Bill > S2456

This bill establishes a National Rural Export Center and up to 9 regional rural export centers within the United States and Foreign Commercial Service to help rural businesses overcome challenges in accessing international markets. Recognizing that rural businesses are often located far from transportation corridors and information networks, the bill directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce to create these centers within 180 days to 1 year of enactment. The centers will provide specialized, business-specific market research services, strategic planning, and export support tailored to rural businesses, using high-quality data from trade association databases. The centers will track their effectiveness by measuring the number of businesses receiving assistance, the export services they engage in (such as trade shows and missions), and the total monetary value of exports facilitated. Each center will maintain a website with collected data, best practices for rural businesses exploring export opportunities, and staff contact information. The National Rural Export Center will oversee the regional centers and be located preferentially in a Commercial Service office outside major metropolitan areas, with dedicated staff primarily based at the center.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2456/all-info