summary
Introduced
03/22/2017
03/22/2017
In Committee
03/22/2017
03/22/2017
Crossed Over
05/09/2018
05/09/2018
Passed
Dead
12/31/2018
12/31/2018
Introduced Session
115th Congress
Bill Summary
Women's Business Centers Improvements Act of 2018 The bill revises the duties of the Office of Women's Business Ownership and declares it is the Office's mission to assist women entrepreneurs to start, grow, and compete in global markets by providing quality support with access to capital, access to markets, job creation, growth, and counseling. The Small Business Administration (SBA) shall establish standards for a program to accredit eligible entities receiving a grant to operate one or more women's business centers. These organizations shall be eligible to apply for such a grant: a tax-exempt charitable organization; a state, regional, or local economic development organization; an institution of higher education; a state-chartered development, credit, or finance corporation; or any combination of these. Failure to obtain non-federal funding must be for two consecutive years before an eligible entity shall become ineligible for advance disbursements, or for any other SBA-funded project. An SBA employee shall: make a prior site visit to any grant applicant to ensure that the applicant has sufficient resources to provide the services for which the grant is being made; and conduct an annual review of the entity's compliance with the grant agreement, including a financial examination. An eligible entity whose review identifies problems shall develop a remedial plan of action for the Office to approve or amend, subject to appeal. The Office shall terminate any grant for failure of compliance with a plan of action. Upon request by an eligible entity, the SBA may waive, in whole or in part, although not for more than two years, the requirement to obtain non-federal funds for a grant recipient's counseling and training activities.
AI Summary
This bill, the Women's Business Centers Improvements Act of 2018, revises and strengthens the Women's Business Center (WBC) program administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA). It establishes standards for accrediting WBCs, provides additional grant funding opportunities, and requires the SBA to conduct annual reviews and provide support for WBCs. The bill also establishes the Office of Women's Business Ownership within the SBA to oversee the WBC program and assist women entrepreneurs more broadly. Overall, the bill aims to improve access to capital, markets, counseling, and other resources for women-owned small businesses by enhancing the WBC program.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (5)
Stephen Knight (R)*,
Barbara Comstock (R),
Josh Gottheimer (D),
Al Lawson (D),
Stephanie Murphy (D),
Last Action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. (on 05/09/2018)
Official Document
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