Bill Summary
This legislation, known as the "Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Act", was passed by the United States Congress to establish a program within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide resources and assistance to small business concerns. The program, known as the "Growth Accelerator Fund Competition", aims to provide funding and mentorship opportunities to small businesses to help them access capital, find mentors and networking opportunities, and improve their overall performance. The SBA will award prizes on a competitive basis to private entities that meet certain eligibility requirements and demonstrate the ability to assist and advise small business concerns. The Act also prioritizes applications that include methods to support underserved communities, such as businesses owned and controlled by women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The SBA will use metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and there is an authorized budget of $2 million for each fiscal year from 2020-2023 to carry out the competition.
Possible Impacts
1. Individuals who are involved in small business concerns may have increased access to capital and mentorship opportunities through the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, which could potentially lead to increased success and growth for their businesses.
2. Women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals may have a higher chance of receiving assistance and advice through the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, as the legislation prioritizes helping these groups.
3. The Growth Accelerator Fund Competition will be evaluated based on metrics that reflect its impact on the economy, potentially affecting the overall economic well-being of the people of the United States.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4387 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4387
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 22, 2019
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business
and Entrepreneurship
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish Growth Accelerator Fund Competition within the Small
Business Administration, 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. GROWTH ACCELERATOR FUND COMPETITION.
(a) In General.--There is established a program within the Small
Business Administration to be known as the ``Growth Accelerator Fund
Competition'' under which the Administrator of the Small Business
Administration shall award prizes on a competitive basis to covered
entities that--
(1) assist small business concerns with accessing capital
and finding mentors and networking opportunities; and
(2) advise small business concerns, including advising on
market analysis, company strategy, revenue growth, and securing
funding.
(b) Requirements.--Except as otherwise provided in this section,
the Administrator shall carry out the program established under this
section in accordance with the requirements of section 24 of the
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719).
(c) Application.--A prize only may be awarded to a covered entity
that submits to the Administrator an application at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may
require.
(d) Eligibility.--To be eligible to apply for a prize under this
section, a covered entity--
(1) may not have an outstanding, unresolved financial
obligation to the Federal Government; and
(2) may not be currently suspended or debarred as specified
under subpart 9.4 of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations (or
any successor regulation).
(e) Selection of Covered Entities.--From applications submitted
under subsection (c), the Administrator shall select covered entities
that will provide to small business concerns--
(1) regular networking opportunities, including
introductions to customers, partners, suppliers, advisory
boards, and other persons;
(2) mentorship opportunities, including advice on strategy,
technology, finances, and commercialization assistance;
(3) shared working environments focused on building a
strong community amongst other similar small business concerns;
(4) resources and co-working arrangements;
(5) opportunities to pitch ideas to investors and other
capital formation opportunities;
(6) small amounts of angel money, seed capital, or
structured loans; and
(7) where appropriate, assistance in securing funding under
the SBIR program or the STTR program established under section
9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).
(f) Priority.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator, in approving
applications under this section, shall give priority to
applications that include methods to provide assistance and
advice to small business concerns located in underserved
communities, including--
(A) small business concerns owned and controlled by
women;
(B) small business concerns owned and controlled by
veterans; and
(C) small business concerns owned and controlled by
socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (as
defined in section 8(d)(3)(C) of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 637(d)(3)(C))).
(2) Allocation.--Of prizes awarded to covered entities
under this section in a fiscal year, the Administrator shall
ensure that--
(A) not less than 20 percent of such covered
entities will assist and advise small business concerns
owned and controlled by women; and
(B) not less than 20 percent of such covered
entities will assist and advise small business concerns
owned and controlled by socially and economically
disadvantaged individuals.
(g) Selection of Small Business Concerns.--A covered entity that
receives a prize under the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition shall
use a selective process to identify small business concerns to provide
assistance and advice described under subsection (a).
(h) Development of Metrics.--The Administrator shall develop
metrics to evaluate the effectiveness and the benefit to the people of
the United States of the Growth Accelerator Fund Competition that--
(1) are science-based and statistically driven;
(2) reflect the mission of the Small Business
Administration; and
(3) include factors relating to the economic impact of the
Growth Accelerator Fund Competition.
(i) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
(2) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means a
private entity that is incorporated in and maintains a primary
place of business in the United States.
(3) Small business act definitions.--The terms ``small
business concern'', ``small business concern owned and
controlled by women'', ``small business concern owned and
controlled by veterans'' have the meanings given such terms,
respectively, in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
632).
(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Administrator $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 to carry out the Growth Accelerator Fund
Competition.
Passed the House of Representatives October 21, 2019.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.