Opportunity Information: Apply for ONAA 7J 2019 01
The Native American Micro Enterprise Business Services grant (Funding Opportunity No. ONAA-7j-2019-01) was a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Business Development, through its Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA). It opened on July 10, 2019 and closed on August 5, 2019. The program was issued under the authority of Section 7(j) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(j)) and implementing regulations in 13 C.F.R. Parts 701-704, with NAICS code 541611 (administrative management and general management consulting services). The central idea was to fund unique and innovative projects that deliver management and technical assistance, entrepreneurial education, and other business development services, specifically aimed at strengthening Native American microenterprise activity and expanding opportunity in underserved markets.
The opportunity was rooted in ONAA's mission to ensure American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians have full access to SBA business development tools, including entrepreneurial development, lending, and procurement programs. While ONAA had historically supported these communities through national contractor-led workshops, roundtables, tribal consultations, interagency coordination, and participation in economic development events, this solicitation explicitly stated it did not want applicants to simply replicate what ONAA or SBA already provides. Instead, SBA sought proposals that bring fresh approaches and new delivery methods tailored to the real-world needs of Native American entrepreneurs, particularly at the microenterprise level and in underserved rural or urban areas. A key emphasis was supporting microenterprises that not only grow themselves but also serve their surrounding communities, with the broader goal of maximizing local economic impact and improving quality of life.
Eligible client services under this funding were tied to the Section 7(j) framework, which focuses on management and technical assistance for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and businesses. The announcement explains that, to be eligible for 7(j) services, the intended beneficiaries generally must be socially and economically disadvantaged individuals whose firms participate in the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program, are eligible to receive 8(a) contracts, or otherwise qualify as a small business under SBA size standards (13 C.F.R. Part 121). In addition, eligibility can hinge on location and income factors, such as operating in an urban or rural area with a high proportion of unemployed or low-income individuals, or being owned by low-income individuals. The notice provides specific definitions: "high proportion of unemployed" refers to counties with unemployment not less than 140 percent of the applicable U.S. or state average (based on Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics), and "low-income individual" refers to family taxable income not exceeding 150 percent of the poverty level established by the U.S. Census Bureau for poverty status determinations.
From an applicant perspective, the competition was described as open (unrestricted eligibility) subject to any additional clarifications in the full announcement. SBA anticipated making about 7 awards, with an award ceiling of $100,000 per award (CFDA/Assistance Listing 59.007; activity category Business and Commerce). Applicants were expected to propose specialized, impactful assistance models that go beyond standard counseling or training. The announcement highlights the kinds of challenges SBA wanted applicants to address through novel approaches, including helping firms team with other businesses, better navigate and compete for federal procurement opportunities, and reverse declines or re-energize small businesses that may be struggling. In other words, proposals needed to show both relevance to Native American microenterprise conditions and a credible plan for delivering assistance in ways that are clearly distinct from existing SBA offerings.
Overall, this grant opportunity was designed to strengthen the long-term success of Native American entrepreneurs by funding organizations that could deliver high-value, innovative technical assistance and training. The program focused on microenterprise development in underserved areas, aligned with SBA's broader role of promoting small business growth not only through loans and contracting support, but also by investing in organizations that provide hands-on counseling, training, and management improvement services. The most competitive proposals would have been those that demonstrated an original model, targeted the right eligible beneficiaries under Section 7(j), and delivered measurable, community-centered outcomes rather than duplicating SBA's established workshop and technical assistance formats.Apply for ONAA 7J 2019 01
- The Small Business Administration in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Native American Micro Enterprise Business Services" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 59.007.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 10, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 05, 2019. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Native American Micro Enterprise Business Services Grant (ONAA-7j-2019-01) FAQs
What is the Native American Micro Enterprise Business Services grant?
It was a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Business Development, through the Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA). The purpose was to fund unique and innovative projects that deliver management and technical assistance, entrepreneurial education, and other business development services aimed at strengthening Native American microenterprise activity and expanding opportunity in underserved markets.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
Funding Opportunity No. ONAA-7j-2019-01.
When did the application period open and close?
The opportunity opened on July 10, 2019 and closed on August 5, 2019.
Which SBA office issued this opportunity?
The SBA Office of Business Development, through its Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA).
What legal authority and regulations governed the program?
The opportunity was issued under Section 7(j) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(j)) and implementing regulations in 13 C.F.R. Parts 701-704.
What NAICS code was associated with this funding opportunity?
NAICS 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services).
What was ONAA trying to accomplish with this solicitation?
The central goal was to strengthen the long-term success of Native American entrepreneurs by investing in organizations that could deliver high-value, innovative technical assistance and training to microenterprises, especially in underserved rural or urban areas, with measurable and community-centered outcomes.
Who was the SBA ultimately trying to serve through the funded projects?
The focus was on Native American entrepreneurs and microenterprises, aligned with ONAA's mission to ensure American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians have full access to SBA business development tools and opportunities.
What types of services were intended to be delivered with grant funds?
Services included management and technical assistance, entrepreneurial education, and other business development services. The solicitation emphasized specialized, impactful assistance models that go beyond standard counseling or training formats.
Was ONAA looking for projects that replicate existing SBA or ONAA workshops and events?
No. The solicitation explicitly stated it did not want applicants to simply replicate what ONAA or SBA already provides. SBA sought fresh approaches and new delivery methods tailored to real-world needs of Native American entrepreneurs at the microenterprise level.
What kinds of "innovative" or "fresh approach" outcomes did SBA highlight?
The notice highlighted addressing challenges such as helping firms team with other businesses, improving how firms navigate and compete for federal procurement opportunities, and reversing declines or re-energizing small businesses that may be struggling, using delivery methods distinct from existing SBA offerings.
How does Section 7(j) relate to who can receive services under this grant?
Eligible client services were tied to the Section 7(j) framework, which focuses on management and technical assistance for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and businesses.
Who generally qualifies as an eligible beneficiary for Section 7(j) services, as described in the notice?
The announcement indicated intended beneficiaries generally must be socially and economically disadvantaged individuals whose firms participate in the SBA 8(a) Business Development Program, are eligible to receive 8(a) contracts, or otherwise qualify as a small business under SBA size standards (13 C.F.R. Part 121).
Did the notice mention any location- or income-based eligibility factors?
Yes. Eligibility can hinge on factors such as operating in an urban or rural area with a high proportion of unemployed or low-income individuals, or being owned by low-income individuals.
How did the announcement define a "high proportion of unemployed" area?
It referred to counties with unemployment not less than 140 percent of the applicable U.S. or state average, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
How did the announcement define a "low-income individual"?
A low-income individual was defined as having family taxable income not exceeding 150 percent of the poverty level established by the U.S. Census Bureau for poverty status determinations.
Who was eligible to apply for this grant?
The competition was described as open (unrestricted eligibility), subject to any additional clarifications in the full announcement.
How many awards did SBA expect to make?
SBA anticipated making about 7 awards.
What was the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling was $100,000 per award.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number and activity category?
CFDA/Assistance Listing 59.007, activity category Business and Commerce.
What types of markets or geographies were emphasized?
The solicitation emphasized underserved markets, including underserved rural or urban areas, and prioritized microenterprise-level needs within those environments.
What was the broader economic development rationale behind supporting microenterprises?
A key emphasis was supporting microenterprises that not only grow themselves but also serve their surrounding communities, with the broader goal of maximizing local economic impact and improving quality of life.
How did this opportunity connect to ONAA's broader mission and past activities?
ONAA's mission is to ensure American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians have full access to SBA entrepreneurial development, lending, and procurement programs. Historically, ONAA supported these communities through contractor-led workshops, roundtables, tribal consultations, interagency coordination, and participation in economic development events; however, this solicitation sought proposals that were clearly distinct from those established formats.
What would have made a proposal more competitive, based on the description provided?
More competitive proposals would have demonstrated an original assistance model, clearly targeted eligible beneficiaries under Section 7(j), addressed real microenterprise challenges (including procurement navigation and business revitalization), avoided duplicating existing SBA offerings, and delivered measurable, community-centered outcomes.
Was this opportunity focused on lending or direct financial assistance to businesses?
The description emphasized funding organizations to provide hands-on counseling, training, management improvement, and other technical assistance services, rather than describing a loan or direct cash assistance program for individual businesses.
Is this grant still open?
No. Based on the dates provided, the solicitation closed on August 5, 2019.
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