MBDA Grant Announcements

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The U.S. Minority Business Development Agency has announced Three Grant Competitions that are currently accepting applications:

MBDA Business Center Grant Competition

The Minority Business Development Agency is seeking proposals from eligible entities to operate MBDA Business Centers in six new locations including: Arkansas, Indiana, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin.
Deadline: Applications must be submitted to Grants.gov no later than June 2, 2022 at 11:59 PM EST

Minority Colleges and Universities Grant Competition

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) made a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), totaling an estimated $1.8 million in federal grants, for qualified organizations to develop entrepreneurship programs for students at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). The grants will be for a two-year term but funded one year at a time.
Deadline: Applications must be submitted to Grants.gov no later than May 25, 2022 at 11:59 PM EST

Access to Capital: Innovative Finance Grant Competition

The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) seeks market solutions to the barriers of access to capital that acknowledge lack of traditional collateral/assets as an impediment for minority business enterprises (MBEs) . The Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) requests applications from qualified organizations for projects addressing these historical barriers by leveraging non-traditional financial resources. The projects can utilize technical assistance models, pilot innovative solutions, leverage technology, advance research and data, or provide education to non-traditional lenders.
Deadline: Applications must be submitted to Grants.gov no later than June 5, 2022 at 11:59 PM EST

For additional details, official press releases, and to register for the Pre-Application Conference series for the competitions, visit www.mbda.gov/grants.

How to become 8(a) Certified!

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Learn how to become 8(a) Certified! – Recorded Webinar
Watch this recorded webinar to receive answers to the following questions:
Is becoming 8(a) certified important to your business? What impact in revenue will this have on your business? Will the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act require you to be 8(a) certified? Who can assist you with the certification process? Read more

Umpqua Bank Crowdfunding Partnership Accelerates No-Cost Financing for BIPOC, Women Entrepreneurs

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Umpqua Bank – as part of the bank’s Small Business Empowerment Program – announced a partnership with Kiva, a nonprofit unlocking capital through crowd-funded loans for entrepreneurs, to spark the creation and growth of BIPOC and women-owned businesses through a new $1M Umpqua Bank Managed Loan Fund.

The fund will sit on Kiva’s innovative crowd-funding platform and will enable minority and women entrepreneurs across Umpqua Bank’s six state footprint to apply for a 0% interest loan up to $15,000.

Read more

BINW Blog: What Is The New $600 Digital Transaction Rule With The IRS? Here’s What You Need to Know.

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Online sales boomed during the pandemic, and the government took note. A lot of micro businesses have depended on third-party apps like Venmo and Cash App this entire time. This seems like a good solution, but only for the short term. If your side hustle, micro business, hobby selling, or reselling business will make digital transactions totaling $600 or more this year through these apps, it will need to be reported to the IRS. This new rule went into effect beginning January 1, 2022. This means you will need to monitor your income this year to report it in 2023. Read more

WA MBDA Client Among 10 Selected for LISC, Amazon Fellowship Award

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SEATTLE (March 17, 2022) —The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has selected 10 local real estate developers focused on affordable housing to participate in its inaugural Housing Equity Accelerator (HEA) program, funded by a grant from the Amazon Housing Equity Fund.

> We are excited that among the selected developers is a client of our Washington MBDA Business Center – Annette Demps of A&D Construction. Congratulations to Annette!

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Washington MBDA Business Center: COVID-19 Business Information & Resources

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See the following news and information compiled by Washington MBDA Business Center related to COVID-19 business resources. You can also follow us on our Facebook page for more updates.

Latest Updates:

COVID-19 EIDL Update – Small Business Administration
As of January 1, 2022, SBA stopped accepting applications for new COVID-19 EIDL loans or advances. As of May 6, 2022, the COVID-19 EIDL funds are exhausted. SBA is no longer accepting COVID-19 EIDL loan increase requests or requests for reconsideration. Approved borrowers that have not signed their loan closing documents must do so by May 16, 2022, or will face delayed disbursement or possible loss of funding. The COVID-19 EIDL portal (covid19relief1.sba.gov, also known as the “RAPID portal”) will close on May 16, 2022. Borrowers should download their loan documents from the portal prior to this date. Learn more.

Visit the Washington MBDA Events Calendar for Informational Webinars and Workshops to help with business recovery.

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Executive Order Rescinds Directive for Washington State Initiative 200 (I-200)

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Inslee updates decades-old affirmative action guidance to better achieve equity in hiring, education and contracting. Instead, the directive was overly restrictive.

On January 17th, Gov. Jay Inslee signed an executive order that rescinds Directive 98–01, a 23-year-old document that was supposed to provide agencies with instructions on how to implement Initiative 200 (I-200) on affirmative action. Read more

Washington MBDA Business Center: COVID-19 Business Information & Resources

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See the following news and information compiled by Washington MBDA Business Center related to COVID-19 business resources. You can also follow us on our Facebook page for more updates.

Latest Updates:

Existing COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program Borrowers to Receive an Additional Deferment – SBA
On March 15, 2022, the SBA announced additional deferment of principal and interest payments for existing COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program borrowers for a total of 30 months deferment from inception on all approved COVID EIDL loans. Read more.

Visit the Washington MBDA Events Calendar for Informational Webinars and Workshops to help with business recovery.

Read more

2021 MBDA Accomplishments

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Now a permanent agency, MBDA is poised to develop and deliver additional resources that will help minority businesses grow in number and scope. Minority business in the U.S. has come a long way since the inception of MBDA in 1969, and we are on the cusp of a new surge in minority entrepreneurship that will fuel economic growth across the nation.

MBDA 2021 Year in Review

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This has been a momentous year for the Minority Business Development Agency! Join us in taking a look back on the challenges and achievements of 2021.

2021 Year highlights include:

– Infrastructure Law Making MBDA Permanent
– Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (Coronavirus Relief Act)
– MBDA Business Centers – 35 Centers Funded
– National Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week)
– Buy MBE Day
– MBDA Specialty Centers
– and more…

Read full article here.

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Tacoma, Washington 98402