Microenterprise Development
Program Goal
Microenterprise Development Program assists refugees to become financially independent by helping them develop capital resources and business expertise to start, expands, or strengthens their own business. The program provides training and technical assistance in business plan development, management, bookkeeping, and marketing to equip refugees with the skills they need to become successful entrepreneurs. In FY 2011, there are 18 grantees in 15 states that receive grants totaling $4.0 million.
General Background
Microenterprise Development services include business technical assistance or short-term training, credit in the form of micro-loans up to a maximum of $15,000, and, if applicable, a revolving loan fund. The programs are designed in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate for the refugee population.
Refugees bring many positive attributes to the Microenterprise Development program, including a diverse and a rich array of business ideas, skills, experiences, and a strong desire to succeed. During the last 19 years, refugees have started, expanded or strengthened approximately 10,800 micro-businesses, with a business survival rate of 88 percent. ORR grantees have provided about $10.03 million in financing to these entrepreneurs and the agencies have used these loans to leverage another $15.5 million in loans from other sources in the private and public sectors. The loan repayment rate is nearly 98 percent which is far higher than the average repayment rate in the industry. Additionally, almost 10,100 new jobs have been created. Over 24,000 refugees have gained new entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, and the additional business income is helping refugee families to achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Program Description
The Microenterprise programs are designed with understanding of the characteristics of the local refugee populations: employment rates, welfare status, length of time stay in the U.S., interest in micro-businesses, readiness to start a micro-business, and English language proficiency. Also, they are familiar with the capital needs and capital market gaps for refugee entrepreneurs and therefore train refugees how to access to business credit.
Eligible Applicants
Public or private non-profit organizations.
Targeted Populations
Eligibility includes persons who meet all requirements of 45 CFR 400.43 (as amended by 65 FR 154009 (March 22, 2000).
The targeted refugee population for these programs may include refugees who receive public assistance or subsidies, and/or who lack the financial resources, credit history, or personal assets to qualify for business loans or assistance through commercial institutions. Refugees who are not yet citizens may participate in the Microenterprise Development Program regardless of their date of arrival in the U.S.
Policy Information
- 45 CFR 400.43
- 65 FR 15409 (March 22, 2000)
- 412 (c) (1) (A) of the Immigration and Nationality ACT (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1522 (c) (1) (A)
Grantees
| GRANT TYPE | GRANTEE NAME | GRANT NUMBER | CITY | STATE | END DATE | AMOUNT | CONTACT NAME | ADDRESS | TELEPHONE | FAX | WEBSITE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MED | National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies | RG0066 | New Orleans | LA/MS | 9/29/2012 | $200,000 | Tien Vu | 7223 Lee Highway, Suite 301 Falls Church VA 22046 | 703-241-7190 | -- | tien.vu@navasa.org | http://navasa.org/ |
| MED | International Institute of Metropolitan St. Louis | RG0067 | St. Louis | MO | 9/29/2012 | $249,930 | Kathleen Delpha | 3654 S. Grand Blvd. St. Louis MO 63118 | 314-773-9090 | -- | http://www.iistl.org/ | |
| MED | Jewish Family and Vocational Service, Inc. | RG0069 | Louisville | KY | 9/29/2012 | $203,730 | Mary Cleary | 3587 Dutchman's Lane Louisville KY 40205 | 502-452-6341 | 502-452-6718 | mclear@fjvs.org | http://www.jfvs.org/ |
| MED | Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (WESST) | RG0070 | Albquerque | NM | 9/29/2012 | $200,000 | Victor Pena | 414 Silver Avenue, SW Albuquerque NM 87102 | 505-499-8425 | 505-241-4766 | vpena@wesst.org | http://www.wesst.org/ |
| MED | International Rescue Committee | RG0071 | San Diego | CA/NY | 9/29/2012 | $270,000 | Kasra Movahedi | 5348 University Avenue, Suite 205 San Diego CA 92105 | 619-641-7510 | 619-641-7520 | kasra.movahedi@theirc.org | http://www.theirc.org/ |
| MED | Opening Doors, Inc. | RG0072 | Sacramento | CA | 9/29/2012 | $250,000 | David Blicker | 2118 K Street Sacramento CA 95816 | 916-492-2591 | 916-492-2628 | marina@openingdoorsinc.om | http://www.openingdoors.org/ |
| MED | Refugee Women's Network, Inc. | RG0073 | Atlanta | GA | 9/29/2012 | $200,000 | Dilwonberish Aberra | 4151 Memorial Drive. Suite 103 F Decatur GA 30032 | 404-299-0180 | -- | microenterprise@riwn.org | http://www.riwn.org/ |
| MED | International Rescue Committee | RG0074 | Phoenix/Tuscan | AZ/NY | 9/29/2012 | $240,000 | Jon Vosper | 4750 B. Black canyon Hwy., Suite 200 Phoenix AZ 85017 | 602-433-2440 | 602-433-2881 | Jon.vosper@theirc.org | http://www.theirc.org/ |
| MED | Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission | RG0075 | Fresno | CA | 9/29/2012 | $241,340 | Blong Lee | 1900 Mariposa Mall, Suite 210 Fresno CA 93721 | 559-263-1351 | 559-263-1094 | blong.lee@fresnoeoc.org | http://www.fresnoeoc.org/ |
| MED | Boat People SOS, Inc. | RG0076 | DC | VA | 9/29/2012 | $150,693 | Annie Nguyen | 817 Silver Spring Avenue, Sutie 110 Silver Spring MD 20910 | 301-439-0505 | 301-439-6644 | annie.nguyen@sosboatpeople.org | http://www.bpsos.org/ |
| MED | Neighborhood Assets | RG0077 | Spokane | WA | 9/29/2012 | $194,307 | Greg Franson | 212 S Wall Street Spokane WA 99201 | 509-456-7174 | 509-456-7170 | weipert@snapwa.org | http://www.snapwa.org/ |
| MED | Center for Community Development for New Americans | RG0078 | New York | NY | 9/29/2012 | $300,000 | Yanki Tshering | 121 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor New York NY 10013 | 212-898-4112 | 646-723-1399 | ytshering@nybcna.org | http://www.nybcna.org/ |
| MED | Business Outreach Center Network, Inc. | RG0079 | New York | NY | 9/29/2013 | $230,000 | Theresa Santiago | 85 South Oxford Street, 2nd Floor Brooklyn NY 11217 | 718-624-9115 | 718-246-1881 | tsantiago@bocnet.org | http://www.bocnet.org/ |
| MED | Commenwealth of MA | RG0080 | Boston | MA | 9/29/2013 | $250,000 | Emel Hadzipasic | 18 Tremont Street, Suite 1020 Boston MA 02108 | 617-727-7888 | -- | emel.hadzipasic@state.ma.us | |
| MED | Diocese of Olympia | RG0081 | Seattle | WA | 9/29/2013 | $220,000 | Greg Hope | 1610 South King Street Seattle WA 98144 | 206-323-3152 | 206-322-7632 | hotel2@mindspring.com | http://www.dioceserroseattle.org/ |
| MED | Mountain States Group, Inc. | RG0082 | Boise | ID | 9/29/2013 | $200,000 | Ron Berning | 1607 W. Jefferson Boise ID 83702 | 208-336-4222 | -- | http://www.mtnstatesgroup.org/ | |
| MED | Coastal Enterprises, Inc. | RG0083 | Portland | ME | 9/29/2013 | $200,000 | Jennifer Sporzynski | 2 Portland Fish Pier, Suite 206 Portland ME 04101 | 207-772-5503 | 207-772-5503 | jls@ceimaine.org | http://www.ceimaine.org/ |
| MED | Catholic Charities Dioceses of petersburg | RG0084 | Petersburg | FL | 9/29/2013 | $200,000 | Debbi Colon | 1213 16th Street North Saint Petersburg FL 33705 | 727-893-1313 | -- | dcolon@ccdosp.org | http://www.ccdosp.org/ |
Microenterprise Development Program Grantees (doc 51KB)
Funding Opportunities
Contact Information
Belay Embaye
Program Manager
Office of Refugee Resettlement
Administration for Children and Families
370 L’Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, DC 20447
Phone: 202-401-4978
Fax: 202-401-5772
Belay.embaye@acf.hhs.gov