WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER (WBC) - INITIAL PHASE GRANT - Tulsa, OK | SB OEDWB 21 003 094597

Opportunity Information: Apply for SB OEDWB 21 003 094597

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity to fund the creation or re-establishment of a Women’s Business Center (WBC) presence serving the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma, specifically in areas that are not already covered by existing WBC service territories. The central goal is to expand access to entrepreneurial development support for women, with a clear emphasis on reaching socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs. In practice, this means the selected organization would be expected to deliver hands-on business assistance that helps women start, grow, and sustain small businesses, while intentionally targeting communities that face greater barriers to capital, training, and traditional business networks.

This funding opportunity is designed as an “Initial Phase” award, meaning it is geared toward launching a new WBC project in Tulsa or restarting one that previously existed. If an applicant currently operates, or has operated, an SBA-funded WBC within the last five years, and is selected, the award will still be treated as an Initial Phase Project under this announcement. Similarly, if an organization previously operated an SBA-funded WBC but is no longer operating it, a successful application would be treated as an effort to re-establish the WBC and would also be funded under the Initial Phase structure. The emphasis on the initial phase signals that SBA is focusing on seeding or rebuilding capacity in a target geography rather than simply continuing an already-established center in the same service footprint.

Eligibility is limited to private, nonprofit organizations that have 501(c) tax-exempt status recognized by the Internal Revenue Service, and applicants must propose to provide services to the City of Tulsa. While the opportunity is open to qualifying nonprofits broadly, SBA explicitly encourages applications from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and related entities because of their demonstrated role in reaching underserved and disadvantaged markets. The announcement names examples such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), members associated with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with their auxiliary entities. The clear intent is to attract organizations that already have trusted community relationships and infrastructure that can be leveraged to deliver effective entrepreneurial support.

Religious organizations are also specifically encouraged to apply, and the announcement clarifies that participation in the program does not require them to change their religious identity or stop engaging in explicitly religious activities outside of the federally funded program. It also notes that such organizations do not have to give up federal statutory protections tied to religious hiring decisions. This language is meant to reduce perceived barriers to entry and broaden the pool of capable community-based providers that can deliver WBC services in Tulsa.

The grant is administered by the SBA under CFDA number 59.043 (business and commerce assistance). The opportunity number is SB OEDWB 21 003 094597. SBA anticipated making up to one award, with an award ceiling of $150,000, meaning the maximum funding amount for the single selected applicant is $150,000. The funding instrument is a grant, and the competition was posted July 29, 2021, with an original closing date of August 28, 2021. Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a targeted investment to establish or revive a nonprofit-led Women’s Business Center presence in Tulsa that concentrates on expanding equitable access to entrepreneurial training, counseling, and development resources for women, particularly those facing social and economic disadvantage.

• The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER (WBC) - INITIAL PHASE GRANT - Tulsa, OK" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.043.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 29, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 28, 2021. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for SB OEDWB 21 003 094597

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