Revitalizing Small and Local Businesses Act
This bill establishes a competitive grant program, administered by the Economic Development Administration, for national nonprofit organizations to partner with local organizations to provide specialized technical assistance, capacity building, and related services that support small businesses and business district revitalization in low-income, rural, and minority communities.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7451 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7451
To establish a competitive grant program to provide assistance to
support small businesses and business district revitalization in low-
income, rural, and minority communities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 7, 2022
Mr. Carter of Louisiana (for himself and Mr. Guest) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial
Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a competitive grant program to provide assistance to
support small businesses and business district revitalization in low-
income, rural, and minority communities, and for other purposes.
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 ``Revitalizing Small and Local
Businesses Act''.
SEC. 2. REVITALIZING BUSINESS DISTRICTS PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Title II of the Public Works and Economic
Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141 et seq.) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
``SEC. 219. REVITALIZING BUSINESS DISTRICTS PROGRAM.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) National nonprofit organization.--The term `national
nonprofit organization' means a nonprofit organization that--
``(A) operates, including through affiliates,
membership networks or partnerships with third party
entities, in each geographic area served by a regional
office of the Economic Development Administration; and
``(B) has experience and expertise in providing
technical assistance and capacity building programs in
support of community-based organizations that focus on
revitalizing business districts and commercial
corridors, including through support of underserved
small businesses.
``(2) Nonprofit organization.--The term `nonprofit
organization' means an organization that is--
``(A) described in paragraph (3), (4), (5), or (6)
of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
and
``(B) exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of
that Code.
``(b) Program.--The Secretary shall establish a national program
under which the Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis to
national nonprofit organizations to carry out place-based programs, in
partnership with locally-based nonprofit or public community and
economic development partners, to provide specialized technical
assistance, capacity building, and related services that support small
businesses and business district revitalization in low-income, rural,
and minority communities.
``(c) Use of Funds.--The Secretary shall establish reasonable caps
on administrative costs and activities necessary for awardees to
implement activities funded under the program established under
subsection (b).
``(d) Application.--A national nonprofit organization seeking a
grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Secretary may require. Applications shall include a strategy for
distributions of grant funds to local business district organizations
or similar place-based business or economic development organizations.
``(e) Partnerships.--In order to receive a grant under this
section, a national nonprofit organization shall demonstrate a track
record of supporting local business district organizations or similar
place-based business or economic development organizations and serving
disadvantaged businesses or communities that are socially and
economically disadvantaged, including rural communities.
``(f) Prioritization.--Notwithstanding section 206 in selecting
grant recipients under this section, the Secretary shall ensure a broad
geographic distribution of award activities, and give priority to an
applicant--
``(1) that would serve communities that are socially and
economically disadvantaged, including rural communities; and
``(2) that has the demonstrated capacity to serve multiple
States or multiple geographies within a State.
``(g) Reporting.--Awardees must submit to the Secretary (at such
time and in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe, but no more
frequently than annually) a report specifying--
``(1) the names and addresses of the local business
development or economic development organizations funded by the
awardee;
``(2) the use of funds, both by the awardee and by each
funded entity;
``(3) the total number of small businesses receiving direct
or indirect assistance through the funding and the number of
employees at those business;
``(4) the total number of such small businesses that
qualify as disadvantaged businesses or are in communities that
are socially or economically disadvantaged, including rural
communities, and the number of employees at such businesses;
and
``(5) such other information as the Secretary may require.
``(h) Administration.--The Secretary shall carry out this section
through the headquarters office of the Economic Development
Administration.
``(i) Federal Share.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) and
notwithstanding section 204 or any other provision of law, the
Federal share of the cost of a project carried out with
assistance under this section shall be not more than 80
percent.
``(2) Use of other federal funds.--A grant recipient may
use other Federal funds provided to the grant recipient to
increase the Federal share under paragraph (1) up to 100
percent, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
``(3) Waiver.--The Secretary may increase the Federal share
under paragraph (1) up to 100 percent if the Secretary
determines that the grant recipient is unable to pay, or would
experience significant financial hardship if required to pay,
the non-Federal share.
``(j) Administrative Costs.--Of the amounts made available to carry
out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary may use not more than
2 percent for the administrative costs of carrying out this section.
``(k) Funding.--Out of any unobligated funds provided to the
Economic Development Administration, the Secretary may expend up to
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, to remain
available until expended, to carry out this section.''.
(b) Direct Expenditure or Redistribution by Recipient.--Section
217(a) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42
U.S.C. 3154c(a)) is amended by striking ``or 207'' and inserting ``207,
or 219''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents in section 1(b) of
the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3121
note) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 218
the following new item:
``Sec. 219. Revitalizing business districts program.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line