Grant Applications Open to Organizations Providing Small Business Technical Assistance

$4.5 million is expected to be available to support an accessible and stable ecosystem of small business technical assistance.

To ensure that technical assistance for underrepresented and underserved small businesses is widely available and accessible across the state, Business Oregon is pleased to announce that a Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) is now open for the Technical Assistance for Underrepresented Businesses program. A total of $4,500,000 in grant funding is expected to be available to create a cohort of technical assistance service providers.

The Technical Assistance for Underrepresented Businesses program supports organizations that offer culturally competent and geographically aligned technical assistance (TA) resources to small businesses that are underrepresented or underserved. TA refers to the education, resources, and guidance provided to entrepreneurs and small business owners to help them start, sustain, and grow their businesses. Examples of TA assistance include business plan review and editing, marketing support, mentoring and business coaching, financial education and credit counseling, web development, and referrals and resource navigation, among others.

Interested organizations are invited to submit their applications by 11:59:59PM PDT on Thursday, September 4, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted. The awarded TA service providers will have until June 30, 2027, to provide services to small businesses.

Business Oregon is hosting virtual information sessions for those interested in learning more about this RFGA on:

• Wednesday, August 13, 2025, from 2:30PM – 4PM PDT – Register here.
• Tuesday, August 26, 2025, from 11AM – 12:30PM PDT – Register here.

For more information and to access the RFGA, please visit www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/.

Please note: This RFGA is being released prior to the final authorization of the Technical Assistance for Underrepresented Businesses program’s budget. Although Business Oregon anticipates receiving final authorization soon, the availability of funding for these awards is not guaranteed. If Business Oregon does not receive adequate funding for the program for the 2025-2027 biennium, no awards will be distributed. In the event that final authorization is delayed for any reason, the timeline for award decisions will also be affected.

About Business Oregon
Business Oregon, the state’s economic development agency, invests in Oregon businesses, communities, and people to promote a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy. The agency’s services span rural community development and infrastructure financing; business retention, expansion and recruitment; export promotion and international trade; investments in industry research and development and entrepreneurship; small business assistance; and support for arts and cultural organizations. Learn more at biz.oregon.gov.