Sec. 3. Business centers
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/bill/117/s/1749/is/section-3A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Agency may establish not more than 10 rural business centers. The agency shall establish each rural business center in partnership with an eligible entity in accordance with paragraph (2). With respect to each rural business center established by the Agency, the Agency shall enter into a collaborative agreement with an eligible entity that provides that— the eligible entity shall provide space, facilities, and staffing for the rural business center; the Agency shall provide funding for, and oversight with respect to, the rural business center; and subject to subparagraph (B), the eligible entity shall match 20 percent of the amount of the funding provided by the Agency under clause (ii), which may be calculated to include the costs of providing the space, facilities, and staffing under clause (i).
Based on the available resources of an eligible entity, the Agency may enter into a collaborative agreement with the eligible entity that provides that the eligible entity shall match less than 20 percent of the amount of the funding provided by the Agency under subparagraph (A)(ii). The term of an MBDC agreement shall be 5 years. The Agency and an eligible entity may agree to extend the term of an MBDC agreement with respect to a rural business center for an additional 5 years.
A rural business center shall— primarily serve clients that are— rural minority business enterprises; or minority business enterprises that are located more than 50 miles from an MBDA center (other than that rural business center); focus on issues relating to— the adoption of broadband internet access service (as defined in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation), digital literacy skills, and e-commerce by rural minority business enterprises; advanced manufacturing; the promotion of manufacturing in the United States; ways in which rural minority business enterprises can meet gaps in the supply chain of critical supplies and essential goods and services for the United States; improving the connectivity of rural minority business enterprises through transportation and logistics; promoting trade and export opportunities by rural minority business enterprises; securing financial capital; and facilitating entrepreneurship in rural areas; and provide education, training, and technical assistance to minority business enterprises.
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Agency shall issue a request for applications from eligible entities that desire to enter into MBDC agreements with the Agency. In selecting an eligible entity with which to enter into an MBDC agreement, the Agency shall— select an eligible entity that demonstrates— the ability to collaborate with governmental and private sector entities to leverage capabilities of minority business enterprises through public-private partnerships; the research and extension capacity to support minority business enterprises; knowledge of the community that the eligible entity serves and the ability to conduct effective outreach to that community to advance the goals of a rural business center; the ability to provide innovative business solutions, including access to contracting opportunities, markets, and capital; the ability to provide services that advance the development of science, technology, engineering, and math jobs within minority business enterprises; the ability to leverage resources from within the eligible entity to advance a rural business center; that the mission of the eligible entity aligns with the mission of the Agency; and the ability to leverage relationships with rural minority business enterprises; and give priority to an eligible entity located in a State or region that lacks an MBDA center, as of the date of enactment of this Act.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Agency to establish rural business centers under this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.