Understanding the Natural Resources Assistance Program and Its Impact
Definition & Meaning
The Natural Resources Assistance Program is an initiative by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) designed to help small businesses access government property sales and leases. This program ensures that small businesses receive a fair portion of government resources, including natural assets and surplus property, through set-asides specifically for small enterprises. The SBA collaborates with various federal agencies to facilitate this process, adhering to public laws governing the sale of these resources.
The program encompasses five main categories of federal resources:
- Timber and related forest products
- Strategic materials from the National stockpile
- Royalty oil
- Leases for minerals, coal, oil, and gas
- Surplus real and personal property