Opportunity Information: Apply for OWBO 2019 02

The WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER (WBC) - RENEWAL GRANT (Funding Opportunity Number: OWBO 2019 02) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) designed to continue supporting the national network of Women's Business Centers that provide hands-on, practical assistance to women entrepreneurs. Offered as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 59.043 (Business and Commerce), this renewal grant reflects the SBA's broader mission, in place since 1953, to strengthen small businesses not only through lending programs but also through capacity-building services like training, advising, and technical assistance that help entrepreneurs start, stabilize, and grow their companies.

At its core, the WBC program focuses on delivering in-depth, substantive, and outcomes-driven counseling and training to women who are starting new ventures or expanding existing ones. A key emphasis is ensuring services reach a representative share of women who are socially and economically disadvantaged. The program is intended to function as a local economic catalyst by improving business management skills, supporting innovation and productivity, and helping entrepreneurs pursue growth opportunities. Rather than measuring success only by activity levels (such as number of workshops), the program highlights community-level economic impact and concrete outcomes, including successful business start-ups and increased access to capital (often described as capital infusion), along with broader indicators of business expansion and improved performance.

Eligibility is aimed at private, SBA-qualified nonprofit organizations with 501(c) status, with the official eligibility details referenced in the opportunity's additional eligibility information. Funding is structured with an award ceiling of $150,000 per award, and the SBA anticipated making around 50 awards under this announcement. The opportunity was posted on September 9, 2019, with an original application deadline of September 27, 2019. Because this is a renewal grant, it is generally oriented toward existing WBC operators seeking continued federal support to sustain and strengthen ongoing services, while working closely with the SBA under the cooperative agreement structure, which typically involves more federal involvement and coordination than a standard grant.

In practical terms, this opportunity supports organizations that can demonstrate they are positioned to deliver high-quality business counseling and training, document measurable outcomes tied to entrepreneurship and business growth, and show that their work meaningfully benefits women entrepreneurs in their service area, including those facing economic or social barriers. The overarching goal is to ensure that local WBCs remain effective, results-oriented resources that translate technical assistance into real business formation, stronger operations, and improved access to financing.

  • The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER (WBC) – 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.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Sep 09, 2019.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 27, 2019. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for OWBO 2019 02

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Women's Business Center (WBC) - Renewal Grant (OWBO 2019 02) FAQs

What is the Women's Business Center (WBC) - Renewal Grant?

The Women's Business Center (WBC) - Renewal Grant is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) intended to continue supporting the national network of Women's Business Centers that provide hands-on, practical assistance to women entrepreneurs.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this opportunity is OWBO 2019 02.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

What type of funding mechanism is used?

The award is offered as a cooperative agreement, which generally involves more federal involvement and coordination than a standard grant.

What is the CFDA number and program area for this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 59.043 under the program area described as Business and Commerce.

What is the main purpose of this renewal grant?

The purpose is to sustain and strengthen ongoing Women's Business Center services by continuing federal support for centers that deliver counseling, training, and technical assistance to women entrepreneurs who are starting or expanding businesses.

Who is the program designed to serve?

The program focuses on women entrepreneurs, including women starting new ventures and women expanding existing businesses.

Is there a specific focus on underserved communities?

Yes. A key emphasis is ensuring services reach a representative share of women who are socially and economically disadvantaged.

What types of services are WBCs expected to provide under this program?

Women’s Business Centers supported through this program are expected to provide in-depth, substantive, outcomes-driven counseling and training, along with practical technical assistance aimed at helping entrepreneurs start, stabilize, and grow their companies.

How does the program define success or performance?

The program emphasizes community-level economic impact and concrete outcomes rather than only activity counts (such as the number of workshops). Examples of outcomes highlighted include successful business start-ups, increased access to capital (often described as capital infusion), and broader indicators of business expansion and improved performance.

What does it mean that WBCs are intended to act as a local economic catalyst?

In this context, it means the WBC program is intended to strengthen local economies by improving business management skills, supporting innovation and productivity, and helping entrepreneurs pursue growth opportunities in their communities.

Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?

Eligibility is aimed at private, SBA-qualified nonprofit organizations with 501(c) status. The opportunity references that official eligibility details are provided in the announcement's additional eligibility information.

Is this opportunity primarily for new organizations or existing WBC operators?

Because it is a renewal grant, it is generally oriented toward existing WBC operators seeking continued federal support to sustain and strengthen ongoing services.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $150,000 per award.

How many awards did SBA anticipate making?

The SBA anticipated making around 50 awards under this announcement.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on September 9, 2019.

What was the application deadline listed for this opportunity?

The original application deadline was September 27, 2019.

What kinds of outcomes are applicants expected to demonstrate?

Organizations are expected to be positioned to deliver high-quality business counseling and training, document measurable outcomes tied to entrepreneurship and business growth, and show meaningful benefits for women entrepreneurs in their service area, including those facing economic or social barriers.

How does this opportunity connect to SBA's broader mission?

This renewal grant aligns with the SBA's long-standing mission (in place since 1953) to strengthen small businesses not only through lending programs, but also through capacity-building services such as training, advising, and technical assistance.

What does "capital infusion" refer to in the context of this program?

In the context provided, capital infusion refers to increased access to capital for entrepreneurs, which is highlighted as one of the concrete outcomes the program aims to support.

What is the overarching goal of continuing WBC funding through this renewal grant?

The overarching goal is to ensure local Women's Business Centers remain effective, results-oriented resources that translate technical assistance into real business formation, stronger operations, and improved access to financing.

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