Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone)
SBA New HUBZone Map Update Expands Small Business Program Participation and Federal Contract Eligibility
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the launch of a new Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) preview map, which shows that hundreds of firms in newly released designated underserved areas will become eligible to apply for HUBZone certification, enabling them to compete for billions of dollars in federal contracts set aside for HUBZone-certified firms, to create jobs, and to improve the economy in their communities. The HUBZone preview map shows changes that are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2023, reflecting updates from the 2020 U.S. Census. HUBZones are designated based on economic and population data from the Census Bureau and other federal agencies, using a formula established by Congress. Click here to read more. [March 2023]
This direct final rule extends the HUBZone map freeze mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 (NDAA 2018) from December 31, 2021, to June 30, 2023. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/05/05/2021-09397/hubzone-program-extending-map-freeze (May 2021)
Certification
This program encourages economic development in historically underutilized business zones – “HUBZones” – through the establishment of preferences. SBA’s HUBZone program is in line with the efforts of both the Administration and Congress to promote economic development and employment growth in distressed areas by providing access to more federal contracting opportunities. A HUBZone map, application and more specific information is available at www.sba.gov/hubzone.
• For information on the SBA’s HUBZone program in Southeast Wisconsin, please CLICK HERE.
• For information on the SBA’s HUBZone program in rural Wisconsin, please CLICK HERE.
• To view a presentation on HUBZones CLICK HERE.
A HUBZone may be one of the following:
• A qualified Census Tract (QCT)
• A qualified Nonmetropolitan County (QNMC)
• A qualified Indian Reservation (QIR)
• A Qualified Base Closure Area (QBA)
• A Re-designated Area
• Qualified Disaster Area
• Governor-designated Covered Areas
The HUBZone maps are working and the page at https://www.sba.gov/contracting/government-contracting-programs/hubzone-program/hubzone-maps is being updated accordingly.
In 2020, SBA is implementing comprehensive changes to the program including improvements in three major areas, please see link: https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-assistance-programs/hubzone-program#section-header-0.
For additional information on this topic, please contact Ben Blanc at benjaminb@wispro.org or 414-270-3600.
