The U.S. Small Business Administration announced Wednesday that it is accepting applications for its new Community Navigator Pilot Program.
Established by the American Rescue Plan, the initiative will leverage a community navigator approach to reach the nation”™s smallest businesses, with a priority focus on those owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, as well as women and veterans.
SBA will accept applications from nonprofit organizations, state, local and tribal governments, SBA resource partners, and other organizations through July 12. It anticipates making award decisions by August.
Competitive grant awards will range from $1 million to $5 million for a two-year performance period. Performance periods are projected to start in September. Those eligible to apply must meet and demonstrate abilities to support the requirements of the funding opportunity.
SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman called the program “a crucial addition to our SBA programs because it helps us to connect with small businesses that have historically been underserved or left behind. These businesses ”“ the smallest of the small in rural and urban America, and those owned by women, people of color or veterans ”“ have suffered the greatest economic loss from this pandemic.”
She said the organization will use a hub-and-spoke model in regions to “bridge the gap between local entrepreneurs and SBA”™s resources and programs. If we”™re going to build back better, we need to ensure that all entrepreneurs have the support they need to recover.”
For more information on the Community Navigators Initiative, see here.
I feel this deliberately leaves out white males and feel like its racist, unconstitutional and ethically wrong?
The oppressed white male argument? Please! some have been receiving hand outs and corporate welfare and privilege since the inception of this country. Now you feel discriminated against? I love the way you turn the issue around and claim victim hood for the poor oppressed white male… Was it ethically wrong for this country to treat minorities the way it did for 4 centuries?
You’re being a pissbaby. I’m a white male and applying. I’m also a veteran. Sorry you’ve had a leg up all your life.
I drive for uber and lyft and right before the pandemic broke out I was side swiped by a semi truck driver and left to fend fir myself. I am devastated financially. Not only I just had a surgery. Uber left me to fend for my new car that I drove fir them and gave me 1,500 dollars only for my new car so I have no way to work and I am disabled from this accident. I owe Honda financial 12,690.00 which uber will not help with nor my medical bills. What can I do?? Then the pandemic hit and I live on 700.00 a month now and food stamps. I drove approximately 40 hours a week and only made 15.00 before taxes and now I can hardly eat but they keep bugging me to drive on their platform but refuse to help me out in any regard whatsoever. Luckily and this is sad to say that my best friend died and left me her new car as a gift. Please help anyone. Plus I am mentally disabled and live on SSI which I am suffering even on the unemployment I get. What I make doesn’t come close to my bills and I am looking forward to nothing in my life right now and feel so left out as a disabled woman who worked all the time in the US driving people around as a so called independent contractor in the midst of big business who have completely capitalized on covid 19. Please help
Powerful statement. Had to read it again.
SBA administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman called the program “a crucial addition to our SBA programs because it helps us to connect with small businesses that have historically been underserved or left behind. These businesses – the smallest of the small in rural and urban America, and those owned by women, people of color or veterans – have suffered the greatest economic loss from this pandemic.â€
Really? I’m a white male, and I received some grant money from the government you have to put in the work and know who to ask for funding it does matter to a lot of people they are giving us a chance that is a lot of money that they are dispersing to people who really need it people like me and people like you if you would get up and get it for yourself it’s not racism this is the American government the American government is not racist.
Where was your concern when all minorities were left out of billions of mortgages in the 60’s and precluded from property purchases due to redlining. More recently money earmarked for minority businesses were given to non-minority women who allowed their husband to control it. Keep your narcissistic pity party to your self.
Why do we continue to hear from men who have had every advantage in history feel that oppressed people never deserve an opportunity?