The Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is soliciting applications for the operation of six new Business Centers in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oklahoma and North or South Dakota. Applications are due by June 13, 2012.
The primary objective of the MBDA Business Centers is to “provide strategic business consulting services to minority owned firms that will result in the creation and retention of jobs for Americans through business growth.” This solicitation marks the phasing out the Native American Enterprise Center (NABEC) program and its replacement with the MBDA Business Center program. The states where the six new centers are to be located were chosen because of their significant American Indian or Alaska Native populations.
Grants are for five years, with $1.6 million projected to be available each fiscal year. Eligible applicants include: for-profit entities, non-profit organizations, state and local government entities, American Indian Tribes and educational institutions. The application and further information on the MBDA’s Business Center program may be found at the following link: http://www.mbda.gov/main/grant-competitions/mbda-business-center-american-indian-and-native-alaskan-solicitation .
Please let us know if we may provide additional information on the Minority Business Development Agency’s Business Center program.
