MBDA Business Center Program

Business Center Program I
CFDA 11.805 Active Cooperative Agreement
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding
$2.8M FY2025
$12.8M
FY24
$2.8M
FY25

Who has received this funding

Organizations awarded under CFDA 11.805 (USAspending.gov).

Program Objective

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, will provide Federal assistance to support innovative projects seeking to promote and ensure the growth of minority enterprises. The MBDA Business Center Program provides technical assistance and business development services to minority
business enterprises (MBEs).

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • For-Profit Organization
  • Nonprofit Organization
  • Other
  • U.S. State Government
  • Local Government Consortium
  • Federally Recognized Tribal Government
  • Local

Eligible applicants include: For-profit entities (including but not limited to sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations), non-profit
organizations, institutions of higher education, commercial organizations, state and local government entities, Tribal governmental entities, and quasi-government entities.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

Each application will be reviewed and evaluated by a review panel. The panel will make funding recommendations to the Agency's Selecting Official. The Selecting Official or his/her designee will make final decisions on grant awards. The Grants Officer will process and execute the notices of award. Name checks, verification of academic credentials and pre-award audits may be required of the recipient prior to or following an award. Electronic notification of award will be generated and forwarded to the selected recipient by the Grants Officer.

Decision Timeline

  • Approval: From 90 to 120 days
  • Renewal interval: From 90 to 120 days

Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing after the award competition has ended.

Program details & compliance

Description

MBDA leads Federal Government efforts to promote the growth and global competitiveness of MBEs. MBDA has established key priorities designed to overcome the
unique challenges faced by MBEs. The primary drivers of a Minority Business Development Center are: (i) business
development and (ii) capacity building. Business development is fostering and securing new
opportunities for MBEs that result in revenue generation by: Assisting clients to increase sales and service agreements, product requests, task orders and exports; and matching opportunities and assisting qualified/vetted MBE clients to access, compete, and secure transactions that lead to a financial benefit (e.g., sales).

Capacity building occurs when MBEs are assisted with management capacity, financial capacity, and technological capacity that results in new capabilities, higher productivity, reduced costs, increased profits, workforce improvement, business expansion, and
scalability. The MBDA Business Center will assist MBEs to:
improve operational efficiencies; increase resources;
build scale; manage risk and increase liability thresholds;
strengthen management teams; access and secure financing, equity, and venture capital; raise online capital;
– increase profits and owner equity; and implement and integrate new technology and equipment.
The MBDA Business Centers manage relationships and sources of deals by promoting the interests of MBEs; educating MBEs on the benefits of strategic growth alternatives (e.g., mergers, acquisitions, and/or joint ventures); and providing service referrals to MBEs of all
sizes.

Mission Categories

Primary: Minority Business Enterprise

Other categories:
Small BusinessEconomic Development

Required Documentation

Recipients are subject to the uniform administrative requirements contained in 15 C.F.R. Part 14 or 15 C.F.R. Part 24, and in 2 C.F.R. Part 215 (OMB Circular A-110, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations) and OMB Circular A-102, Grants and Cooperative Agreements with State and Local Governments, depending on the type of recipient. Eligible costs under the award will be determined in accordance with 2 C.F.R. part 220 (OMB Circular A-21, “Cost Principles for Educational Organizations), 2 C.F.R. part 225 (OMB Circular A-87, “Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments), 2 C.F.R. part 230 (OMB Circular A-122, “Cost Principles for Nonprofit Organizations) or 48 C.F.R. Part 31 for commercial organizations and for those organizations listed in Attachment C to OMB Circular A-122.

Matching Requirements

Cost sharing is not required for Years 1 and 2 of the award (due to financial recovery from the economic impact of COVID-19). A non-federal cost share of 33% of the Federal Funding is required for years 3 -5.

Reporting & Compliance

Audit Required
Yes — Ad-hoc
Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Lester Purnell — Program Manager
(202)738-6362
1401 Constitution Ave C300, Washington, DC 20230
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-03-11. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-05-28 07:24:31.