Strengthening Sustainable Communities in Panama and Costa Rica

Background
The United States Department of State Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) announces a Notification of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support sustainable communities and migration management approaches in Panama and Costa Rica that promote inclusive and equitable policies and practices in coordination with Department of State and WHA. WHA has $4,740,000 in FY 2022 ESF for a 48-month project to help support communities hosting large numbers of migrants and marginalized and vulnerable populations such as women, Indigenous, and Afro-descendants through a whole of community approach that will provide technical expertise training to small business development centers and support sustainable tourism development in communities and associated industries.

Grant Details
This grant will incentivize support and help build sustainable communities in Panama and Costa Rica, to include rural areas where possible. This will be done through the development of small to medium-sized business enterprises supported by small business development centers (SBDCs).

This project will include a two-track process. Track one will focus on developing sustainable tourism for economic development. Track two will focus on workforce development that supports industries/business sectors related to or handling tourism, which include textiles, agriculture, restaurants, hotels, and tourism service sectors, and trains host community small businesses and migrants and marginalized and vulnerable populations to work in these industries.

The project also seeks to improve the institutional capacity and training of business counselors at SBDCs specific to communities in Panama and Costa Rica, with a focus on migrants and marginalized and vulnerable populations. The project intends to encourage collaboration management approaches in Central America that promote inclusive and equitable policies and practices in coordination with Department and WHA partners.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include U.S. Non-profit/non-governmental organizations (NGOs) having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS; Overseas non-profit NGOs; U.S. small business development centers (SBDCs); U.S. and overseas, both public and private Institutions of higher education to include both colleges and universities; Public international organizations (PIOs). Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Organizations may form consortia and submit a combined proposal. However, only one organization may be designated as the lead applicant.

Period of Performance
The project duration is 48 months, estimated to start in September 2023 and end in September 2027.

Grant Value
$4,740,000 U.S. Dollars is available for this grant opportunity.

Place of Performance
The specific geographic locations for the grant performance are Costa Rica and Panama.