Award type: project grant

The Small Business Administration's Office of Entrepreneurial Development awarded Zeal $1 million under the Community Navigator Pilot Program (CFDA #59.077) on December 1, 2021 to provide technical assistance and support services to small businesses through November 30, 2023. As the main recipient, Zeal will deliver one-on-one counseling and group trainings focused on pandemic relief programs and recovery services to historically underserved small businesses and entrepreneurs. Zeal may engage subrecipients who will also provide high-quality support and technical assistance to small business clients. The award aims to increase awareness of and participation in programs offered by the SBA and other government agencies that can help small businesses recover from pandemic impacts.

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.