**GAO-08-643**                      Published: Jun 17, 2008. Publicly Released: Jul 16, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

The Small Business Administration's (SBA) Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) program provides federal contracting assistance to small firms located in economically distressed areas, with the intent of stimulating economic development. Questions have been raised about whether the program is targeting the locations and businesses that Congress intended to assist. GAO was asked to examine (1) the criteria and process that SBA uses to identify and map HUBZone areas and the economic characteristics of such areas, (2) the mechanisms SBA uses to ensure that only eligible small businesses participate in the program, and (3) the actions SBA has taken to assess the results of the program and the extent to which federal agencies have met their HUBZone contracting goals. To address these objectives, GAO analyzed statutory provisions, as well as SBA, census, and contracting data, and interviewed SBA and other federal and local officials.

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## Topics

Business Regulation and Consumer Protection

ContractsData collectionData integrityEconomic developmentEconomic indicatorsEconomically depressed areasEligibility criteriaEligibility determinationsInternal controlsPerformance measuresProgram evaluationProgram managementRisk assessmentRisk managementSmall businessSmall business assistanceSmall business contractsDevelopment assistance programsProgram goals or objectivesProgram implementationGovernment-business relations