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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

59.043:  Women's Business Ownership Assistance

Objectives:  To fund nonprofit economic development 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.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

59.043 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Private organizations having experience in training and counseling business women effectively. 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:  None.

59.043 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  Applications are accepted in accordance with and up to the data specified in the Program Announcement issued annually. In addition to properly completed application for Federal Assistance: (Standard Forms 424, 424A and 424B), application procedures require a written proposal addressing all items of the selection criteria published in the Program Announcement. All application/proposals are submitted to the SBA Office of Procurement and Grants Management, 5th Floor, 409 3rd Street, SW., Washington DC 20416.

Award Procedure:  SBA Central Office, Office of Procurement and Grants Management enters into a cooperative agreement with every approved applicant.

Deadlines:  Applications/proposals must be submitted by the date indicated in the Program Announcement.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  Within 120 days from filing deadline.

Appeals:  Not applicable.

Renewals:  None.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  As stated in each solicitation for proposals, but including: (1) Proven experience in conducting programs designed to impact or upgrade business skills of women business owners or potential owners; (2) Ability to undertake the project rapidly; (3) Ability to provide services to a representative number of women who are socially and economically disadvantaged; (4) Proposed location for the women's business center site; (5) Plan to maintain close working relationship with the SBA District Offices and SBA resource partners.

Examples of Funded Projects:  A typical project funded was the Women's Economic Self Sufficiency Team in Albuquerque, NM to provide in-depth and quality training and counseling to women entrepreneurs in Albuquerque, Taos, Las Cruces and Farmington, NM.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  $75,000 to $150,000; $150,000.

59.043 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 59.005 Business Development Assistance to Small Business.

59.043 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

59.043 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements or Contracts).

Obligations:  (Cooperative Agreements) FY 99 $8,000,000; FY 00 est $9,000,000; and FY 01 est $9,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  73-0100-0-1-376.

Authorization:  Small Business Act of 1953, Section 29, as amended, Public Law 105-135, 111 Stat. 2592, 15 U.S.C. 657; Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Assistance to individuals or enterprises eligible under the Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988, Federal Register, 54 FR 50466, Women's Business Development Act of 1991 and the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997, P.L. 105-135, 111 Stat. 2592.

59.043 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Women's Business Ownership Representative. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of the Small Business Administration offices.

Headquarters Office:  Small Business Administration, Office of Women's Business Ownership, 409 Third Street, SW., Washington, DC 20416. Phone: (202) 205-6673. Use the same number for FTS. Contact: Sally Murrell.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

59.043 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  This program has no statutory formula. This program was reauthorized in 1997 to conduct 5-year projects. The recipient organization must obtain cash contributions from nonfederal sources. Matching requirements changed as follows: In the first and second years, one nonfederal dollar for each two Federal dollars; in the third and fourth years, one nonfederal dollar for each Federal dollar; and in the fifth year, two nonfederal dollars for each Federal dollar. Up to one-half of the nonfederal matching assistance May be in the form of in-kind contributions.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Projects funded under the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997 do not exceed 5 years. The Administration may disburse up to 25 percent of each year's Federal share awarded to a recipient organization after notice of the award has been issued and before the nonfederal sector matching funds are obtained. Payments are made on a cost reimbursement basis.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  To establish women's business centers for the benefit of small business concerns owned and controlled by women. The services and assistance provided by the women's business centers are to include financial, management, procurement, and marketing training and counseling to start-up or established on-going concerns.

59.043 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Semi-annual performance and financial status reports are due no later than December 31 and June 30 of each 12-month performance period. A final financial status report is due 90 days after the end of each 12-month performance period. The Administrator must prepare and submit an annual report to the Committees on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Senate on the effectiveness of all projects. Such report shall provide information concerning: (1) the number of individuals receiving assistance; (2) the number of startup business concerns formed; (3) the gross receipts of assisted concerns; (4) increases or decreases in profits of assisted concerns; and (5) the employment increases or decreases of assisted concerns.

Audits:  Under the Small Business Reauthorization Act of 1997, the Agency must conduct an annual programmatic and financial examination of each Women's Business Center.

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 3 years after the completion and submission of the final report.