Bill > S1048

This bill amends the Small Business Act to expand the role of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women's Business Centers in supporting career and technical education (CTE) graduates. First, the bill defines "career and technical education" by referencing the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, which typically refers to educational programs that prepare students for specific trades, technical careers, and skilled workforce opportunities. The bill then requires SBDCs to provide two key types of assistance: helping small businesses hire CTE graduates and helping CTE graduates start their own small businesses. Similarly, Women's Business Centers will now be tasked with providing similar support, specifically assisting small businesses in recruiting CTE graduates and helping CTE graduates launch their own business ventures. These changes aim to create stronger connections between educational programs that prepare students for technical and skilled careers and the small business ecosystem, potentially helping to address workforce development and entrepreneurship challenges by creating more direct pathways for CTE graduates to enter and create small businesses.

Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1048/all-info