S 3262 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To reauthorize the women’s entrepreneurial development programs of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

July 14, 2008CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mrs. HUTCHISON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and EntrepreneurshipCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To reauthorize the women’s entrepreneurial development programs of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the ‘SBA Women’s Business Programs Act of 2008’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--NATIONAL WOMEN’S BUSINESS COUNCIL

Sec. 101. Annual studies on problems hindering the success of women entrepreneurs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 102. Additional progress reports.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTERS

Sec. 201. Revised funding formula.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 202. Matchmaking formula change.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 203. Termination of funding.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 204. Women’s business center awards to be made public.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--NATIONAL WOMEN’S BUSINESS COUNCILCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 101. ANNUAL STUDIES ON PROBLEMS HINDERING THE SUCCESS OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS.

Section 409 of the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7109) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Problems Hindering the Success of Women Entrepreneurs- The Council shall conduct at least one study per year that evaluates the problems hindering the success of women entrepreneurs. The Council shall select the topic for the study in consultation with the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 102. ADDITIONAL PROGRESS REPORTS.

Section 406(d)(4) of the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7106(d)(4)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: ‘, and on a biannual basis (notwithstanding paragraph (6)) submit to the President and to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small Business of the House of Representatives a report containing a description of, and the status of, such initiatives, policies, programs, and plans’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTERSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 201. REVISED FUNDING FORMULA.

Section 29(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(b)) is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Authority-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Administrator may provide financial assistance to private nonprofit organizations to conduct projects for the benefit of small business concerns owned and controlled by women. The projects shall provide--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) financial assistance, including training and counseling in how to apply for and secure business credit and investment capital, preparing and presenting financial statements, and managing cash flow and other financial operations of a business concern;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) management assistance, including training and counseling in how to plan, organize, staff, direct, and control each major activity and function of a small business concern; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) marketing assistance, including training and counseling in identifying and segmenting domestic and international market opportunities, preparing and executing marketing plans, developing pricing strategies, locating contract opportunities, negotiating contracts, and utilizing varying public relations and advertising techniques.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) TIERS- The Administrator shall provide assistance under paragraph (1) in three tiers of assistance as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) The first tier shall be to conduct a 5-year project in a situation where a project has not previously been conducted. Such a project shall be in a total amount of not more than $150,000 per year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) The second tier shall be to conduct a 3-year project in a situation where a first-tier project is being completed. Such a project shall be in a total amount of not more than $100,000 per year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) The third tier shall be to conduct a 3-year project in a situation where a second-tier project is being completed. Such a project shall be in a total amount of not more than $100,000 per year. Third-tier grants are renewable subject to established eligibility criteria as well as criteria in subsection (b)(4).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) ALLOCATION OF FUNDS- Of the amounts made available for assistance under this subsection, the Administrator shall allocate--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) at least 40 percent for first-tier projects under paragraph (2)(A);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) 20 percent for second-tier projects under paragraph (2)(B); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) the remainder for third-tier projects under paragraph (2)(C).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) BENCHMARKS FOR THIRD-TIER PROJECTS- In awarding third-tier projects under paragraph (2)(C), the Administrator shall use benchmarks based on socio-economic factors in the community and on the performance of the applicant. The benchmarks shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) the total number of women served by the project;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) the proportion of low income women and socio-economic distribution of clients served by the project;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) the proportion of individuals in the community that are socially or economically disadvantaged (based on median income);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) the future fundraising and service coordination plans;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) the diversity of services provided; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(F) regional distribution within the 10 districts of the Administration.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 202. MATCHMAKING FORMULA CHANGE.

Section 29(c)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(c)(1)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) For the first and second years of the project, 1 non-Federal dollar for each 2 Federal dollars.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) Each year after the second year of the project--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) 1 non-Federal dollar for each Federal dollar; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) if the center is in a community at least 50 percent of the population of which is below the median income, 1 non-Federal dollar for each 2 Federal dollars.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 203. TERMINATION OF FUNDING.

Section 29(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) TERMINATION- An organization that has conducted a project under this subsection--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) is not eligible to conduct another such project; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) may continue thereafter to use the women’s business center logo only with the consent of the Administrator.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 204. WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER AWARDS TO BE MADE PUBLIC.

Section 29(g)(2)(B)(ii)(V) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(g)(2)(B)(ii)(V)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: ‘, and make available to the public the award made to each applicant so selected’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink