Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers Program

The Vendor is required to provide to promote a vigorous and growing state economy, encourage business investment and job creation, and support diverse, prosperous local economies across state through the efficient use of loans, grants, tax credits, real estate development, marketing, and other forms of assistance.
- Provide services to entrepreneurs and small businesses in state that are seeking to: start or are starting their own business; or expand their early-stage business.
- The entrepreneurship assistance centers (EAC) program emphasis is on helping entrepreneurs and small business owners develop lasting businesses and acquire problem-solving skills so that socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (“SEDI”), minority, women, veterans, and individuals with special needs learn to independently and successfully manage and grow and generate concrete results related specifically to business creation, increased sales, expanded employment, and securing financing.
- Applicants must be able to meet the following goals:
•    Increase business ownership and business expansion among small businesses, with special emphasis on SEDI, minority group members, women, veterans, and those that operate in distressed and highly distressed communities;
•    Connect small businesses to relevant state, federal, municipal, or local programs and resources;
•    Provide technical assistance to small businesses to develop business strategies for outreach and consumption, maintain revenue and retain employees, with special emphasis on SEDI, minority and women-owned firms;
•    Provide one-on-one counseling at least one evening per week to accommodate participants who do not have the availability during standard working hours;
•    Provide a minimum of two (2) business plan training cohorts employing the business model canvas / lean Launchpad (BMC/LLP) curriculum;
•    Facilitate the creation/retention of private sector jobs;
•    Increase access to financing by SEDI, minorities, women, veteran owned firms; and
•    Significantly expand sales among SEDI, minority, women, and veteran owned firms.
- Budget: $173,000

- Contract Period/Term: 2 years
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: August 27, 2025