Opportunity Information: Apply for OWBO 2012 02
Apply for OWBO 2012 02
- The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Womens Business Center Renewal Grant" 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 30, 2011 and posted on Dec 30, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 3, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,016,640.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $125,520.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 32 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- ONLY Private, 501(c) certified non profit organizations that are currently in SBAs Womens Business Center Program that will have successfully completed an Initial 5 year WBC grant by September 29, 2012 or those organizations that will have successfully completed a 3 year Renewal WBC grant by September 29, 2012 and that meet all other criteria identified in Section III Eligibility Information of Program Announcement OWBO 2012 02.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Womens Business Center Renewal Grant (Funding Opportunity No. OWBO 2012 02) is a U.S. Small Business Administration funding opportunity designed to continue federal support for existing SBA-funded Womens Business Centers (WBCs). It is not meant to create brand-new centers; instead, it targets current WBC operators that are reaching the end of an initial five-year grant period or a prior three-year renewal period and want to keep operating with SBA backing. The central purpose is to ensure women entrepreneurs continue to have access to practical business training and one-on-one counseling, with an emphasis on serving a meaningful share of clients who are socially and economically disadvantaged.
Eligible applicants are limited to private nonprofit organizations with 501(c) status that are already participating in the SBA WBC program and that will have successfully completed either (1) an initial five-year WBC grant by September 29, 2012, or (2) a three-year WBC renewal grant by the same date. Applicants also must continue to meet all other eligibility requirements described in Section III of the program announcement. A 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 within that entity, even if it shares administrative or institutional resources.
Awards are issued as cooperative agreements, which typically means the SBA expects an ongoing working relationship and oversight role rather than a hands-off grant. The structure includes a base year award, with the possibility of two additional option years, for a total potential project period of three years. Those option years are not guaranteed; they depend on continued funding availability and the WBCs performance in the prior year. The funding activity category is Business and Commerce, and the assistance listing is CFDA 59.043 (Womens Business Ownership Assistance).
The work supported by the renewal grant focuses on delivering technical assistance to women entrepreneurs at different stages, including those just exploring entrepreneurship (nascent entrepreneurs) and those already running established businesses. Services are expected to cover core small-business needs such as finance, management, marketing, and related topics identified in the announcement. In practice, this often means training workshops, coaching, counseling sessions, and guidance that helps clients start, stabilize, or grow their businesses, strengthen financial readiness, and improve business operations and market reach.
A key program condition is the cost-sharing requirement. Awardees must provide a one-to-one match of non-federal funds for every federal dollar received. The match can include in-kind contributions, but only up to 50 percent of the required match may be in-kind; at least 50 percent must be cash. This requirement ensures the center has significant local or private support and the capacity to sustain operations alongside federal investment.
For this competition cycle, the SBA anticipated about 32 awards. The estimated total funding amount was $4,016,640, with an award ceiling of $125,520 (and an award floor listed as $0). The opportunity was posted December 30, 2011, with a closing date of February 3, 2012, and it was archived February 4, 2012. The legal authority for the program comes from the Small Business Act, specifically Sections 2(h) and 29 (15 U.S.C. 631(h) and 656), as amended.
Questions or access issues related to the full announcement were directed to the SBA Office of Womens Business Ownership, with a listed phone number of 202-205-6673 and an email contact for questions related to Program Announcement No. OWBO 2012 02.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Womens Business Center Renewal Grant (Funding Opportunity No. OWBO 2012 02)
1) What is the Womens Business Center Renewal Grant (OWBO 2012 02)?
The Womens Business Center Renewal Grant (Funding Opportunity No. OWBO 2012 02) is a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) funding opportunity intended to continue federal support for existing SBA-funded Womens Business Centers (WBCs). It is designed for current WBC operators seeking to continue operating with SBA support at the end of an earlier grant period.
2) Is this grant meant to create new Womens Business Centers?
No. This opportunity is specifically described as a renewal grant meant to continue federal support for existing SBA-funded WBCs. It is not intended to establish brand-new centers.
3) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to private nonprofit organizations with 501(c) status that are already participating in the SBA WBC program and that will have successfully completed either (1) an initial five-year WBC grant by September 29, 2012, or (2) a three-year WBC renewal grant by September 29, 2012. Applicants must also continue to meet the other eligibility requirements described in Section III of the program announcement.
4) What does it mean that the applicant must already be participating in the SBA WBC program?
Based on the description, this renewal opportunity is limited to organizations that already operate an SBA-funded Womens Business Center. The purpose is continued federal support, not entry into the program for new organizations.
5) What are the key completion deadlines tied to eligibility?
The applicant must have successfully completed either an initial five-year WBC grant or a three-year WBC renewal grant by September 29, 2012.
6) Can a WBC be part of a larger nonprofit organization?
Yes. A Womens Business Center can be housed within a larger organization (for example, an economic development nonprofit). However, the WBC must be clearly identifiable as a separate program or project within that entity, even if it shares administrative or institutional resources.
7) What type of award is used for this funding?
Awards are issued as cooperative agreements. This typically indicates SBA expects an ongoing working relationship and an oversight role, rather than a hands-off grant arrangement.
8) How long is the project period?
The funding structure includes a base year award, with the possibility of two additional option years, for a total potential project period of three years.
9) Are the option years guaranteed?
No. The additional option years are not guaranteed. They depend on continued funding availability and the WBCs performance in the prior year.
10) What is the main purpose of renewing WBC funding through this opportunity?
The central purpose is to ensure women entrepreneurs continue to have access to practical business training and one-on-one counseling, with an emphasis on serving a meaningful share of clients who are socially and economically disadvantaged.
11) What activities or services are supported by the renewal grant?
The renewal grant supports the delivery of technical assistance to women entrepreneurs at different stages, including nascent entrepreneurs and established businesses. Services are expected to address core small-business needs such as finance, management, marketing, and other related topics identified in the announcement. In practice, this can include training workshops, coaching, counseling sessions, and guidance to help clients start, stabilize, or grow their businesses, strengthen financial readiness, and improve operations and market reach.
12) Who are the intended clients of WBC services under this program?
WBC services under this renewal grant are aimed at women entrepreneurs, including individuals exploring entrepreneurship (nascent entrepreneurs) and those already operating established businesses. The program also emphasizes serving a meaningful share of clients who are socially and economically disadvantaged.
13) Is cost sharing (matching funds) required?
Yes. Awardees must provide a one-to-one match of non-federal funds for every federal dollar received.
14) How much of the required match can be in-kind?
In-kind contributions may be used for the match, but only up to 50 percent of the required match may be in-kind.
15) How much of the required match must be cash?
At least 50 percent of the required match must be cash.
16) Why does the program require a match?
The match requirement is described as a way to ensure the center has significant local or private support and the capacity to sustain operations alongside federal investment.
17) What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Business and Commerce.
18) What is the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number for this program?
The assistance listing is CFDA 59.043 (Womens Business Ownership Assistance).
19) How many awards were anticipated for this cycle?
For this competition cycle, the SBA anticipated about 32 awards.
20) What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was $4,016,640.
21) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $125,520.
22) What is the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor is listed as $0.
23) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on December 30, 2011, and the closing date was February 3, 2012.
24) What does it mean that the opportunity is archived?
The opportunity was archived on February 4, 2012, which indicates it is no longer an open, active solicitation as of that archive date.
25) What legal authority authorizes this program?
The legal authority cited is the Small Business Act, specifically Sections 2(h) and 29 (15 U.S.C. 631(h) and 656), as amended.
26) Who should be contacted for questions or access issues related to the full announcement?
Questions or access issues related to the full announcement were directed to the SBA Office of Womens Business Ownership. The listed phone number is 202-205-6673, and there was an email contact listed for questions related to Program Announcement No. OWBO 2012 02.
27) Where does this opportunity sit within SBA programming?
This opportunity is part of the SBA Womens Business Center program and is associated with the Womens Business Ownership Assistance assistance listing (CFDA 59.043). It is designed as a renewal mechanism for existing SBA-funded WBCs.
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