Opportunity Information: Apply for PRIME 2017 01
The PRIME 2017 opportunity (Opportunity Number PRIME-2017-01) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs Act (PRIME Act). It was posted on May 16, 2017, and applications were due June 16, 2017. The program is tied to CFDA 59.050 and is intended to strengthen microenterprise support systems by funding training, technical assistance, and organizational capacity building that ultimately helps disadvantaged entrepreneurs start, stabilize, or grow small businesses.
At its core, PRIME is designed to channel federal dollars to mission-driven organizations that already work closely with underserved communities. The PRIME Act (enacted in 1999) authorizes SBA to fund four broad purposes: delivering training and technical assistance directly to disadvantaged entrepreneurs; providing training and capacity building support to microenterprise development organizations (MDOs) and programs; supporting research and the development of best practices for microenterprise and technical assistance models; and other related activities SBA determines appropriate. PRIME 2017 focuses primarily on the first two purposes through two funding tracks described in the announcement.
The solicitation offers two main tracks. Track 1, labeled Technical Assistance, supports projects that deliver hands-on business training and technical assistance to disadvantaged entrepreneurs. The examples provided emphasize targeted interventions such as strengthening cooperatives that serve economically disadvantaged communities and building entrepreneurship pathways for people impacted by the criminal justice system, including individuals on parole or probation and those who are incarcerated but nearing release. Track 2, labeled Capacity Building, funds projects that improve the ability of MDOs and similar programs to deliver microenterprise services more effectively. This includes training and systems-building assistance that helps organizations expand or improve programming for the same kinds of priority populations, such as cooperatives in disadvantaged areas and justice-involved individuals seeking to pursue self-employment.
Eligibility is limited to specific organization types with a demonstrated connection to microenterprise development. Applicants must clearly show they are one of the following: a microenterprise development organization or program (or a collaborative/group of such entities) like a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution or similar organization with a track record of serving disadvantaged entrepreneurs; an eligible intermediary (as defined in the program announcement) with experience delivering technical assistance to disadvantaged entrepreneurs; a community-accountable microenterprise organization or program working in conjunction with a state or local government or an Indian Tribe; or an Indian Tribe applying on its own if it can certify there is no qualifying private microenterprise organization/program operating within its jurisdiction. The announcement also notes that for-profit organizations and individuals cannot apply. The source information indicates nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status are eligible, and it also states that higher education institutions are eligible, suggesting certain universities or college-based centers may qualify depending on how they meet the detailed criteria in the full program announcement.
Funding details are straightforward but important for planning. SBA expected total program funding of up to $5 million. Individual awards range from $50,000 (floor) to $250,000 (ceiling). SBA anticipated making roughly 35 awards under the announcement, although one portion of the source data mentions an expected awards figure of 63, which may reflect a reporting artifact or an updated internal estimate; the narrative portion of the announcement emphasizes approximately 35 awards. The period of performance was expected to begin during FY 2017.
A key requirement is cost sharing: applicants must provide a 50% match. In practice, that means organizations needed to bring substantial non-federal resources to the table (cash and/or allowable in-kind support, depending on the full announcement rules). This matching requirement signals that SBA wanted awardees that could leverage federal funds and demonstrate local or philanthropic backing for the proposed work.
Applications were to be evaluated based on alignment with the PRIME Act purposes and on the quality and fit of the proposed project. SBA highlighted the importance of mission-oriented and culturally competent approaches, with services that reflect local community demographics. In other words, competitive proposals would not only describe business training or capacity building activities, but also show they are designed for the specific communities being served and delivered in a way that is credible, accessible, and responsive to local needs. The announcement points applicants to Section 5.0 for the detailed evaluation criteria and Section 3.0 for full eligibility rules.
For questions or clarification, the SBA Office of Economic Opportunity was the point of contact, reachable at prime@sba.gov. Overall, PRIME 2017 is best understood as a federal investment in community-based organizations and intermediaries that can measurably expand high-quality microenterprise training and support for disadvantaged entrepreneurs, while also building stronger local infrastructure for long-term small business development in underserved areas.Apply for PRIME 2017 01
- The Small Business Administration in the employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Prime 2017" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.050.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-05-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-06-16. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 63 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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