Empower to Grow (E2G) Program Manufacturing

The "Empower to Grow (E2G) Program" is an initiative managed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Office of Government Contracting and Business Development (GCBD). The SBA’s overarching mission is to support small businesses across the United States through access to capital, entrepreneurial development, government contracting, and advocacy. This program falls under GCBD’s strategic efforts to strengthen entrepreneurial education and support for disadvantaged small business concerns. The purpose of the E2G Program is to offer customized training and support for small businesses that are preparing to enter or are currently enrolled in the 8(a) Business Development Program. The E2G Program aims to expand these businesses' capabilities to compete for federal contracting opportunities. It supports businesses in building resilience and expanding capacity by providing tailored education, coaching, and technical assistance in key business development areas. The program will be delivered by an awardee that will act as a service provider, offering group and individualized sessions to participating businesses. Services will include business assessments, targeted growth planning, leadership development, contracting readiness, and assistance in navigating SBA and federal procurement programs. These services must be available at no cost to participating businesses and will be delivered through a hybrid model involving both virtual and in-person engagement. The awardee must have staff or resources based in each of the ten SBA regions and demonstrate the capacity to serve businesses across all U.S. states and territories. Eligible applicants include nonprofits and for-profit organizations with proven experience in providing developmental assistance to small businesses, especially socially and economically disadvantaged firms. Applicants must demonstrate both administrative and financial capability to manage federal grants. Key eligibility criteria include prior experience with federal contracting education programs, geographic coverage, and cultural competency in serving diverse communities. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov. Required documents include a technical proposal, budget details, organizational information, and standard federal grant forms. The application must address how the applicant will execute program components, including a clear outreach plan and a strategy for collecting performance data. The deadline for questions is May 17, 2025, and all applications must be submitted by June 10, 2025. The expected award notification date is July 10, 2025. The anticipated project start date is September 1, 2025. Applicants are advised to carefully review the funding opportunity number GCBD-7J-2025-01 and adhere strictly to the formatting and submission requirements. Key evaluation criteria include the organization’s past performance, staffing qualifications, proposed technical approach, and capability to reach and support the target business population. For additional questions, applicants can contact Lashon B. Young via email at lashon.young@sba.gov or by phone at 202-205-6402.