51 Orgs announced for Community Navigator Pilot Program

Last week, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced $100 million in grants for the Community Navigator Pilot Program that will be distributed to 51 organizations to connect entrepreneurs with government resources to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a part of the American Rescue Plan, the program’s objective is two-fold. It aims to (1) address barriers to small business growth and “supercharge” recovery and (2) “close historic and current resource gaps and advance equity” by focusing aid toward disadvantaged populations across the country including “veterans, women, rural communities and communities of color.”

In an effort to increase equitability, the program uses a “hub and spoke” model where grantee “hubs” serve as lead organizations to incorporate “spokes” to leverage partnerships and tap into critical resources. In addition, the initiative takes a tiered approach. Tier 1 includes “organizations with a national footprint,” each awarded up to $5 million. Tier 2 refers to organizations with “a statewide and/or regional reach” and were awarded up to $2.5 million each. Tier 3 refers to “city, countywide and/or rural engagement” awarded up to $1 million.

A list of the 51 organizations can be found here; learn more about the program here.