S 3197 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

2d SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

S. 3197CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To reauthorize the women’s business center program of the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

May 17, 2012CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Ms. LANDRIEU) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and EntrepreneurshipCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To reauthorize the women’s business center program 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.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Women’s Small Business Ownership Act of 2012’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. DEFINITION.

In this Act, the term ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the Small Business Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. OFFICE OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.

(a) In General- Section 29(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(g)) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in paragraph (2)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subparagraph (B)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) in clause (i), by striking ‘in the areas’ and all that follows through the end of subclause (I), and inserting the following: ‘to address issues concerning the management, operations, manufacturing, technology, finance, retail and product sales, international trade, Government contracting, and other disciplines required for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) starting, operating, and increasing the business of a small business concern;’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘Women’s Business Center program’ each place that term appears and inserting ‘women’s business center program’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subparagraph (C), by inserting before the period at the end the following: ‘, the National Women’s Business Council, and any association of women’s business centers’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





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





‘(3) TRAINING- The Administrator may provide annual programmatic and financial examination training for women’s business ownership representatives and district office technical representatives of the Administration to enable representatives to carry out their responsibilities.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) PROGRAM AND TRANSPARENCY IMPROVEMENTS- The Administrator shall maximize the transparency of the women’s business center financial assistance proposal process and the programmatic and financial examination process by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) providing public notice of any announcement for financial assistance under subsection (b) or a grant under subsection (l) not later than the end of the first quarter of each fiscal year;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) in the announcement described in subparagraph (A), outlining award and program evaluation criteria and describing the weighting of the criteria for financial assistance under subsection (b) and grants under subsection (l);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) minimizing paperwork and reporting requirements for applicants for and recipients of financial assistance under this section;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) standardizing the programmatic and financial examination process; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) providing to each women’s business center, not later than 60 days after the completion of a site visit to the women’s business center (whether conducted for an audit, performance review, or other reason), a copy of any site visit reports or evaluation reports prepared by district office technical representatives or officers or employees of the Administration.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Change of Title-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





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





(A) in subsection (a)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) by striking paragraphs (1) and (4);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) by inserting before paragraph (4), as so redesignated, the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) the term ‘Director’ means the Director of the Office of Women’s Business Ownership established under subsection (g);’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘Assistant Administrator’ each place that term appears and inserting ‘Director’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in subsection (g)(2), in the paragraph heading, by striking ‘ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR’ and inserting ‘DIRECTOR’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Women’S BUSINESS OWNERSHIP ACT OF 1988- Title IV of the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in section 403(a)(2)(B), by striking ‘Assistant Administrator’ and inserting ‘Director’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in section 405, by striking ‘Assistant Administrator’ and inserting ‘Director’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in section 406(c), by striking ‘Assistant Administrator’ and inserting ‘Director’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.

(a) Women’s Business Center Financial Assistance- Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) in subsection (a), as amended by section 3(b) of this Act--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by inserting before paragraph (2) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) the term ‘association of women’s business centers’ means an organization--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) that represents not less than 51 percent of the women’s business centers that participate in a program under this section; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) whose primary purpose is to represent women’s business centers;’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) the term ‘eligible entity’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a private nonprofit organization;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) a State, regional, or local economic development organization;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) a development, credit, or finance corporation chartered by a State;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) a junior or community college, as defined in section 312(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f)); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) any combination of entities listed in subparagraphs (A) through (D);’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘and’ at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) by adding after paragraph (5) the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) the term ‘women’s business center’ means a project conducted by an eligible entity under this section.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) in subsection (b)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), and adjusting the margins accordingly;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘The Administration’ and all that follows through ‘5-year projects’ and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- The Administration may provide financial assistance to an eligible entity to conduct a project under this section’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking ‘The projects shall’ and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) USE OF FUNDS- The project shall be designed to provide training and counseling that meets the needs of women, especially socially and economically disadvantaged women, and shall’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





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





‘(3) AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- The Administrator may award financial assistance under this subsection of not less than $100,000 and not more than $150,000 per year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) LOWER AMOUNT- The Administrator may award financial assistance under this subsection to a recipient in an amount that is less than $100,000 if the Administrator determines that the recipient is unable to make a non-Federal contribution of $100,000 or more, as required under subsection (c).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) EQUAL ALLOCATIONS- If the Administration has insufficient funds to provide financial assistance of not less than $100,000 for each recipient of financial assistance under this subsection in any fiscal year, the Administrator shall provide an equal amount of financial assistance to each recipient in the fiscal year, unless a recipient requests a lower amount than the allocated amount.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) CONSULTATION WITH ASSOCIATIONS OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTERS- The Administrator shall consult with each association of women’s business centers to develop--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a training program for the staff of women’s business centers and the Administration; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) recommendations to improve the policies and procedures for governing the general operations and administration of the women’s business center program, including grant program improvements under subsection (g)(4).’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) in subsection (c)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in paragraph (1) by striking ‘the recipient organization’ and inserting ‘an eligible entity’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in paragraph (3), in the second sentence, by striking ‘a recipient organization’ and inserting ‘an eligible entity’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in paragraph (4)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) by striking ‘recipient of assistance’ and inserting ‘eligible entity’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by striking ‘such organization’ and inserting ‘the eligible entity’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) by striking ‘recipient’ and inserting ‘eligible entity’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) in paragraph (5)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘a recipient organization’ and inserting ‘an eligible entity’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by striking ‘the recipient organization’ each place it appears and inserting ‘the eligible entity’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





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





‘(6) SEPARATION OF PROJECT AND FUNDS- An eligible entity shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) carry out a project under this section separately from other projects, if any, of the eligible entity; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) separately maintain and account for any financial assistance under this section.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in subsection (e)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking ‘applicant organization’ and inserting ‘eligible entity’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking ‘a recipient organization’ and inserting ‘an eligible entity’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) by striking ‘site’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(f) Applications and Criteria for Initial Financial Assistance-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) APPLICATION- Each eligible entity desiring financial assistance under subsection (b) shall submit to the Administrator an application that contains--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) a certification that the eligible entity--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) has designated an executive director or program manager, who may be compensated using financial assistance under subsection (b) or other sources, to manage the center on a full-time basis;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) as a condition of receiving financial assistance under subsection (b), agrees--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) to receive a site visit by the Administrator as part of the final selection process;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) to undergo an annual programmatic and financial examination; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) to the maximum extent practicable, to remedy any problems identified pursuant to the site visit or examination under subclause (I) or (II); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) meets the accounting and reporting requirements established by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) information demonstrating that the eligible entity has the ability and resources to meet the needs of the market to be served by the women’s business center for which financial assistance under subsection (b) is sought, including the ability to obtain the non-Federal contribution required under subsection (c);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) information relating to the assistance to be provided by the women’s business center for which financial assistance under subsection (b) is sought in the area in which the women’s business center is located;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) information demonstrating the experience and effectiveness of the eligible entity in--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) conducting financial, management, and marketing assistance programs, as described in subsection (b)(2), which are designed to teach or upgrade the business skills of women who are business owners or potential business owners;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) providing training and services to a representative number of women who are socially and economically disadvantaged; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) working with resource partners of the Administration and other entities, such as universities; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) a 5-year plan that describes the ability of the women’s business center for which financial assistance is sought--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) to serve women who are business owners or potential business owners by conducting training and counseling activities; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) to provide training and services to a representative number of women who are socially and economically disadvantaged.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION- The Administrator shall make any request for additional information from an organization applying for financial assistance under subsection (b) that was not requested in the original announcement in writing.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR INITIAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) IN GENERAL- The Administrator shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) review each application submitted under paragraph (1), based on the information described in such paragraph and the criteria set forth under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) to the extent practicable, as part of the final selection process, conduct a site visit to each women’s business center for which financial assistance under subsection (b) is sought.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) SELECTION CRITERIA-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) IN GENERAL- The Administrator shall evaluate applicants for financial assistance under subsection (b) in accordance with selection criteria that are--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) established before the date on which applicants are required to submit the applications;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) stated in terms of relative importance; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) publicly available and stated in each solicitation for applications for financial assistance under subsection (b) made by the Administrator.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) REQUIRED CRITERIA- The selection criteria for financial assistance under subsection (b) shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) the experience of the applicant in conducting programs or ongoing efforts designed to teach or enhance the business skills of women who are business owners or potential business owners;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) the ability of the applicant to begin a project within a minimum amount of time;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) the ability of the applicant to provide training and services to a representative number of women who are socially and economically disadvantaged; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(IV) the location for the women’s business center proposed by the applicant, including whether the applicant is located in a State in which there is not a women’s business center receiving funding from the Administration.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) PROXIMITY- If the principal place of business of an applicant for financial assistance under subsection (b) is located less than 50 miles from the principal place of business of a women’s business center that received funds under this section on or before the date of the application, the applicant shall not be eligible for the financial assistance, unless the applicant submits a detailed written justification of the need for an additional center in the area in which the applicant is located.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) RECORD RETENTION- The Administrator shall maintain a copy of each application submitted under this subsection for not less than 7 years.’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) in subsection (m)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) APPLICATION AND APPROVAL FOR RENEWAL GRANTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) SOLICITATION OF APPLICATIONS- The Administrator shall solicit applications and award grants under this subsection for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of the Women’s Small Business Ownership Act of 2012, and every third fiscal year thereafter.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) CONTENTS OF APPLICATION- Each eligible entity desiring a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Administrator an application that contains--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) a certification that the applicant--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) is an eligible entity;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) has designated a full-time executive director or program manager to manage the women’s business center operated by the applicant; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) as a condition of receiving a grant under this subsection, agrees--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(aa) to receive a site visit as part of the final selection process;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(bb) to submit, for the 2 full fiscal years before the date on which the application is submitted, annual programmatic and financial examination reports or certified copies of the compliance supplemental audits under OMB Circular A-133 of the applicant; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(cc) to remedy any problem identified pursuant to the site visit or examination under item (aa) or (bb);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(ii) information demonstrating that the applicant has the ability and resources to meet the needs of the market to be served by the women’s business center for which a grant under this subsection is sought, including the ability to obtain the non-Federal contribution required under paragraph (4)(C);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iii) information relating to assistance to be provided by the women’s business center in the area served by the women’s business center for which a grant under this subsection is sought;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(iv) information demonstrating that the applicant has worked with resource partners of the Administration and other entities;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(v) a 3-year plan that describes the ability of the women’s business center for which a grant under this subsection is sought--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) to serve women who are business owners or potential business owners by conducting training and counseling activities; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) to provide training and services to a representative number of women who are socially and economically disadvantaged; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(vi) any additional information that the Administrator may reasonably require.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(C) REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) IN GENERAL- The Administrator shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) review each application submitted under subparagraph (B), based on the information described in such subparagraph and the criteria set forth under clause (ii) of this subparagraph; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) whenever practicable, as part of the final selection process, conduct a site visit to each women’s business center for which a grant under this subsection is sought.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) SELECTION CRITERIA-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) IN GENERAL- The Administrator shall evaluate applicants for grants under this subsection in accordance with selection criteria that are--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(aa) established before the date on which applicants are required to submit the applications;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(bb) stated in terms of relative importance; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(cc) publicly available and stated in each solicitation for applications for grants under this subsection made by the Administrator.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(II) REQUIRED CRITERIA- The selection criteria for a grant under this subsection shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(aa) the total number of entrepreneurs served by the applicant;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(bb) the total number of new startup companies assisted by the applicant;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(cc) the percentage of clients of the applicant that are socially or economically disadvantaged; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(dd) the percentage of individuals in the community served by the applicant who are socially or economically disadvantaged.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(iii) CONDITIONS FOR CONTINUED FUNDING- In determining whether to make a grant under this subsection, the Administrator--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) shall consider the results of the most recent evaluation of the women’s business center for which a grant under this subsection is sought, and, to a lesser extent, previous evaluations; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) may withhold a grant under this subsection, if the Administrator determines that the applicant has failed to provide the information required to be provided under this paragraph, or the information provided by the applicant is inadequate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(D) NOTIFICATION- Not later than 60 days after the date of each deadline to submit applications, the Administrator shall approve or deny any application under this paragraph and notify the applicant for each such application of the approval or denial.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) RECORD RETENTION- The Administrator shall maintain a copy of each application submitted under this paragraph for not less than 7 years.’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) AWARD TO PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS- There shall be no limitation on the number of times the Administrator may award a grant to an applicant under this subsection.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





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





(A) in subsection (h)(2), by striking ‘to award a contract (as a sustainability grant) under subsection (l) or’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subsection (j)(1), by striking ‘The Administration’ and inserting ‘Not later than November 1 of each year, the Administrator’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) in subsection (k)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) by striking paragraphs (1), (2), and (4);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (5); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) by inserting before paragraph (5), as so redesignated, the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(1) IN GENERAL- There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administration to carry out this section, to remain available until expended, $14,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2013, 2014, and 2015.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) USE OF FUNDS- Amounts made available under this subsection may only be used for grant awards and may not be used for costs incurred by the Administration in connection with the management and administration of the program under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(3) CONTINUING GRANT AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AUTHORITY-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) PROMPT DISBURSEMENT- Upon receiving funds to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Administrator shall, to the extent practicable, promptly reimburse funds to any women’s business center awarded financial assistance under this section if the center meets the eligibility requirements under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION- If the Administrator has entered into a grant or cooperative agreement with a women’s business center under this section, the Administrator may not suspend or terminate the grant or cooperative agreement, unless the Administrator--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) provides the women’s business center with written notification setting forth the reasons for that action; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) affords the women’s business center an opportunity for a hearing, appeal, or other administrative proceeding under chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code.’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) in subsection (m)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘subsection (b) or (l)’ and inserting ‘this subsection or subsection (b)’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) in paragraph (4)(D), by striking ‘or subsection (l)’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) by redesignating subsections (m) and (n), as amended by this Act, as subsections (l) and (m), respectively.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) PROSPECTIVE REPEAL- Section 1401(c)(2) of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (15 U.S.C. 636 note) is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘and’ at the end;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end and inserting ‘; and’; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





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





‘(C) by redesignating paragraph (6), as added by section 4(a)(3)(E) of the Women’s Small Business Ownership Act of 2012, as paragraph (5).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Effect on Existing Grants-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) TERMS AND CONDITIONS- A nonprofit organization receiving a grant under section 29(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, shall continue to receive the grant under the terms and conditions in effect for the grant on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, except that the nonprofit organization may not apply for a renewal of the grant under section 29(m)(5) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)(5)), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) LENGTH OF RENEWAL GRANT- The Administrator may award a grant under section 29(l) of the Small Business Act, as so redesignated by subsection (b)(5) of this Act, to a nonprofit organization receiving a grant under section 29(m) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(m)), as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, for the period--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) beginning on the day after the last day of the grant agreement under such section 29(m); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) ending at the end of the third fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. STUDY AND REPORT ON ECONOMIC ISSUES FACING WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTERS.

(a) Study- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a broad study of the unique economic issues facing women’s business centers located in covered areas to identify--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the difficulties such centers face in raising non-Federal funds;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the difficulties such centers face in competing for financial assistance, non-Federal funds, or other types of assistance;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the difficulties such centers face in writing grant proposals; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) other difficulties such centers face because of the economy in the type of covered area in which such centers are located.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study under subsection (a), which shall include recommendations, if any, regarding how to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) address the unique difficulties women’s business centers located in covered areas face because of the type of covered area in which such centers are located;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) expand the presence of, and increase the services provided by, women’s business centers located in covered areas; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) best use technology and other resources to better serve women business owners located in covered areas.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Definition of Covered Area- In this section, the term ‘covered area’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) any State that is predominantly rural, as determined by the Administrator;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) any State that is predominantly urban, as determined by the Administrator; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) any State or territory that is an island.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. STUDY AND REPORT ON OVERSIGHT OF WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTERS.

(a) Study- The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study of the oversight of women’s business centers by the Administrator, which shall include--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) an analysis of the coordination by the Administrator of the activities of women’s business centers with the activities of small business development centers, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, and Veteran Business Outreach Centers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) a comparison of the types of individuals and small business concerns served by women’s business centers and the types of individuals and small business concerns served by small business development centers, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, and Veteran Business Outreach Centers; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) an analysis of performance data for women’s business centers that evaluates how well women’s business centers are carrying out the mission of women’s business centers and serving individuals and small business concerns.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the study under subsection (a), which shall include recommendations, if any, for eliminating the duplication of services provided by women’s business centers, small business development centers, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, and Veteran Business Outreach Centers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink