U.S. Embassy Havana PAS Small Grant Program in Support of the Cuban Private Sector | PAS HAV FY24 SG

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS HAV FY24 SG

The U.S. Embassy Havana Public Affairs Section (PAS) is offering small grants to support Cubas newly expanding private sector, which has grown quickly since the Cuban government began allowing privately held small and medium-sized enterprises in 2021. The opportunity is framed around Cubas current economic crisis and the rapid rise of more than 10,000 licensed private businesses, many led by people who have little prior exposure to entrepreneurship because they grew up in a system where private enterprise was limited or prohibited. The Embassy describes the private sector as facing practical barriers (skills, experience, operating constraints) and reputational pressure from both internal and external critics, while the broader economic downturn is contributing to large-scale emigration. The overall goal is to help Cuban entrepreneurs build viable businesses that can create income, jobs, and needed goods and services, making it more realistic for people to remain in Cuba rather than feeling forced to leave.

At its core, the grant program is looking for projects that strengthen Cubas emerging private sector by transferring American know-how and values, widening access to entrepreneurship for a broader and more diverse set of Cubans, and building stronger connections between American and Cuban businesses that can benefit both sides. Proposals are expected to balance practical, generally applicable business education (how to start and run a business) with thoughtful adaptation to Cubas unique and complex operating environment. A key requirement is that every project include a U.S. business or educational element, such as involvement from American experts, organizations, or institutions. Applicants also need to show they understand the Cuban context and can realistically deliver programming in Cuba, ideally by working with Cuban partners, mentors, or instructors so that the effort is grounded and locally relevant.

The Embassy highlights several design expectations that applicants should treat as central rather than optional. Projects should include a media strategy that extends impact beyond direct participants, suggesting an emphasis on broader public reach through communications, storytelling, digital distribution, or other amplification. Proposals must also include a participant-vetting plan to ensure grant funds do not support businesses or individuals closely tied to the Cuban government or the Cuban Communist Party. This reflects a compliance and risk-management priority embedded directly into program planning.

Program funding is organized around four priority areas. The first is basic entrepreneurship education for aspiring entrepreneurs, focused on moving from an idea to launching and operating a small business. The second targets current small business owners who need more advanced training and networking to scale, including topics like building import/export ties with U.S. businesses, understanding OFAC regulations, and workplace inclusion. The third focuses on more established medium-sized businesses, with management-level training for CEOs, line managers, and HR professionals to help companies professionalize and grow beyond the founder stage. The fourth emphasizes sector-specific mentoring and networking that connects Cuban business owners with experienced Americans in similar industries so that Cuban entrepreneurs can learn directly from relevant practitioners.

Within those priorities, PAS Havana lists a wide menu of example activities to illustrate what competitive projects might look like. These include a Cuba-specific monthly or bi-monthly speaker series featuring American experts, combining introductory entrepreneurship content with more advanced consultations for experienced entrepreneurs. Other possibilities include networking events that connect visiting speakers with alumni of U.S. Government programs and other local entrepreneurship initiatives, creating peer learning and mentorship among Cuban participants. The Embassy also signals interest in structured mentoring programs pairing American sector specialists with Cuban counterparts, and in operational training such as line-manager development to help firms scale beyond the founders day-to-day capacity. HR and workplace inclusion training is explicitly encouraged, reflecting an interest in modern organizational practices alongside core business skills.

The notice also encourages projects that can reach people at scale through online learning, particularly training for new entrepreneurs that is adapted to Cuba and offered free to anyone living in Cuba. Related to that, applicants may propose adapting existing Spanish-language entrepreneurship courses and "Cubanizing" them with local examples, context-specific guidance, and practical tips from experienced Cuban entrepreneurs. The program is also open to workforce-oriented initiatives such as coding bootcamps and other IT skills training that could make participants competitive for work with U.S. firms, including remote jobs that can be performed from within Cuba. Another highlighted model is a "Shark Tank" style pipeline: recruit a broad pool, provide baseline training to all, narrow participants through stages, and ultimately award seed capital and continued mentorship to a small set of winners.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Mission to Cuba under the Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program, with an activity category listed as Education (CFDA 19.040). The award ceiling is $150,000, with an expected three awards. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3)s), public and private institutions of higher education (including state-controlled universities), and other eligible entities as specified in the notice. The funding opportunity number is PAS HAV FY24 SG, and the original closing date listed is 2024-04-26.

• The U.S. Mission to Cuba in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U.S. Embassy Havana PAS Small Grant Program in Support of the Cuban Private Sector" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-04-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for PAS HAV FY24 SG

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: