Fiscal Year 2009: Not applicable; program will start in FY 2011. Fiscal Year 2010: Not applicable; program will start in FY 2011. Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

Uses and Use Restrictions

Program funds in this category are to be used by MBC operators to provide services including, but not limited to, development of a pool of contracting and financing opportunities; direct matching of opportunities with qualified/vetted MBEs; execution of relationship management and deal sourcing initiatives; assisting MBEs in accessing global market opportunities; identification and securing of alternative sources of capital for MBEs; promotion of the advantages of achieving size and scale; educating MBEs on the benefits of strategic alternatives (i.e.

mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and/or divestitures); and provision of service referrals to MBEs of all sizes.

The uses and use restrictions are more specifically defined in the applicable Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO).

People Building Stronger Communities

County Sets $920,000 to Fund Economic Development Incentives

Hispanic Youth Exposure to Food and Beverage TV Ads Investigated

Aerobic Exercise May Better Improve Insulin Sensitivity and Reduce Fats among Obese Teen Girls

Hecktown Volunteer Ambulance Corps Shuts Down After 51 Years of Service

High Priority on Economic Development

The 411 on Homelessness

Civic Engagement Evokes New Economic Opportunities

JPMorgan Chase & Co Develops Grant Program for Small Businesses, Create Affordable Housing

Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced-Priced Meals

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants eligible to operate MBC projects are nonprofit organizations, for-profit firms, State and local governments, Native American Tribal entities, and educational institutions.

Beneficiary Eligibility

The MBC program serves all eligible minority business enterprises through direct services or through strategic partner referral. Eligible beneficiaries of this program are: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, Native Americans (including Alaska Natives, Alaska Native Corporations and Tribal entities), Asian Indians and Hasidic Jews. See 15 C.F.R. § 1400.1-.2 and Executive Order 11625.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication conferences will be scheduled for most MBDA program competitions.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. All applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.Gov. Applicants must submit a program narrative, detailed budget and budget narrative and applicable standard forms (SF) and Department of Commerce (CD) forms. Application packages will be made available on Grants.gov.

Award Procedures

Each application will be reviewed and evaluated by MBDA. The Agency will make funding recommendations to the Grants Officer. The Grants Officer will review the recommendations, process the funding requests 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.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Executive Order 11625, 15 U.S.C 1512.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 120 to 180 days. Unsuccessful applicants shall be notified in writing within ten days of notification to the successful applicant.

Appeals

All decisions are final. There are no administrative appeals; however, unsuccessful applicants may request a debriefing from MBDA.

Renewals

From 60 to 90 days. MBC awards are typically made for a period of five years, with funding renewed on an annual basis at the discretion of MBDA and the Department of Commerce based upon the availability of funds, the MBC s performance level, and Agency priorities.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: Cost share requirements are outlined in the applicable Federal Register Notice and the Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards are generally made for a five-year period, but may be made for a shorter period at the discretion of MBDA. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program compliance reports are required.

Financial (quarterly and annual) reports are required.

Performance progress reports (semi-annual and annual/final) are required for each program year.

Expenditure reports are not applicable.

Performance monitoring will be conducted by MBDA throughout the duration of the award.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Audits shall be performed in accordance with the requirements contained in Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. OMB Circular A-133 requires that non-profit organizations, government agencies, Indian tribes and educational institutions expending $500,000 or more in federal funds during a one-year period conduct a single audit in accordance with guidelines outlined in the Circular. Commercial and other organizations not covered by OMB Circular A-133 will be subject to the audit requirements set forth in the terms and conditions of the award. In addition, audits may be conducted by the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General and by other authorized federal agencies.

Records

Documents, papers and financial records of grantees or subrecipients relating to the award are required to remain available to the Federal Government for three years from the date of submission of the final financial status report, unless a longer retention period is required under 15 CFR Section 14.53 or 15 CFR Section 24.42 (depending on the type of recipient).

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-0201-0-1-376.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 09 $0; FY 10 est $0; FY 11 est $9,556,012 - Program will start in FY 2011.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$225,000 to $600,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the nearest Minority Business Development Agency Regional Office listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office

Rita Gonzales, Program Manager, Office of Business Development, Minority Business Development Agency, Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20230. Phone: (202) 482-1940.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Applications submitted are competitively evaluated and awarded. Selection criteria includes such factors as capability and experience of staff assigned to the project, techniques and methodology, resources, costs, and alignment with program priorities. Past performance under an MBDA, Department of Commerce or other federal award may also be considered when selecting proposals for an MBC award.