Award type: project grant

Forward Cities Inc. received a $999,818 Project Grant award from the Small Business Administration Office of Entrepreneurial Development under the Community Navigator Pilot Program (CFDA 59.077). Through this funding, Forward Cities and its subrecipients will provide technical assistance and support services to small businesses and entrepreneurs from underserved communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, grantees and their contractors will deliver one-on-one counseling and group trainings on pandemic relief programs and recovery resources available through the SBA and other government agencies. The period of performance is from December 1, 2021 through November 30, 2023. This award aims to increase disadvantaged small businesses' access to and participation in vital assistance programs to support their recovery 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.