State Small Business Credit Initiative Technical Assistance Grant Program
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
Section 3301 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), Public Law No. 117-2 (March 11, 2021), reauthorized and amended the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010SSBCI statute, codified at 12 U.S.C. § 5701 et seq., to provide funding for (1) the SSBCI Capital Program and (2) technical assistance (TA) to support eligible small businesses applying for the SSBCI Capital Program and other federal or other jurisdiction programs that support small businesses. The SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program provides $200 million (due to Congressionally directed rescission in PL 188-47, the available funding is $196.3 million) in formula grants for technical assistance funding for states, territories, the District of Columbia, and Tribal governments (collectively, “jurisdictions”) that submitted complete and timely applications for the SSBCI Capital Program. These jurisdictions are the eligible recipients under the SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program.
The SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program is intended to provide funds to eligible recipients to provide legal, accounting, and financial advisory services either directly or through legal, accounting, or financial advisory firms to very small businesses (VSB) and business enterprises owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI-owned businesses), as those terms are defined in SSBCI guidance. The primary goal of the SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program is to help VSBs and SEDI-owned businesses meaningfully apply and participate in the SSBCI Capital program or other Federal or other jurisdiction programs that support small businesses. Eligible recipients may apply to Treasury for a portion of the SSBCI Formula TA Grant program funding. The deadline for eligible states, the District of Columbia, territories, and Tribal governments to submit a Formula TA application has passed. Treasury issued SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program Guidelines dated April 28, 2022. The SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program is related to and supports the SSBCI Capital Program and the SSBCI Competitive TA Grant Program. Under the SSBCI Capital Program, Treasury allocates funds to jurisdictions for small business financing programs, which includes loan participation, loan guarantee, collateral support, venture equity, and capital access programs. Under Section 3003(c)(5) of the SSBCI statute as codified at 31 U.S.C. 5702(c)(5), SSBCI Capital Program funding is not considered financial assistance for purposes of subtitle V of title 31, United States Code.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- U.S. State Government
- U.S. Territory Government
- Federally Recognized Tribal Government
SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program funding is available for states, the District of Columbia, territories, and Tribal governments that submitted complete and timely applications for the SSBCI Capital Program. These jurisdictions are the eligible jurisdictions of the SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program.
Beneficiaries
- Small Business Person
Very small businesses and business enterprises owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI-owned businesses). Profit organization, Other private institution/organization, Small business, Private nonprofit institution/organization
How to Apply
Award Procedure
SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program funding is available for states, the District of Columbia, territories, and Tribal governments that submitted complete and timely applications for the SSBCI Capital Program. These jurisdictions are the eligible recipients of the SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program. Eligible recipients that submit a complete TA application that meets the requirements in the SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program Guidelines and other guidance will receive funding. The amount of SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program funding available for each eligible recipient is based on a formula allocation. Awards are approved by the Chief Program Officer at the Office of Capital Access in Domestic Finance.
Program details & compliance
Description
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) permits Treasury to allocate funds for the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Technical Assistance (TA) Grant Program (Formula). The SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible jurisdictions to carry out TA plans, under which eligible recipients will provide legal, accounting, and financial advisory services to very small businesses (VSBs) and business enterprises owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI-owned businesses), either directly or contracted with legal, accounting, or financial advisory firms. The SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program is intended to assist VSBs and SEDI-owned businesses that are currently applying, preparing to apply for, or have previously applied for the SSBCI Capital Program or other Federal or jurisdiction program that supports small businesses.
Mission Categories
Primary: Small Business
Other categories:
Economic Development
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
Business/Commerce, Economic Development. Grant funds provided to recipients under the SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program are intended to be used by eligible recipients to assist very small businesses (VSBs) and business enterprises owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI-owned businesses) applying for the SSBCI Capital Program, or another Federal or other jurisdiction program that supports small businesses. Generally, the types of assistance will include Business/Commerce, Economic Development, and Training.Grant funds may not be used in a manner that is prohibited by the grant agreement, including in a manner that is prohibited by the SSBCI statute (12 U.S.C. § 5701 et seq.), Treasury’s SSBCI TA Grant Program guidance, including the SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program Guidelines and FAQs, and 2 CFR Part 200.
Required Documentation
SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program funding is available for states, the District of Columbia, territories, and Tribal governments that submitted complete and timely applications for the SSBCI Capital Program. These jurisdictions are the eligible recipients of the SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program. Eligible jurisdictions must submit Formula TA applications, which include Formula TA plans that address how they intend to provide legal, accounting, and financial advisory services to VSBs and SEDI- owned businesses applying for an SSBCI Capital Program, or other federal or other jurisdiction program that supports small businesses. Required components of the Formula TA plan include a description of proposed Formula TA projects, the needs of eligible beneficiaries, the organizational capacity and ability of the TA providers, the connection between the project and SSBCI or other federal or jurisdiction program that supports small businesses, the strategy for reaching eligible beneficiaries, and performance goals.
Treasury issued SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program Guidelines dated April 28, 2022. The deadline for SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program applications of eligible jurisdictions that are states, the District of Columbia, and territories has passed. Eligible jurisdictions that are Tribal governments have until October 27, 2023, to submit SSBCI Formula TA Grant Program applications to Treasury.
Treasury will assess Formula TA applications based on the following factors:
• Alignment of the project design with the needs of eligible beneficiaries;
• Alignment of the performance goals and benchmarks with project design;
• Adequacy of the organizational capacity and ability of the TA providers;
• Alignment of the budget with project design and performance goals; and
• Completeness of the Formula TA applications.
Information on necessary documentation can be found on the Treasury website via the following link: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/small-business-programs/state-small-business-credit-initiative-ssbci
2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.
Reporting & Compliance
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