Economic Stimulus Package and Diverse Businesses

The federal economic stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), has the potential to stimulate economic growth, but America's diverse business communities need to be given equal opportunity to take advantage. This page lists resources to help diverse businesses, including those owned by women and people of color, to navigate the ARRA.

If your state, county, or city, or your organization, is looking for assistance in strategic planning on how to maximize opportunities for small, minority, and women-owned businesses in the recovery/ARRA, please contact the Insight Center, tlohrentz@insightcced.org, to arrange a potential scope of work.

Federal Recovery website

Procurement Guidance

Notes of Insight Center's Inclusive Business Initiative Teleconference with State M/W/DBE Program Directors, Feb. 26

Coalition for an Equitable Recovery, Feb. 13 meeting notes. Correction: the mention in these notes that the FAR was waived in the ARRA is not correct.

Notice on Civil Rights Obligations Applicable to the Distribution of Funds under ARRA

National Association of State Procurement Officials' stimulus act webpage

National Conference of State Legislatures' (NCSL) economic stimulus page

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Q&A on highway infrastructure in ARRA


GAO's Role in ARRA Reporting

US Conference of Mayors' Key Program Summaries for Cities

Opportunities for Minority and Women Owned Businesses

NCSL's minority provisions page

FHWA's Q&A on DBE participation in ARRA infrastructure projects

Buzgate's Small Business Resource page on ARRA opportunities

SBA's Small Business opportunities in ARRA page

Insight Center's identification of M/WBE opportunities

  1. Broadband Technology Access – States, counties, cities, nonprofits, and other entitities operating in the public interest are eligible. Not yet clear if that includes businesses. There is $2.5 billion within USDA and $4.7 billion through the Dep’t of Commerce to extend broadband to underserved rural and urban areas. States need to provide a 20% match on the Commerce funds. This is a potential niche for M/WBEs to be involved in, an opportunity for new entrants and to build capacity.
  2. Updating the electric grid and energy system, including through the Dep’t of Energy, $2.5 billion for renewable energy supply, $4.5 billion for smart grid technology and transmission, $2 billion in advanced battery and vehicle research, and $400 million in venture capital for cutting edge energy R&D. The inclusion of small diverse businesses may necessitate partnerships and other capacity building strategies.
  3. Green building improvements and weatherization is another opportunity – through Energy, HUD, and DOL for job training. Through the Dep’t of Energy there is $5 billion for weatherization of homes and businesses and $4.5 billion for improving the energy efficiency of federal buildings – 75% of federal buildings will be improved. Through HUD, there is $4 billion for improvements in public housing, some of which can go for weatherization and energy efficiency. There are additional funds for similar activities within assisted housing units and Native American housing.
  4. Analog to Digital Conversion - $90 million for education and outreach to underserved populations, through the Department of Commerce.
  5. Water supply, treatment, and reclamation - $6 billion through EPA for clean water capitalization grants, most allocated through local governments; $1.38 billion through USDA; and $126 million for water reclamation through Dep't of the Interior.
  6. Three DBE opportunities through the USDOT, including $20 million for transportation technology training focused on minorities, women and the socially and economically disadvantaged; $20 million in bonding available only to DBEs when working on ARRA projects; and $310 million for the Indian Roads program, open to all firms.
  7. School modernization and public safety in schools. A portion of the $8.8 billion allocated to states through the Department of Education's State Fiscal Stabilization Fund will go for school modernization, renovation, and repair.