Award type: project grant

This Project Grant from the Small Business Administration's Office of Entrepreneurial Development through the Community Navigator Pilot Program (CFDA 59.077) provides $1 million to the New Bedford Economic Development Council, Inc. to deliver technical assistance and support services to small businesses through December 2023. As the primary awardee, the Council will work with contractors to provide one-on-one counseling and group training to increase participation in pandemic relief and recovery programs among historically underserved small business owners and entrepreneurs. Services focus on minority, women, veteran, rural, disabled and socially/economically disadvantaged small businesses and startups. The Council will report quarterly on progress in supporting over 1,000 small firms through this $1 million grant awarded in December 2021.

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.