The SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program offers funding to nonprofits, state and local governments, universities, and tribal entities to partner with SBA at the center of a hub and spoke network.
As the awardee, the Idaho Hispanic Foundation will act as the hub for this grant. Although not a part of the wheel, the Idaho SBDC will work with individuals in Idaho’s entrepreneurial community to help gain access to capital, procure government contracts, assist in marketing, operations, business development, and exporting. Idaho SBDC’s consultants meet businesses where they are and work with entrepreneurs to recover from the economic downturn and continue to grow.
While all small businesses are eligible, Community Navigator specifically acknowledges disadvantaged business entities and other underserved segments as priorities for economic recovery efforts. Of 502 applications, only 51 awards were selected for funding. The Idaho SBDC will work alongside the Idaho Hispanic Foundation to support the Idaho small business community.
On Wednesday, November 17, many of Idaho’s nonprofits gathered at JUMP (Jack’s Urban Meeting Place) in Boise to hear from US Small Business Administration, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Women’s Business Ownership, Natalie Madeira Cofield. She expressed positivity for small business owners as new programs are being designed for the underserved in mind. The Community Navigator is one of those programs stemming from the Rescue Act passed in late 2020. A 100 million dollar investment in assisting small business owners across the nation.
