Opportunity Information: Apply for SB OEDWB 26 002
The SBA WBC Modernization Initiative FY26 (Funding Opportunity Number SB OEDWB 26 002) is a Small Business Administration discretionary funding opportunity designed to modernize and better align how Women s Business Centers deliver services across an entire state or territory. The core idea is to shift toward a more coordinated model where one organization serves as a Lead Center and builds or manages a connected network of Service Centers. Together, that statewide or territory-wide network is expected to provide more consistent, comprehensive business assistance so entrepreneurs can access support that is better organized, more evenly available across regions, and aligned with local needs rather than fragmented by geography or provider.
This opportunity will be awarded as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the SBA expects a more hands-on partnership than a typical grant. Recipients should be prepared for active coordination with the agency, structured reporting, and ongoing engagement around implementation and performance. The funding activity focus is Business and Commerce, and the program is listed under CFDA 59.043.
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that have IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). In addition to that general eligibility rule, the competition is geographically restricted to applicants located in and proposing to serve as the Lead Center for one of the following areas: Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Wyoming. A key requirement is that the selected awardee must reside in the same state or territory where it will operate as the Lead Center, so organizations cannot apply to lead a state where they are not based. The geographic restriction is intended to support a more evenly distributed allocation of funding by population, rather than concentrating resources in only a few locations.
Organizations selected as Lead Centers will be responsible for designing and carrying out an integrated service delivery approach. In practical terms, that means creating a coordinated plan that ensures statewide or territory-wide coverage, reduces duplication, fills service gaps, and connects entrepreneurs to the right assistance regardless of where they are located. The Lead Center is expected to align resources across its network of Service Centers so that programming, outreach, and service delivery are consistent, complementary, and responsive to the specific needs of local entrepreneurs. While the notice does not list specific required activities in the excerpt provided, the emphasis is clearly on network design, operational coordination, and ensuring comprehensive access to services rather than operating as a single standalone center.
The SBA anticipates making 8 awards under this competition. The maximum funding amount listed (award ceiling) is $2,084,765. The opportunity was created on July 10, 2026, and the original application closing deadline is August 10, 2026.Apply for SB OEDWB 26 002
- The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SBA WBC Modernization Initiative FY26" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.043.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-10. (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 $2,084,765.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 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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FAQs: SBA WBC Modernization Initiative FY26 (SB OEDWB 26 002)
What is the SBA WBC Modernization Initiative FY26?
The SBA WBC Modernization Initiative FY26 is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Small Business Administration focused on modernizing how Women's Business Centers (WBCs) deliver services across an entire state or territory. The goal is to move away from fragmented service delivery and toward a coordinated, statewide (or territory-wide) model.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose is to better align and organize business assistance so entrepreneurs can access support that is more consistent, comprehensive, and evenly available across regions. The initiative emphasizes coordinated coverage, reduced duplication, filling service gaps, and aligning services with local needs rather than having support vary widely based on geography or provider.
How will service delivery change under this initiative?
The initiative is built around a network model. One organization serves as a Lead Center and builds or manages a connected network of Service Centers across the state or territory. That network is expected to work together to provide coordinated programming, outreach, and service delivery.
What is a Lead Center in this program?
A Lead Center is the primary organization responsible for designing and carrying out an integrated approach to service delivery across the entire state or territory. The Lead Center is expected to coordinate its network of Service Centers so entrepreneurs can be connected to the right assistance regardless of where they are located.
What are Service Centers in the context of this opportunity?
Service Centers are the connected centers within the statewide or territory-wide network managed or coordinated by the Lead Center. Together, the Lead Center and Service Centers are expected to deliver consistent and complementary business assistance across the region served.
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity will be awarded as a cooperative agreement. That generally means SBA expects a more hands-on partnership than a typical grant, including active coordination with the agency, structured reporting, and ongoing engagement around implementation and performance.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SB OEDWB 26 002.
What is the program area or activity focus?
The funding activity focus is Business and Commerce.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The program is listed under CFDA 59.043.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status. Institutions of higher education are excluded under the eligibility rules provided.
Are universities or colleges eligible to apply?
No. The eligibility description provided excludes institutions of higher education.
Is eligibility limited by location?
Yes. This is a geographically restricted competition. Applicants must be located in (and propose to serve as the Lead Center for) one of the specified states or territories listed in the opportunity information.
Which states and territories are eligible under this competition?
The competition is limited to Lead Center applicants located in: Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Can an organization apply to lead a state or territory where it is not based?
No. A key requirement is that the selected awardee must reside in the same state or territory where it will operate as the Lead Center. Organizations cannot apply to lead a state or territory where they are not located.
Why is the competition geographically restricted?
The geographic restriction is intended to support a more evenly distributed allocation of funding by population, rather than concentrating resources in only a few locations.
What are Lead Centers expected to do if selected?
Lead Centers are expected to design and implement an integrated service delivery approach across the state or territory. In practical terms, that includes planning for statewide or territory-wide coverage, reducing duplication of services, filling gaps, and aligning network resources so programming and outreach are consistent, complementary, and responsive to local entrepreneur needs.
Does the provided notice list specific required activities?
The excerpt provided does not list specific required activities. However, it clearly emphasizes network design, operational coordination, and ensuring comprehensive access to services through a coordinated statewide or territory-wide system rather than operating as a single standalone center.
How many awards does SBA anticipate making?
SBA anticipates making 8 awards under this competition.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling (maximum funding amount listed) is $2,084,765.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on July 10, 2026.
What is the application deadline?
The original application closing deadline is August 10, 2026.
What is the overall service goal for entrepreneurs under this initiative?
The network is expected to provide more consistent and comprehensive business assistance so entrepreneurs can access support that is better organized, more evenly available across regions, and aligned with local needs, instead of being fragmented by geography or provider.
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| Small Business Transportation Technical Assistance Center (Region 5) Apply for OST OSDBU 2026 SBTTAC REGION 5 FY2026 1 Funding Number: OST OSDBU 2026 SBTTAC REGION 5 FY2026 1 Agency: 69A350 OSDBU Category: Business and Commerce Funding Amount: $382,925 |
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