MBDA Business Center Program

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, will provide Federal assistance to support innovative projects seeking to promote and ensure the growth of minority enterprises. The MBDA Business Center Pr

MBDA leads Federal Government efforts to promote the growth and global competitiveness of MBEs. MBDA has established key priorities designed to overcome the unique challenges faced by MBEs. The primary drivers of a Minority Business Development Center are: (i) business development and (ii) capacity building. Business development is fostering and securing new opportunities for MBEs that result in revenue generation by: Assisting clients to increase sales and service agreements, product requests, task orders and exports; and matching opportunities and assisting qualified/vetted MBE clients to access, compete, and secure transactions that lead to a financial benefit (e.g., sales). Capacity building occurs when MBEs are assisted with management capacity, financial capacity, and technological capacity that results in new capabilities, higher productivity, reduced costs, increased profits, workforce improvement, business expansion, and scalability. The MBDA Business Center will assist MBEs to: improve operational efficiencies; increase resources; build scale; manage risk and increase liability thresholds; strengthen management teams; access and secure financing, equity, and venture capital; raise online capital; - increase profits and owner equity; and implement and integrate new technology and equipment. The MBDA Business Centers manage relationships and sources of deals by promoting the interests of MBEs; educating MBEs on the benefits of strategic growth alternatives (e.g., mergers, acquisitions, and/or joint ventures); and providing service referrals to MBEs of all sizes.

Eligible applicants include: For-profit entities (including but not limited to sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations), non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, commercial organizations, state and local government entities, Tribal governmental entities, and quasi-government entities.

The Minority Business Center program serves all eligible minority business enterprises through direct services or through strategic partner referral. Eligible beneficiaries of this program are: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, Native Americans (including Alaska Natives, Alaska Native Corporations and Tribal entities), Asian Indians and Hasidic Jews. See 15 C.F.R. § 1400.1-.2 and Executive Order 11625.

Awards are generally made for a five-year period, but may be made for a shorter period at the discretion of MBDA.

MBDA will conduct a pre-application teleconference on March 1, 2021. The time of the pre-application teleconference is 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time Participants must register at least 24 hours in advance of the teleconference. Please visit the MBDA Internet Portal at www.mbda.gov to register and additional information.

Applications submitted are competitively evaluated and awarded. Selection criteria includes such factors as capability and experience of staff assigned to the project, techniques and methodology, resources, budget, and alignment with program priorities. Past performance under an MBDA, Department of Commerce or other federal award may also be considered when selecting proposals for a Business Center award.

Each application will be reviewed and evaluated by a review panel. The panel will make funding recommendations to the Agency's Selecting Official. The Selecting Official or his/her designee will make final decisions on grant awards. The Grants Officer will process and execute the notices of award. Name checks, verification of academic credentials and pre-award audits may be required of the recipient prior to or following an award. Electronic notification of award will be generated and forwarded to the selected recipient by the Grants Officer.

The application deadline for all MBDA Programs are listed in the Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement.

Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing after the award competition has ended.