5.  Mentor-Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Program for WOSB Program

Comment: One respondent commented that the Councils should consider a Mentor-Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Program for the WOSB Program. Such a program already exists for the section 8(a) program. A Mentor-Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Program would allow women-owned small businesses to learn from larger, more successful businesses.

Response: Under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, Public Law 111-240, SBA was given the authority to establish mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] programs for small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, small business concerns owned and controlled by women, and HUBZone small business concerns modeled on the Mentor-Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Program of the SBA for small business concerns participating in programs under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)).