GSA Blog

How OSDBU is Supporting the American Rescue Plan

On March 11, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. This $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief legislation delivers immediate relief to American families and small businesses around the country.

The ARP includes additional funding for critical programs currently administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and established new relief efforts that will support our American small businesses, such as the Community Navigator Pilot Program.

The Biden-Harris Administration wants to ensure this funding gets to our nation’s hardest-hit communities.

The ARP provided $100 million in funding to establish the Community Navigator Pilot Program. The investment includes an additional $75 million, which will fund a call center, outreach, and education and technical assistance to targeted eligible small businesses to increase awareness of the programs offered by the SBA.

An eligible business means: any small business concern, certified women owned small business, veteran owned small business, and socially and economically disadvantaged small business. Utilizing the Community Navigator Pilot Program can provide needed resources and break down barriers to help eligible small businesses complete the application process for COVID-19 relief programs.

GSA is committed to reaching our nation’s smallest businesses; the Community Navigator Pilot Program will strengthen outreach to underserved communities. Through its Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, GSA will promote and provide resources that connects small businesses with the appropriate SBA COVID-19 relief resources. These SBA resources will include the Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women’s Business Centers (WBCs), Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), along with other SBA resource partners.

To learn more about GSA’s commitment to the small business community, follow us on Twitter @GSAOSDBU or visit https://www.gsa.gov/small-business.