WASHINGTON – On May 27, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Public Private Strategies Institute (PPSI) held an educational webinar about the Community Navigator Pilot Program –a $100 million competitive grant program to strengthen outreach to businesses in underserved communities enacted through the American Rescue Plan.
More than 1,600 participants spanning the nation joined the session intended for nonprofit organizations, state, local, and tribal governments, SBA resource partners, and other community organizations. Participants heard from the following panelists:
- SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman (by video)
- Renée Johnson, Senior Advisor, Public Private Strategies & Moderator
- Mark Madrid, Associate Administrator, (SBA) Office of Entrepreneurial Development
- Natalie Madeira Cofield, Assistant Administrator, (SBA) Office of Women’s Business Ownership
- Rick Wade, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
“Our Community Navigator Pilot program was established through the American Rescue Plan to better reach our underserved businesses and connect them to our vast range of programs and services to help them reopen, start, grow and be resilient,” remarked SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. “The Community Navigator Pilot program will help us meet small businesses where they are instead of waiting for them to come to us.”
“The American Rescue Plan enables us to reach outward and support our small businesses where the rubber meets the road,” said SBA Associate Administrator, Office of Entrepreneurial Development, Mark Madrid. “Key to this program is in the delivery, connecting small business owners who have not received any assistance. Giving local resources to reach those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, people of color, women, veterans, and Native Americans—they need us the most, and they need us now.”
The presentation was delivered by SBA Assistant Administrator, Office of Women’s Business Ownership, Natalie Madeira Cofield. She covered program goals, funding model, eligible entity requirements, hub and spoke model defining organizational roles and how to apply on grants.gov.
Earlier this week, SBA announced it is accepting applications for the new Community Navigator Pilot Program, which is open to nonprofit organizations, state, local, and tribal governments, SBA resource partners, and other community organizations to assist small businesses during recovery. The program will focus on the smallest of small businesses—in rural and urban America—and prioritize small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as well as women and veterans. Watch a video of SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announcing the program.
Competitive grant awards will range from $1 million to $5 million for a two-year performance period. Applicants have until July 12 to submit their applications at grants.gov. On June 4 at 1pm ET, SBA will conduct a technical webinar to provide potential applicants important information about the Community Navigator Pilot Program. Register for the webinar.
Disclaimer:
Cosponsorship Authorization # 21-0501-14: The SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products, or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.