The 2025 VBOC Directed Announcement - Renewal is a federal discretionary funding opportunity issued by the Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Office of Veterans Business Development. It is intended to support entrepreneurial training, business development, counseling, and management assistance for small businesses owned and controlled by eligible veterans. The funding will be administered via cooperative agreements, a format that allows for substantial involvement between the SBA and the award recipients in implementing the program. The grant falls under the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program and is listed under the Assistance Listing 59.044 – Veterans Outreach Program.

The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to continue and renew support for VBOC programs, which serve to educate and support veteran entrepreneurs and service-disabled veterans through outreach programs. These programs are designed to equip veterans with the tools, resources, and mentorship they need to establish and grow successful businesses. The SBA facilitates this through partnerships with nonprofit veteran service organizations, educational institutions, private businesses, and governmental entities.

Funding through this opportunity ranges from a minimum of $340,000 to a maximum of $585,000 per award. The total estimated program funding available is $12,560,000, with an expected 31 awards to be distributed. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement, indicating active collaboration between SBA and recipients on technical matters during the performance of the funded project.

Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status under the IRS code, excluding institutions of higher education. Applicants must demonstrate their capacity to deliver high-quality entrepreneurial training and counseling tailored to the needs of veterans. While eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, recipients may collaborate with a range of institutions and agencies to fulfill program objectives.

Applicants must submit a complete application via Grants.gov or through GrantSolutions.gov if they are part of an ongoing grantee relationship. Applications must include several standard forms such as the SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-LLL, and project-specific documents such as a technical proposal, budget narrative, indirect cost agreements, and a list of contractual agreements. Required attachments also include audit reports and original hardcopy signatures for validation.

Applications will be evaluated based on their ability to meet the objectives of the VBOC program, their organizational capacity, proposed program activities, and budget accuracy. Technical assistance or inquiries related to program requirements should be directed to Tangela Liddell at the SBA. The application deadline is April 11, 2025, at 11:59 AM Eastern Time. The grant opportunity was posted on April 3, 2025, and the anticipated archive date is May 11, 2025. This funding opportunity is not rolling and is not explicitly marked as recurring, though its renewal context suggests it may be repeated in future years.