Minority Colleges and Universities | MBDA OBD 2022 2007301

Opportunity Information: Apply for MBDA OBD 2022 2007301

The Minority Colleges and Universities grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number MBDA OBD 2022 2007301) is a discretionary funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Commerce, administered through the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). It is issued as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and will be awarded using a cooperative agreement, meaning recipients should expect substantial involvement from the federal agency during project implementation rather than operating with full independence as they might under a standard grant.

The purpose of the opportunity is to fund eligible institutions of higher education to design and run education and training programs for undergraduate students that focus on practical subjects tied directly to successful entrepreneurship. The central idea is to strengthen the pipeline of future entrepreneurs by giving students the knowledge and skills needed to start, grow, and sustain businesses, with an emphasis on outcomes that support minority business enterprises (MBEs). Proposals are expected to align with MBDA strategic mission goals, particularly the goal of building a diverse entrepreneurial pipeline that increases the number and success of MBEs. The opportunity also explicitly connects to the Administration's broader priority of advancing racial equity and improving federal support for underserved communities, so applicants should frame their program design, recruitment, partnerships, and measurable outcomes in a way that clearly contributes to those equity objectives.

Funding is listed under CFDA 11.802, and the activity category is described broadly as environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development, which suggests MBDA is open to entrepreneurship programming connected to innovation-driven fields as long as it is clearly tied to entrepreneurship education and training. The expected number of awards is six, and the maximum award amount (ceiling) is $300,711. The announcement was created on April 25, 2022, with an original application deadline of May 25, 2022.

MBDA also scheduled optional pre-application teleconferences to help potential applicants understand the requirements and ask questions. These sessions were set for May 5, May 12, and May 19, 2022 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with a requirement that participants register at least 24 hours in advance. Registration and additional details were provided through the MBDA website (www.mbda.gov).

In practical terms, a competitive application would be expected to describe a well-structured undergraduate entrepreneurship program (for example, coursework modules, mentorship, experiential learning, venture development support, business planning, access to networks and capital readiness training), show how it will recruit and serve students in a way that strengthens participation from underserved communities, and define clear performance measures tied to MBDA's mission (such as student completion, venture launches, internships with MBEs, business formation support, or other pipeline outcomes). Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, applicants should also anticipate coordination with MBDA during rollout, reporting, and potentially program refinement based on federal priorities and oversight expectations.

• The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Minority Colleges and Universities" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.802.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 25, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 25, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,711.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for MBDA OBD 2022 2007301

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