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Technical
Assistance
Technical Assistance
Technical assistance is available to help individuals, organizations, and
businesses develop management capacity or obtain technical services in conjunction with
development projects.
Criteria
- Criteria are established by the provider of the technical assistance and usually
stipulate assistance for designated populations or for specific needs.
- Technical assistance may be available to assist potential homeowners, business owners,
or nonprofit or for-profit developers in moving forward with a project that will benefit
the community.
- Technical assistance may be a condition of a funding provider prior to the recipient
receiving financial assistance.
Uses
Technical assistance may include:
- free or low-cost legal and accounting services and advice;
- office support for tenants in an incubator project;
- assistance to small-business or minority contractors in preparing bid documents and
obtaining bonding for a construction project;
- assistance with marketing analysis, environmental impact assessment, or other
pre-development costs;
- pre- or post-purchase homebuyer counseling;
- training to develop management skills.
Structure
- Government may provide direct assistance, or may fund an agency or organization to
provide technical assistance to target audiences.
- Through a major company or business or civic council, the private sector may
"loan" executives to assist eligible recipients.
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ADMINISTRATION FOR NATIVE AMERICANS GRANT
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Grants are available for technical assistance and training related to governance,
economic development, and social development.
Eligibility
The following entities are eligible for these grants:
- federally recognized Indian tribes, consortia of Indian tribes, incorporated
non-federally recognized tribes;
- incorporated non-profit, multi-purpose, community-based Indian organizations;
- urban Indian centers;
- national or regional incorporated organizations with objectives specific to the Native
American community;
- public and nonprofit agencies serving Native Hawaiians and Alaska Natives.
Program
- Funding must be used for technical assistance and training to develop, conduct, and
administer projects.
- There is no set maximum or minimum grant amount; however, maximum program benefits are
80 percent of program cost.
- Terms of grants may be single or multi-year.
- Approximately $5 million in grants are distributed during three closings each fiscal
year, usually in February, May, and October. An announcement regarding the grant is
usually made in the Federal Register in August.
Contact
Administration for Native Americans
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
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BIA MANAGEMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Division of Financial Assistance
U. S. Department of the Interior
Management and technical assistance is available to loan or grant applicants before or
concurrently with their requests for financial assistance.
Eligibility
- Funds must be used to aid in the preparation of application for funds, and/or the
administration of funds after they have been granted.
- Applicants must be a federally recognized Indian tribe or Alaskan Native group; a member
of such a tribe or group; or an Indian-owned corporation, partnership or cooperative
association.
Program
- There is no set maximum amount and no set term.
- BIA expects the project to be beyond the "idea stage."
Contact
Bureau of Indian Affairs
U. S. Department of the Interior
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HOME OWNERSHIP COUNSELING PROGRAMS
Counseling is offered to educate potential home buyers about credit, home ownership,
and the loan application process.
Eligibility
- Programs are designed for first-time low- and moderate-income borrowers, but are usually
open to any interested person.
- Some lenders and some loan programs require buyers to complete a home buyer's education
course before they can receive a loan.
Program
- Home buyer education courses may be sponsored by community organizations, lenders,
churches or others.
- Classes may be one-time sessions or may be held over a series of weeks.
- Materials may be developed locally, purchased from the Federal National Mortgage
Association (Fannie Mae), or purchased through other sources.
Contact
Local Lenders or Community Organizations
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RURAL SELF-HELP HOUSING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Rural Development (RD)
U. S. Department of Agriculture
Loans and technical assistance are available through nonprofit organizations to help
groups of families build homes in rural areas.
Eligibility
- Small groups of low-income families who cannot individually afford to build modest
houses by customary methods may qualify.
- Each participating family must be able to repay a loan for the cash cost of the house.
- Loans may be used to pay for skilled labor and contract costs for work the families are
unable to perform.
- Loans may be used to buy material, and if necessary, to buy and prepare building sites.
- Technical assistance funds may be used to hire personnel and pay office and
administrative expenses.
- Technical assistance funds make equipment such as power tools available to families
participating in construction.
- Technical assistance funds may be used for fees to train self-help group members in
construction or for other needed professional services.
Program
- The self-help group decides how members will share labor and what parts of the work need
to be done by outside contractors.
- Families must work a required number of hours to complete the houses, under the guidance
of a construction supervisor.
- Families must attend pre-construction meetings and must agree to carry out
responsibilities of home ownership after housing is completed.
Contact
Rural Development
U. S. Department of Agriculture
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SERVICE CORPS OF RETIRED EXECUTIVES (SCORE)
U. S. Small Business Association
SCORE volunteers work with small businesses to provide management counseling and
training.
Eligibility
- Almost any small independent business not dominant in its field can get help from SCORE.
Program
- SCORE volunteers help business owners and managers identify and determine the causes of
basic management problems and become better managers.
- Workshops are offered on a variety of topics to business owners and prospective
entrepreneurs.
Contact
SCORE
Local or U. S. Small Business Administration
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SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS (SBDC)
Small Business Development Centers are established through the resources of the Small
Business Administration and other public and private entities to offer assistance,
information and training to small business owners.
Eligibility
- Almost all small businesses are eligible for assistance.
Program
- Management and technical assistance, business information and training are available
through workshops or individualized consultations.
Contact
Local Small Business Development Center or
U. S. Small Business Administration |
