PRIME 2023-01 | SB OCAPR 23 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for SB OCAPR 23 001

PRIME 2023-01 (Funding Opportunity Number: SB OCAPR 23 001) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) focused on strengthening microenterprise development and expanding support for disadvantaged microentrepreneurs. The core goal is to fund organizations that provide hands-on assistance, training, technical guidance, and other forms of support that help very small businesses and early-stage entrepreneurs start, stabilize, or grow. The opportunity is designed to reach entrepreneurs who face barriers to traditional business support or financing, and it also allows for work that strengthens the capacity of microenterprise development organizations themselves so they can serve more clients or deliver higher-quality services.

Applicants are expected to be organizations with a clear mission and track record (or strong plan) for microenterprise development. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities. The announcement also explicitly welcomes proposals from microenterprise development programs operated by state, local, tribal governments, or Indian tribes, provided their proposed work aligns with the program purpose of assisting disadvantaged microentrepreneurs and/or supporting microenterprise development organizations.

The funding instrument is a grant, and the funding activity categories span business and commerce, community development, education, and other related areas, reflecting the practical mix of services often required to help microentrepreneurs succeed. The assistance contemplated by the program generally centers on the kinds of direct, client-facing supports that microbusiness owners need to become viable, such as business training, one-on-one counseling or coaching, operational guidance, and connections to resources. Because the opportunity also references support to microenterprise development organizations, proposals may include elements that improve service delivery capacity, program quality, or reach, as long as those elements are clearly tied to serving disadvantaged microentrepreneurs and accomplishing the purposes outlined in the SBA announcement.

For this cycle, the award ceiling is $400,000 per award, with an anticipated 30 awards in total. The opportunity was created on April 18, 2023, with an original closing date of May 18, 2023. The program is associated with CFDA number 59.050. Overall, PRIME 2023-01 is structured to channel federal resources to mission-driven organizations and eligible public entities that can deliver practical, outcomes-oriented microenterprise development services, particularly for underserved entrepreneurs and communities.

• The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce, community development, education, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "PRIME 2023-01" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.050.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 18, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 18, 2023 No Explanation. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for SB OCAPR 23 001

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