The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that it is accepting applications for its new Community Navigator Pilot Program.

This new initiative, established by the American Rescue Plan, will leverage a community navigator approach to reach the nation’s smallest businesses, with a priority focus on those owned by socially- and economically-disadvantaged individuals, as well as women and veterans.

The Biden-Harris Administration has made delivering equitable relief to hard-hit small businesses a top priority and will continue to take steps to ensure equitable distribution of relief.

In February 2021, Congress met to provide a blueprint on assistance to small businesses with provisions under the American Rescue Plan. Members of Congress met with constituents to discover at local levels the impact of the pandemic and the effect it is having on businesses that may have been left out in early rounds of relief.

The Community Navigator Notice of Funding Opportunity will be open to applications from nonprofit organizations, state, local and tribal governments, SBA resource partners and other organizations. Selected partners will engage in targeted outreach for small businesses in underserved communities to help small businesses get the resources and support they need to get back on track as the economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Competitive grant awards will range from $1 million to $5 million for a two-year performance period. Applicants have until July 12, 2021, to submit their applications at grants.gov.

For more information on the Community Navigators Initiative, visit www.sba.gov/navigators.