The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, through the Rural MBDA Business Center Program provides awards to support technical assistance, capacity building, and entrepreneurial development services to rural Minority Business Enterprises (RMBEs) at all stages, from ideation to maturity.

Priorities

§  The Act established key priorities for this Program designed to overcome the unique challenges faced by RMBEs. In addition to providing technical assistance, capacity building, and entrepreneurial development services to RMBEs, RBCs also will serve as a resource navigator to help strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem and support RMBEs with issues related to:

§  Adoption and accessibility of broadband internet access

§  Digital literacy skills

§  Leveraging e-commerce

§  Advanced manufacturing

§  Promoting trade and export opportunities

§  Securing financial capital

§  Facilitating entrepreneurship in rural areas

§  Creating jobs in rural areas

§  The promotion of manufacturing in the United States

§  The promotion of agriculture

§  Helping RMBEs meet gaps in the supply chain of critical supplies and essential goods and services for the United States

§  Improving the connectivity of Rural businesses through transportation and logistics, and

§  Any other issue relating to the unique challenges faced by rural minority business enterprises.

Funding Information

§  In fiscal year (FY) 2025, MBDA expects to obligate approximately $4 million for multi-year financial assistance awards made under this NOFO for the selected proposals; the awards, which MBDA anticipates funding annually, will have an overall five-year period of performance. MBDA anticipates making approximately 10 awards under this NOFO.

§  The funding amount for each award in FY 2025 will be approximately $400,000. MBDA anticipates that an equivalent amount will be available in FY 2026 through FY 2029 to support continuation of the program for the subsequent budget periods (12 months each) of the selected projects.

Eligibility Criteria

§  Under the MBDA Act , eligible applicants are limited to:

§  a “minority-serving institution”, or

§  a consortium of higher education institutions that is led by a minority-serving institution.

§   Under 15 U.S.C. 9551(5), the term “minority-serving institution” is defined as an institution described in any of paragraphs (1) through (7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). Therefore, for the purposes of this Program, a “minority-serving institution” is limited to:

§  a Historically Black College or University;

§  a Hispanic-serving institution;

§  a Tribal College or University;

§  an Alaska Native-serving institution or a Native Hawaiian-serving institution;

§  a Predominantly Black Institution;

§  an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution; or

§  a Native American-serving nontribal institution.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.