Women's Business Ownership Assistance (59.043)

Program

59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance

Federal Agency

Agency: Small Business Administration

Authorization

Small Business Act of 1953.

Program Number

59.043

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To fund private, nonprofit organizations to assist, through training and counseling, small business concerns owned and controlled by women, and to remove, in so far as possible, the discriminatory barriers that are encountered by women in accessing capital and promoting their businesses.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

To establish women's business centers (WBCs) for the benefit of small business concerns owned and controlled by women. The services provided by the women's business centers must include financial, management, procurement and marketing assistance to start-up or established concerns, as well as mentoring and Internet services. Annual awards are issued through a 5-year term to successful applicants. Also, previously funded centers that have completed an award cycle may compete to receive additional funding through a 5-year term under the 4-year pilot program established under the Women's Business Center Sustainability Act of 1999 (and as extended by Congress for fiscal years 2004, 2005 and 2006).

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Private, nonprofit organizations having experience in effectively training and counseling business women. Public educational institutions and State and local governments are not eligible.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Women entrepreneurs starting their own business or expanding their existing business.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Applications are accepted in accordance with and up to the date specified in the annual program announcement as posted at www.grants.gov and www.onlinewbc.gov. The applicant must complete the Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Forms 424, 424A and 424B) and submit a written proposal addressing all of the selection criteria stated in the program announcement. The applicant must submit applications/proposals electronically through www.grants.gov (free training on electronic filing is available on the site) by the application closing date.

Award Procedure

Proposals of eligible applicants are evaluated by a review panel. Candidates for sustainability awards also undergo a site review. The SBA/Office of Procurement and Grants Management issues an award to each approved applicant.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Within 120 days from filing deadline.

Appeals

Additional information available at SBA's website at sba.gov.

Renewals

Continued annual option awards are issued to successful award recipients through a five-year term without recompetition.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Additional information available at SBA's website at sba.gov.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Initial and option year awards are issued annually, without recompetition, through the five-year grant term to compliant centers. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Additional information available at SBA's website at sba.gov.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Additional information available at SBA's website at sba.gov. Additional information available on SBA's website at www.sba.gov. Additional information available on SBA's website at www.sba.gov. Additional information available on SBA's website at www.sba.gov. Additional information available on SBA's website at www.sba.gov.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. The recipient must have an outside accountant certify the conditions of the WBC's financial management system as part of SBA's final Programmatic and Financial Examination. Also, the award recipient must comply with audit requirements as prescribed in OMB Circular No. A-133, as applicable.

Records

The awardee shall maintain and submit detailed, complete and accurate client activity records to reflect clearly the nature and variety of services provided. Financial records must be kept until three years after the completion and submission of the final report.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: See the FY 2010 Performance and Accountability Report on SBA's website at sba.gov. Fiscal Year 2009: See the FY 2010 Performance and Accountability Report on SBA's website at sba.gov. Fiscal Year 2010: See the FY 2010 Performance and Accountability Report on SBA's website at sba.gov.

Financial Information

Account Identification

73-0100-0-1-376.

Obligations

(Salaries) FY 08 $22,744,000; FY 09 est $23,853,000; FY 10 est $24,506,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Additional information available on SBA's website at www.sba.gov.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

OMB Circulars A-110, A-122, A-21, A-133.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Women's business ownership representatives in each SBA district office. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of the Small Business Administration district and regional offices.

Headquarters Office

David Lippold 409 3rd. Street, SW, Suite 6000, Washington, District of Columbia 20416 Email: david.lippold@sba.gov Phone: 202-205-6569

Web Site Address

http://www.sba.gov/onlinewbc.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

As stated in each solicitation for proposals, but including: B. EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR WBC APPLICANT TECHNICAL PROPOSAL 1. List of Evaluation Criteria a. Applicant Experience and Internal Organizational Structure. (20 Points) b. Ability of Applicant to Reach a Representative Number of Women Who Are Both Socially and Economically Disadvantaged. (10 Points) c. Needs Assessment of Target Location. (10 Points) d. Services and Activities the Applicant Plans to Offer to Start-up and Existing Small Businesses Owned or Controlled by Women; and the Applicant's Ability to Assist Clients in Addressing Sustainability and Growth Issues. (30 Points) e. Plans for Coordination with SBA and other Community and Small Business Organizations. (10 Points) f. Financial Ability (20 Points) g. Geographic Location. (10 points).