WASHINGTON – Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today urged organizations to participate in the Small Business Teaming Pilot program established with the enactment of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010.
“Too often small businesses are shut out of federal contracting process,” said Senator Landrieu. “The Teaming Pilot program will create another lifeline for small business owners by giving them an avenue to seek guidance and receive answers to business development questions. Through these efforts, we hope to spark a cooperative effort among small businesses to compete for bundled contracts. We are reaffirming our commitment to the entrepreneurs of America. Programs, like the Teaming Pilot program, will help stimulate economic growth and help Main Street businesses expand.”
This week, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it is accepting grant applications from eligible and well-established organizations interested in providing technical assistance and resources for small businesses.
According to the SBA, eligible applicants must:
- Be a private, non-profit or for-profit entity
- Have been in existence continually for the past three years
- Have experience dealing with issues relating to small business on a national level
- Demonstrate that it has the capacity to provide assistance to small businesses
With the implementation of this new program, the SBA anticipates awarding 10 to 20 grants in the range of $250,000-$500,000 totaling up to $5 million for fiscal year 2011. All applications must be submitted electronically via the government-wide financial assistance portal www.grants.gov no later than February 25, 2011.