MBDA Business Centers (5) | MBDA OBD 2016 2004579

Opportunity Information: Apply for MBDA OBD 2016 2004579

The MBDA Business Centers (5) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: MBDA OBD 2016 2004579) is a competitive, discretionary federal funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Commerce to select operators for five Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Centers. These centers are meant to function as local hubs that deliver hands-on technical assistance and business development services to minority business enterprises (MBEs). The core purpose is to help MBEs secure more and larger financing deals and contract opportunities, and to translate those wins into tangible economic outcomes such as job creation and job retention within minority-owned firms.

Awards under this program are issued as cooperative agreements, which typically means the federal agency expects to be more actively involved than it would be under a standard grant. In practice, that structure usually signals ongoing collaboration, reporting, and performance oversight tied to program goals. The maximum award amount listed is $321,800 per award, and the agency anticipated making five total awards, corresponding to the five center locations to be competed. The original application closing date shown in the notice is December 21, 2015, and the opportunity record was created on October 19, 2015. The assistance is associated with CFDA 11.805, and the activity category is broadly framed under business and commerce, while also being tagged with environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development categories, suggesting the program may serve a wide range of industries and growth pathways even though the central focus is business development.

Eligibility is intentionally broad to encourage capable operators from different sectors. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations (such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, and corporations), nonprofit organizations, state and local government entities, Native American Tribes, and educational institutions. In other words, the agency is less concerned with the applicant being a particular organizational type and more concerned with whether the applicant can credibly run a center that delivers strong outcomes for minority businesses.

The notice emphasizes that successful applicants should bring substantial, proven experience helping minority firms compete at a large scale. That includes assisting MBEs in winning major contracts and procurements, securing financing awards, and plugging into established supply chains where vendor qualification and performance expectations can be demanding. It also highlights more advanced growth support such as educating and advising firms on joint ventures, teaming arrangements, mergers and acquisitions, and minority business advocacy. Another key capability is helping MBEs enter and execute large-scale transactions in global markets, which implies the centers are expected to support export readiness, international deal structuring, cross-border partnerships, or similar expansion strategies when appropriate.

Finally, beyond technical competence, the opportunity signals an expectation of mission alignment. Applicants are expected to demonstrate that their organizational mission fits well with MBDA and the objectives of the MBDA Business Center program. Put simply, the program is looking for operators that can deliver measurable business growth outcomes for minority-owned enterprises, have the networks and expertise to open doors to capital and contracts, and are positioned to serve as credible advocates and facilitators for MBEs pursuing larger and more complex opportunities.

• The Department of Commerce in the business and commerce, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "MBDA Business Centers (5)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.805.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2015-10-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2015-12-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $321,800.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for MBDA OBD 2016 2004579

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