WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER (WBC) – RENEWAL GRANT | OWBO 2019 02

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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