Bill Summary
The "Growing Regional Entrepreneurship and Access To Economic Resilience Act" (GREATER Act) aims to enhance rural entrepreneurship and support small businesses in the Appalachian and Delta regions of the United States. The legislation mandates the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the Delta Regional Authority (DRA) to collaborate by entering into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) within 120 days of its enactment. This agreement will outline coordinated activities to promote rural entrepreneurship and assist small business concerns in these regions.
Key provisions of the Act include:
1. **Collaboration**: The covered officials from the SBA, ARC, and DRA must work together to facilitate activities that support rural entrepreneurs and small businesses.
2. **Inclusion of Small Businesses**: Efforts must ensure that small business concerns in the targeted regions are included in the initiatives.
3. **Reimbursable Agreements**: The officials may create reimbursable agreements to enhance the effectiveness of their collaborative efforts.
4. **Reporting**: Within two years, the officials are required to submit a report to Congress detailing their activities, the number of businesses assisted, and future collaboration plans.
Overall, the GREATER Act is designed to strengthen economic resilience in rural communities by fostering entrepreneurship and providing essential support to small businesses.
Possible Impacts
The "Growing Regional Entrepreneurship and Access To Economic Resilience Act" (GREATER Act) could affect people in the following ways:
1. **Increased Access to Resources for Entrepreneurs**: The Act aims to expand rural entrepreneurship by facilitating collaboration among key organizations, such as the Small Business Administration, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and the Delta Regional Authority. This could lead to the development of programs that provide financial assistance, training, and mentorship to aspiring entrepreneurs in rural areas, enabling them to start and grow their businesses.
2. **Job Creation and Economic Growth**: By supporting small business concerns in the Appalachian and Delta regions, the GREATER Act has the potential to stimulate local economies. As new businesses are established and existing ones are supported, job opportunities may increase, leading to lower unemployment rates and improved economic stability in these areas. This can have a significant positive impact on the livelihoods of individuals and families in rural communities.
3. **Enhanced Coordination and Support Networks**: The requirement for covered officials to work together and report on their activities can lead to improved communication and coordination among various agencies and organizations involved in rural development. This collaboration can create a more comprehensive support network for rural entrepreneurs, ensuring they have access to a wider range of services, resources, and opportunities tailored to their specific needs. This holistic approach can help entrepreneurs overcome challenges more effectively and foster a culture of innovation and resilience in rural areas.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2728 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2728
To require the Small Business Administration, the Appalachian Regional
Commission, and the Delta Regional Authority to enter into an agreement
to carry out activities to expand rural entrepreneurship, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 8, 2025
Ms. Letlow (for herself and Mr. Deluzio) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business,
and 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 require the Small Business Administration, the Appalachian Regional
Commission, and the Delta Regional Authority to enter into an agreement
to carry out activities to expand rural entrepreneurship, 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 ``Growing Regional Entrepreneurship
and Access To Economic Resilience Act'' or the ``GREATER Act''.
SEC. 2. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO EXPAND RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
AND SUPPORT TO SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS WITHIN APPALACHIAN
REGION AND THE DELTA REGION.
(a) In General.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Small Business
Administration, the appropriate head of the Appalachian Regional
Commission, and the appropriate head of the Delta Regional Authority
(in this section referred to as the ``covered officials'') shall enter
into a memorandum of understanding or other appropriate agreement to
carry out activities within the Appalachian region and the Delta
region, as applicable, to expand rural entrepreneurship and to support
covered small business concerns.
(b) Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement.--The covered
officials shall carry out and coordinate the activities described in
subsection (a) by entering into one or more memoranda of understanding
or other appropriate agreements, as jointly determined by the covered
officials.
(c) Inclusion of Covered Small Business Concerns.--In carrying out
the activities described in subsection (a), the covered officials shall
ensure the inclusion of covered small business concerns in such
activities, as appropriate.
(d) Other Requirements.--In carrying out the activities described
in subsection (a), the covered officials may--
(1) carry out reimbursable agreements between the
Appalachian Regional Commission, Delta Regional Authority, the
Small Business Administration, and other appropriate entities
in order to maximize the effectiveness of activities carried
out pursuant to a memorandum or agreement described in
subsection (b); and
(2) collaborate with other Federal agencies as appropriate
to carry out such activities.
(e) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the covered officials shall jointly submit to
Congress a report on activities carried out pursuant to a memorandum or
agreement described in subsection (b) that includes the following:
(1) Coordination between the covered officials involved in
such activities.
(2) Potential opportunities to expand the ability of the
Appalachian Regional Commission, Delta Regional Authority, and
the Small Business Administration to provide assistance to
rural entrepreneurs or covered small business concerns, as
applicable.
(3) The number of rural entrepreneurs or covered small
business concerns assisted through activities carried out
pursuant to such memorandum or agreement.
(4) Areas of future collaboration among the covered
officials for the benefit of rural entrepreneurs or covered
small business concerns located within the Appalachian region
or Delta region, as applicable.
(5) Plans of the covered officials to continue coordination
on activities described in subsection (a).
(f) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Covered small business concern.--The term ``covered
small business concern'' means a small business concern (as
defined under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
632)) located within the Appalachian region or Delta region.
(2) Appalachian regional commission.--The term
``Appalachian Regional Commission'' means the commission
established by section 14301(a) of title 40, United States
Code.
(3) Delta region.--The term ``Delta region'' has the
meaning given the term ``region'' in section 382A of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2009aa).
(4) Delta regional authority.--The term ``Delta Regional
Authority'' means the entity established under subtitle F of
the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C.
2009aa et seq.).
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