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Request for Proposals – CDBG Small Business Assistance – Microenterprise Development and Technical Assistance

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

2024 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM  

SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE -MICROENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

PROPOSAL DUE DATE: AUGUST 5, 2024 

Background

The City of Sheboygan is committed to increasing opportunities for microenterprise businesses by assisting with job and skills training, one-on-one mentoring, and direct financial support.  This notice of funding opportunity is seeking proposals for organizations to oversee the administration of this program by determining eligibility, maintaining records, and disbursing funds in accordance with 24 CFR Part 570.  Funded organization(s) will be responsible for ensuring project eligibility with all Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) regulations and reporting requirements.

National Objective – All projects funded by CDBG must meet a national objective.  In most cases, this funding opportunity will meet a low-to-moderate income limited clientele or an activity that is a low-to-moderate income area benefit.

Microenterprise Business – Is a commercial enterprise that has five or fewer employees, one or more of whom owns the enterprise.

Eligible Activities

  • Technical assistance, advice and business services to owners of microenterprise businesses. This could include direct training to businesses on topics such as business planning and accounting or one-on-one advice and mentoring.
  • Job training to provide skill building classes.
  • Direct business grants for financial support for establishing, stabilizing and expansion of microenterprise businesses (ranging from $5,000-$10,000)

Available Funding – $100,000

THE PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS:

Monday, August 5, 2024
4:00 P.M.

Proposals must provide evidence that the proposed program will primarily serve low-to-moderate income persons in the City of Sheboygan.

As part of this application, the following items are Mandatory to be submitted:

  1. Who will carry out the project?
  2. How will you market and target eligible businesses?
  3. Which CDBG national objective will you meet:
      1. a. AREA BENEFIT: Open to all residents and children living in a low and moderate-income area as defined by HUD.
      1. b. LIMITED CLIENELE: Limited to a specific group, where at least 51% of beneficiaries are low-to-moderate income persons (must be able to document income eligibility).
  4. Describe your service area (citywide, neighborhood, census tract).
  5. Provide the number of people who will be served by your project in total as well as the number of low-to-moderate income persons.
  6. Describe how success will be measured for this program.
  7. Describe how you will partner and/or leverage other businesses, financial institutions and professional services.
  8. Describe how this project will lead to greater self-sufficiency and success for businesses in the community.
  9. Describe your organizations capacity to successfully implement and manage this program.
  10. Provide a project budget.

Incomplete applications will be disqualified and late applications will not be reviewed.  Please make sure all necessary items are included.  

Application Evaluation

All application will be evaluated on the following criteria:

  1. Application is fully completed.
  2. Project design.
  3. Demonstrated ability, capacity and experience to implement and administer the program and maintain compliance with applicable federal, state and local regulations.
  4. Value (cost per beneficiary) and return on investment.
  5. Positive impact on the community as made apparent through rational and accountable performance metrics.
  6. Are the costs reasonable and necessary?

A complete application must be submitted by 4:00 PM on Monday, August 5, 2024.  Proposals should be well thought out and include concise responses.  Proposals may be emailed or delivered to:

Diane McGinnis Casey
Department of Planning and Development
828 Center Ave, Sheboygan WI 53081
Diane.mcginniscasey@sheboyganwi.gov

Questions concerning this RFP should be addressed to Diane McGinnis Casey, Director of Planning & Development at the address above or call (920) 459-3383.