SBA Announces $2.5 Million Competition for AcceleratorsThe Small Business Administration is looking to level the funding playing field across the country.

ByLinda Lacina

Traditionally, businesses in Silicon Valley or New York have had an advantage over those in South Dakota or Arkansas thanks to robust accelerators on the coasts. But a new initiative from the U.S. Small Business Administration is looking to equal the funding playing field.

#insert related here#

Today, SBA's administratorMaria Contreras-Sweetannounced the launch of a $2.5 million competition aimed at strengthening access to capital throughout the country. The announcement was made at the kickoff to the group's annual Small Business Week events in San Francisco, held this year at Twitter's headquarters.

According to astatement the SBA released this morning, the competition will allow entrepreneurial models to compete for prizes of $50,000 apiece, helping to fund operating budgets and fill in gaps in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The competition will give special consideration to accelerators that support manufacturing as well as those that support women or other underrepresented groups.

Applications are due August 2, 2014.

Linda Lacina

Entrepreneur Staff

Linda Lacina is the former managing editor at Entrepreneur.com. Her work has appeared in theWall Street Journal,Smart Money, Dow Jones MarketWatch andFamily Circle. Email her at llacina@entrepreneur.com. Follow her at@lindalacinaon Twitter.

Related Topics

Starting a Business

鲨鱼坦克最成功的品牌之一n't Even Supposed to Be a Business at First. Here's How It Became One With $1 Billion in Lifetime Revenue.

Randy Goldberg and David Heath co-founded Bombas, a comfort-focused sock and apparel brand on a mission to help those in need, after an eye-opening discovery on Facebook.

Health & Wellness

Get a Lifetime Jillian Michaels Fitness App Subscription for $150 in October

This high-end fitness app is on sale this week only.

Leadership

5 Books That Will Change The Way You Think About Being an Effective Leader

Want to improve the way you lead? Learn from those who blazed the trails you hope to follow.

Business Solutions

Make iOS Navigation Easier with This Handy App, Now Just $19.97 for Life

This app helps ensure smooth iOS management across devices.