networks.
How is the grant expected to help MSMEs if the direct training is for counselors?
The mechanism for impact is improved counseling quality and stronger institutional systems within SBDCs and related networks. By upgrading counselor skills, standardizing training, and implementing SOPs, the project aims to deliver more consistent and effective support to MSMEs, contributing to improved competitiveness for more than 16,000 enterprises.
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