Assistance to Small and Disadvantaged Businesses (20.910)
Assistance to Small and Disadvantaged Businesses (Assistance Listing 20.910) is run by the Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation, part of the Department of Transportation. It awarded $10.3 million in 22 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $470,309 per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $475,565. Half of the 22 awards fell between $439,381 and $542,346, and they ranged from $146,073 to $890,360.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$10.3 million
- Grant awards22
- Typical award$475,565
- Awarded in FY 2025-$30,478
- Size rank1,481 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements
Key findings
- It is the 1481st largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 14 largest recipients received 100% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 11 states and territories.
What the program funds
The Small Business Transportation Resource Centers (SBTRCs) are administered under the Minority Resource Center (MRC) Program codified at 49 U.S.C. § 332(b) (4), (5) & (7). This statute directs the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), through its Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), to provide assistance, advocacy, and outreach to small businesses in the transportation industry. The MRC fulfills this mandate through business training, technical assistance, access to capital, and opportunities for participation in transportation-related projects and contracts. Funding to carry out the MRC Program and its related initiatives, including the SBTRCs, is provided through annual appropriations by Congress to the USDOT Office of the Secretary (OST) under the budget heading: “Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), Minority Resource Center (MRC).
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Established 501 C(6) tax-exempt Chambers of Commerce, Trade Associations and 501 C(3) nonprofit organization, community colleges, minority educational institutions, tribal colleges and universities that have the documented experience and capacity necessary to successfully operate and administer a coordinated, Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) within their regions.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Funds will support the SBTRC in delivering technical assistance, training, counseling, outreach, and capacity-building services to transportation-related small businesses. This includes: Assessing small business needs and structuring training and assistance programs. Providing general management, technical assistance, and documenting all services in OSDBU’s CRM. Offering at least 20 hours per month of one-on-one and group business counseling in coordination with federal, state, local, and nonprofit partners. Conducting Access to Capital workshops and assisting clients with preparing and securing loan applications. Establishing and supporting a 10-member Regional Planning Committee to align regional transportation initiatives and share procurement information. Conducting targeted outreach, maintaining a regional small business database, participating in conferences, and supporting opportunity-matching activities. Implementing at least two Bonding Education Program cycles, including workshops, readiness assessments, and follow-on assistance. (BEP events are separately funded.)
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Average of $205,000
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2025: The funds supported 11 centers nationwide that provided individualized technical assistance to small businesses, helping them access capital, secure bonding, and obtain federal, state, and local contract awards.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Assistance to Small and Disadvantaged Businesses (20.910) awarded $10.3 million across 22 grant awards, an average of $470,309 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Foundation of the City University of New York | New York | 2 | $1.4 million |
| Hoya Foundation | Colorado | 2 | $1.2 million |
| National Institute of Minority Economic Development | North Carolina | 2 | $1.1 million |
| The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation | Pennsylvania | 2 | $1.0 million |
| Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | Texas | 2 | $995,283 |
| The Mexican American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Inc. | Illinois | 2 | $950,456 |
| Greater Atlanta Economic Alliance, Inc. | Georgia | 2 | $785,767 |
| California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce | California | 2 | $726,003 |
| Florida Business Development Council Inc. | Florida | 1 | $459,072 |
| Center for Business Employment Development | Washington | 1 | $451,010 |
| Women's Business Development Center, Inc. | Illinois | 1 | $450,650 |
| Wow Women of Wisdom Tricities | Washington | 1 | $435,625 |
| Miami Dade College | Florida | 1 | $301,451 |
| Helping Hand Community Development Corporation, Inc. | Arkansas | 1 | $116,478 |
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 86% of the money, colleges and universities 14%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 20 | $8.9 million | 86% |
| Colleges and universities | 2 | $1.4 million | 14% |
By state
5 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards. They are Illinois, New York, Colorado, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 3 | $1.4 million |
| New York | 2 | $1.4 million |
| Colorado | 2 | $1.2 million |
| North Carolina | 2 | $1.1 million |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $1.0 million |
| Texas | 2 | $995,283 |
| Washington | 2 | $886,635 |
| Georgia | 2 | $785,767 |
| Florida | 2 | $760,523 |
| California | 2 | $726,003 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $116,478 |