The Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is offering the Parren J. Mitchell Entrepreneurship Education Program, a cooperative agreement opportunity to enhance the capacity of eligible higher education institutions to train and educate entrepreneurs. The program seeks the development and implementation of evidence-based, practical entrepreneurship curricula targeted at building the skills necessary to yield real results for entrepreneurs within a defined period. The curricula must be broadly available to the community, not limited to enrolled students. Key evaluation criteria include the quality and effectiveness of the proposed curricula, as well as the applicant's experience and partnerships. Applications are due by February 3, 2025, with an optional email of intent due on February 12, 2025.
The MBDA plans to award approximately 10 cooperative agreements of $500,000 each annually for four years (FY2025-FY2028), totaling approximately $5 million in funding per year. Eligible applicants are limited to specific types of higher education institutions including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal Colleges, and other minority-serving institutions. The project period runs from August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2029, with awardees required to participate in various MBDA conferences and training events throughout the period.