Panel OKs SBDC, SCORE and WBC bills

      The House Small Business Committee approved four bipartisan bills to strengthen the Small Business Administration’s entrepreneurship programs.

      The bills require annual reports to Congress on the Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), SCORE, and Women’s Business Center programs, among other provisions.

      The legislative initiatives are:

• HR4406 - The Small Business Development Center Improvement Act, to authorize $175 million per year for four years and allow SBDCs to advertise their services.
• HR4405 - Women’s Business Centers Improvements Act, to authorize $31.5 million each year for four years and allow centers to receive up to $300,000 in federal grants. The legislation sets up an accreditation program and a process for selecting new locations.
• HR 4407 - SCORE for Small Business Act, incorporates recommendation from a 2019 Office of Inspector General report to improve transparency and accountability. SCORE would need to follow federal procedures for competitive awards. Limits would be set on SCORE director salaries and members of the SCORE board would be banned from also sitting on the SCORE Foundation board, among other provisions.
• HR 4387 makes official the SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition for early-stage entrepreneurs. It authorizes $2 million in federal funds to cover several $50,000 prizes.

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