S. 1109 Text - Introduced in Senate - 117th Congress (2021-2022)

117th CONGRESS
1st Session

S. 1109

To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, in consultation with the National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency, to establish a grant program to create or expand programs at minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities that promote minority business ownership and entrepreneurship, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 14, 2021

Ms. Rosen (for herself and Mr. Tillis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

A BILL

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

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Minority Entrepreneurship Grant Program Act of 2021”.

SEC. 2. Definitions.

In this Act:

(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Small Business Administration.

(2) BOARD.—The term “Board” means the Minority Entrepreneurship Advisory Board established under section 4(a).

(3) DIRECTOR.—The term “Director” means the National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency.

(4) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.—The term “historically Black college or university” means a part B institution, as that term is defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).

(5) MINORITY.—The term “minority” includes an individual who is—

(A) Black or African American;

(B) Hispanic or Latino;

(D) Asian;

(E) Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander;

(F) Native Alaskan; or

(G) a member of a group that the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce determines under part 1400 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on November 23, 1984, is a socially disadvantaged group eligible to receive assistance.

(6) MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTION.—The term “minority-serving institution” means any of the following:

(A) A Hispanic-serving institution, as that term is defined in section 502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)).

(B) A Tribal College or University, as that term is defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)).

(C) An Alaska Native-serving institution, as that term is defined in section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)).

(D) A Native Hawaiian-serving institution, as that term is defined in section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)).

(E) A Predominantly Black Institution, as that term is defined in section 318(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)).

(F) A Native American-serving, nontribal institution, as that term is defined in section 319(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059f(b)).

(G) An Asian-American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, as that term is defined in section 320(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b)).

(7) PROGRAM.—The term “Program” means the grant program established under section 3(a).

(8) SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN.—The term “small business concern” has the meaning given the term in section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)).

(9) STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR.—The term “student entrepreneur” means a student who is—

(A) a minority;

(B) enrolled at a minority-serving institution or a historically Black college or university; and

SEC. 3. Grant program.

(a) Establishment.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Director, shall establish a grant program within the Small Business Administration, the purpose of which shall be to create or expand programs at minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities that foster, promote, and increase opportunities for minority business ownership.

(b) Application process.—A minority-serving institution or a historically Black college or university seeking a grant under the Program shall submit to the Administrator an application that contains a description of—

(1) the need for the grant funds to promote minority entrepreneurship and business ownership among student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or the historically Black college or university;

(2) how the grant funds will be used to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1);

(3) how the programs created or expanded with the grant funds will provide support to student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university who—

(A) seek support for an established business; or

(B) need assistance in establishing a business; and

(4) how the minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university will create or expand programs or initiatives that—

(A) increase minority business ownership; and

(B) expand business resources to student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university.

(c) Amount of grant.—A grant made to a minority-serving institution or a historically Black college or university under the Program shall be not less than $250,000.

(d) Use of grant funds.—With a grant received under the Program, a minority-serving institution or a historically Black college or university shall support the creation or expansion of programs or initiatives that offer business development resources that support student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university, such as—

(1) free legal, accounting, human resources, information technology, marketing, training, counseling, networking, and technical assistance; and

(2) access to capital resources, such as the costs associated with forming a new business enterprise.

(e) MSI submission requirement.—A minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university to which a grant is made under the Program shall, each year, submit to the Administrator a mid-year and year-end report, each of which shall contain, for the period covered by the report, the number of—

(1) student entrepreneurs trained, assisted, and counseled with the grant funds;

(2) businesses created through the expenditure of the grant funds, including, with respect to each such business—

(A) the name of the business;

(B) a description of the business; and

(3) student entrepreneurs referred to other resources of the Small Business Administration; and

(4) student entrepreneurs participating in programs created or expanded through the expenditure of the grant funds, which, to the extent possible, shall be disaggregated by sex, race, and ethnicity.

(f) Report to Congress.—Not later than 18 months after the date on which the first grant is made under the Program, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that contains information regarding the minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges or universities to which grants were made under the Program for the period covered by the report, which shall include—

(1) the name of each such minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university and the amount of each such grant;

(2) the number of student entrepreneurs trained, assisted, and counseled with Program grant funds—

(A) at each minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university to which a grant was made under the Program; and

(B) in total under the Program;

(3) the number of businesses created through the expenditure of Program grant funds—

(A) with respect to each minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university to which a grant was made under the Program; and

(B) in total under the Program;

(4) the number of student entrepreneurs referred to resources of the Small Business Administration—

(A) at each minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university to which a grant was made under the Program; and

(B) in total under the Program;

(5) the number of student entrepreneurs participating in programs created or expanded through the expenditure of Program grant funds at each minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university to which a grant was made under the Program, and in total under the Program, which, to the extent possible, shall be disaggregated by sex, race, and ethnicity; and

(6) a statement regarding whether any amounts made available to carry out this section remain unexpended, as of the date on which the report is submitted.

(g) Authorization of appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $50,000,000 to carry out this section.

SEC. 4. Advisory board.

(a) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a Minority Entrepreneurship Advisory Board to develop recommendations regarding how minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities can better serve minority businesses and entrepreneurs.

(b) Membership of Board.—The members of the Board shall be—

(1) appointed by the Administrator; and

(2) individuals with—

(A) outstanding qualifications;

(B) knowledge regarding the needs of small business concerns that are owned by minorities; and

(i) working with startups; or

(ii) in providing consultation to small business concerns.

(c) Submission to Congress.—Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress the recommendations developed by the Board under subsection (a).

(d) Inapplicability of FACA.—The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply with respect to the Board or the activities of the Board.