Award type: project grant

The University of Delaware received a $2.5 million Project Grant award from the Small Business Administration Office of Entrepreneurial Development to provide Community Navigator services under the Community Navigator Pilot Program. As defined by the American Rescue Plan Act, Community Navigator services involve outreach, education, and technical assistance targeting historically underserved small business categories.

Through December 2023, the University will directly provide and oversee subrecipients in delivering high-quality support and technical assistance to small businesses on pandemic relief programs and recovery services. This includes one-on-one counseling and group trainings. Subrecipients such as community organizations will also support small business owners through direct outreach and assistance. The grant aims to increase participation in Small Business Administration and other federal programs among minority, women, veteran, rural, and socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs.

Activities

Provide high quality support and technical assistance with pandemic relief programs and recovery services to small businesses.; deliverables: grantees will provide reports on activities and progress toward stated goals to SBA on a quarterly basis.

Expected outcomes

Increase awareness of and participation in programs of the u.s small business administration and other government agencies.

Intended beneficiaries

Small businesses and entrepreneurs that fall into a historically underserved category, including minority entrepreneurs (black, indigenous, and people of color), entrepreneurs with disabilities, lgbtq entrepreneurs, rural entrepreneurs; veterans and military entrepreneurs (including spouses), women entrepreneurs, innovative startups, micro businesses, and socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses

Subrecipient activities

Grantees (hubs) and their contractors (spokes) will provide high quality support and technical assistance with pandemic relief programs and recovery services to small businesses. This support takes the form of 1:1 counseling and group trainings.