Is it required to be submitted with the 8a Application?

Yes, all applicants for 8a certification must submit a narrative statement of economic disadvantage.

What is the narrative statement of economic disadvantage?

The narrative statement of economic disadvantage is where your describe in detail, at least one major negative experience, to convince the SBA that you have been subjected to unfair economic disadvantage.

You must be able to connect this negative experience back to your distinguishing feature (Hispanic, Black, Indian, Asian, Native American, Gender, Handicap).

What areas must the negative experience have taken place in:

Bonding

Credit or Financing

Leases

Market Restrictions

Licenses

Unemployment/Underemployment

What type of information should my narrative statement of economic disadvantage contain?

Year or time period in which the bias/prejudice was experienced

Name of organization, person's name and title that committed act of bias/prejudice toward you

Brief description of the action committed against you or statement by the individual that you allege was a blatant example of bias or prejudice

Specific language used by this individual that led you to believe that action or statement constituted bias/prejudice toward you only because of your race, gender, etc.

Brief description of all actions and/or statements made by you or any other individuals in response to this act of bias/prejudice

Nature and estimated dollar value impact to you that was a direct result of the above incident for economic disadvantage; or nature of impact to you that was a direct result of the above incident for social disadvantage