[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 6729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1709]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


Notice Inviting Applications for Funding Under the Business-to-
Business Learning, Investment, Networking and Collaboration 
(BusinessLINC) Program

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Invitation for Applications for Awards for FY 2001.

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SUMMARY: The Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration 
(SBA) invites applications for awards for fiscal year 2001 under a 
grant competition supported by Sec. 102 of Public Law No. 106-554, 
BusinessLINC Grants and Cooperative Agreements (``BusinessLINC''). The 
statute authorizes the Administrator to enter into cooperative 
agreements with qualified coalitions of public and private entities to 
promote the growth of small businesses by matching large concerns with 
small concerns and creating business-to-business partnering and 
mentoring relationships. These BusinessLINC cooperative agreements 
would provide funding to qualified coalitions to: (1) Expand business-
to-business relationships between large and small businesses, and (2) 
provide businesses with online information and a database of companies 
that are interested in mentor-protege programs or community-based, 
statewide, or local business development programs. Coalitions may 
consist of public entities, private entities, or a combination of 
public and private entities. To qualify, the coalition must provide an 
amount, either in-kind or in cash, equal to the grant amount.
    Subject to funding availability, SBA intends to award up to $7.0 
million in appropriated funds under this notice and expects to issue up 
to 50 awards. SBA reserves the right to fund, in whole or in part, any, 
all or none of the applications submitted in response to this notice. 
Award amounts may vary, depending upon availability of funds (and 
performance for option years); however, award amounts will be at least 
$25,000 and no single awardee may receive more than $250,000 in a 
single fiscal year.
    The selection criteria to be used for this competition will be 
provided in the application package.

DATES: The closing date for applications is March 20, 2001, 4 p.m., 
Eastern Standard Time (EST).

ADDRESSES: To obtain a copy of the complete application package, call 
Mina Bookhard at (202) 205-7080, or see the BusinessLINC Program 
Announcement under the ``Go To New Stuff'' icon on SBA's website at 
www.sba.gov.

FOR APPLICATIONS AND FURTHER INFORMATION: Questions concerning the 
technical aspects of this notice should be directed to Rick Mayronne at 
(202) 205-7736. Questions about budget or funding matters should be 
directed to Mina Bookhard at (202) 205-7080.

    Program Authority: 15 U.S.C. Sec. 637(n).

    Dated: January 12, 2001.
Aida Alvarez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-1709 Filed 1-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8025-01-P