Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program (HDBA)
The HDBA Program funds technical assistance and microgrants to help historically disadvantaged small businesses in Pennsylvania grow and overcome barriers.
Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
Due Dates (Anticipated): December 2026 (Application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: No set minimum or maximum; budgets should reflect 18 months of service delivery costs. Microgrant administrative costs capped at 5% of total request.
Summary: Supports Pennsylvania nonprofits, economic development organizations, and educational institutions to deliver technical assistance and microgrants to historically disadvantaged small businesses.
Description
The Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program (HDBA) is an initiative of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Its aim is to foster the creation, sustainability, and growth of small, historically disadvantaged businesses statewide. The program achieves this by funding two main components:
- Business Assistance Service Centers: These centers provide technical assistance and business support services, including counseling, business formation, marketing, financial management, procurement assistance, and more.
- Microgrant Program Support: Funding is available to support microgrant programs that help historically disadvantaged businesses overcome barriers to growth, such as startup costs, expansion, and public procurement participation.
Eligible applicants deliver these services to small, for-profit businesses owned or controlled by socially or economically disadvantaged Pennsylvanians.
