Part B · Startup-relevant scheme
Empower to Grow (7(j) Management and Technical Assistance Program) (Empower to Grow)
Small Business Administration
Other
Seed / Early-StageGrowth / Scaling
Empower to Grow (formerly the 7(j) Management and Technical Assistance Program, authorized under Section 7(j) of the Small Business Act) funds private-sector service providers to deliver management and technical assistance to eligible small businesses.
Type of support
Other
Best suited for
Early-Stage / Growth
Headline amount
N/A — free training and consulting, not funding
How much
Free
Objectives
Build the operational, financial, and government-contracting capacity of small businesses that face structural barriers to accessing capital and federal contracts.
Who can apply?
- Located in an area of high unemployment or low income, OR
- Owned by low-income individuals, OR
- Certified as an 8(a), HUBZone, or Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB) participant.
What do you get?
- Free counseling and training in financing, accounting, marketing, and operations.
- Help identifying and developing new business opportunities, including federal contracting bids.
- In FY2023, participating firms averaged a self-reported 45% growth in annual revenue, with a 60% win rate on federal contract bids submitted.
How to apply
Apply through SBA's Empower to Grow / 7(j) program page, which connects eligible businesses to an approved service provider.
Key links
Details as most recently confirmed against the official source linked above. Deadlines, amounts and windows change — verify on the official portal before applying.