[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2352 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2352

        To amend the Small Business Act, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 12, 2009

 Mr. Shuler (for himself, Mr. Luetkemeyer, Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Thompson 
 of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Dahlkemper, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Nye, Mr. Schock, 
Mr. Sestak, Mr. Moore of Kansas, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Altmire, Mr. Michaud, 
Mrs. Halvorson, and Mr. Schrader) introduced the following bill; which 
            was referred to the Committee on Small Business

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
        To amend the Small Business Act, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Job Creation 
Through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
       TITLE I--ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM

Sec. 101. Veterans Business Center program.
Sec. 102. Reporting requirement for interagency task force.
      TITLE II--EDUCATING ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 201. Educating entrepreneurs through technology.
         TITLE III--ENHANCING NATIVE AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Sec. 301. Office of Native American Affairs; Tribal Business 
                            Information Centers program.
Sec. 302. Small Business Development Center assistance to Indian tribe 
                            members, Alaska Natives, and Native 
                            Hawaiians.
        TITLE IV--BROADENING THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM

Sec. 401. Notification of grants; publication of grant amounts.
Sec. 402. Communications.
Sec. 403. Funding.
Sec. 404. Performance and planning.
Sec. 405. National Women's Business Council.
                  TITLE V--SCORE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS

Sec. 501. Expansion of volunteer representation and benchmark reports.
Sec. 502. Mentoring and networking.
Sec. 503. Name of program changed to SCORE.
Sec. 504. Authorization of appropriations.
                  TITLE VI--EXPANDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Sec. 601. Expanding entrepreneurship.
  TITLE VII--MODERNIZING THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROGRAM

Sec. 701. Small business development centers operational changes.
Sec. 702. Access to credit and capital.
Sec. 703. Procurement training and assistance.
Sec. 704. Green entrepreneurs training program.
Sec. 705. Main street stabilization.
Sec. 706. Prohibition on program income being used as matching funds.
Sec. 707. Authorization of appropriations.

       TITLE I--ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM

SEC. 101. VETERANS BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.

    Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (f), by inserting ``(other than 
        subsections (g), (h), and (i))'' after ``this section''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Veterans Business Center Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish a 
        Veterans Business Center program within the Administration to 
        provide entrepreneurial training and counseling to veterans in 
        accordance with this subsection.
            ``(2) Director.--The Administrator shall appoint a Director 
        of the Veterans Business Center program, who shall implement 
        and oversee such program and who shall report directly to the 
        Associate Administrator for Veterans Business Development.
            ``(3) Designation of veterans business centers.--The 
        Director shall establish by regulation an application, review, 
        and notification process to designate entities as veterans 
        business centers for purposes of this section. The Director 
        shall make publicly known the designation of an entity as a 
        veterans business center and the award of a grant to such 
        center under this subsection.
            ``(4) Funding for veterans business centers.--
                    ``(A) Initial grants.--The Director is authorized 
                to make a grant (hereinafter in this subsection 
                referred to as an `initial grant') to each veterans 
                business center each year for not more than 5 years in 
                the amount of $150,000.
                    ``(B) Growth funding grants.--After a veterans 
                business center has received 5 years of initial grants 
                under subparagraph (A), the Director is authorized to 
                make a grant (hereinafter in this subsection referred 
                to as a `growth funding grant') to such center each 
                year for not more than 3 years in the amount of 
                $100,000. After such center has received 3 years of 
                growth funding grants, the Director shall require such 
                center to meet performance benchmarks established by 
                the Director to be eligible for growth funding grants 
                in subsequent years.
            ``(5) Center responsibilities.--Each veterans business 
        center receiving a grant under this subsection shall use the 
        funds primarily on veteran entrepreneurial development, 
        counseling of veteran-owned small businesses through one-on-one 
        instruction and classes, and providing government procurement 
        assistance to veterans.
            ``(6) Matching funds.--Each veterans business center 
        receiving a grant under this subsection shall be required to 
        provide a non-Federal match of 50 percent of the Federal funds 
        such center receives under this subsection. The Director may 
        issue to a veterans business center, upon request, a waiver 
        from all or a portion of such matching requirement upon a 
        determination of hardship.
            ``(7) Targeted areas.--The Director shall give priority to 
        applications for designations and grants under this subsection 
        that will establish a veterans business center in a geographic 
        area, as determined by the Director, that is not currently 
        served by a veterans business center and in which--
                    ``(A) the population of veterans exceeds the 
                national median of such measure; or
                    ``(B) the population of veterans of Operation Iraqi 
                Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom exceeds the 
                national median of such measure.
            ``(8) Training program.--The Director shall develop and 
        implement, directly or by contract, an annual training program 
        for the staff and personnel of designated veterans business 
        centers to provide education, support, and information on best 
        practices with respect to the establishment and operation of 
        such centers. The Director shall develop such training program 
        in consultation with veterans business centers, the interagency 
        task force established under subsection (c), and veterans 
        service organizations.
            ``(9) Inclusion of other organizations in program.--Upon 
        the date of the enactment of this subsection, each Veterans 
        Business Outreach Center established by the Administrator under 
        the authority of section 8(b)(17) and each center that received 
        funds during fiscal year 2006 from the National Veterans 
        Business Development Corporation established under section 33 
        and that remains in operation shall be treated as designated as 
        a veterans business center for purposes of this subsection and 
        shall be eligible for grants under this subsection.
            ``(10) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection 
        $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and $12,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2011.
    ``(h) Additional Grants Available to Veterans Business Centers.--
            ``(1) Access to capital grant program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Director of the Veterans 
                Business Center program shall establish a grant program 
                under which the Director is authorized to make, to 
                veterans business centers designated under subsection 
                (g), grants for the following:
                            ``(i) Developing specialized programs to 
                        assist veteran-owned small businesses to secure 
                        capital and repair damaged credit.
                            ``(ii) Providing informational seminars on 
                        securing loans to veteran-owned small 
                        businesses.
                            ``(iii) Providing one-on-one counseling to 
                        veteran-owned small businesses to improve the 
                        financial presentations of such businesses to 
                        lenders.
                            ``(iv) Facilitating the access of veteran-
                        owned small businesses to both traditional and 
                        non-traditional financing sources.
                    ``(B) Award size.--The Director may not award a 
                veterans business center more than $75,000 in grants 
                under this paragraph.
                    ``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
                authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
                paragraph $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 and 
                2011.
            ``(2) Procurement assistance grant program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Director shall establish a 
                grant program under which the Director is authorized to 
                make, to veterans business centers designated under 
                subsection (g), grants for the following:
                            ``(i) Assisting veteran-owned small 
                        businesses to identify contracts that are 
                        suitable to such businesses.
                            ``(ii) Preparing veteran-owned small 
                        businesses to be ready as subcontractors and 
                        prime contractors for contracts made available 
                        through the American Recovery and Reinvestment 
                        Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) through training 
                        and business advisement, particularly with 
                        respect to the construction trades.
                            ``(iii) Providing veteran-owned small 
                        businesses technical assistance with respect to 
                        the Federal procurement process, including 
                        assisting such businesses to comply with 
                        Federal regulations and bonding requirements.
                    ``(B) Award size.--The Director may not award a 
                veterans business center more than $75,000 in grants 
                under this paragraph.
                    ``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
                authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
                paragraph $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 and 
                2011.
            ``(3) Service-disabled veteran-owned small business grant 
        program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Director shall establish a 
                grant program under which the Director is authorized to 
                make, to veterans business centers designated under 
                subsection (g), grants for the following:
                            ``(i) Developing outreach programs for 
                        service-disabled veterans with respect to the 
                        benefits of self-employment.
                            ``(ii) Providing tailored training to 
                        service-disabled veterans with respect to 
                        business plan development, marketing, 
                        budgeting, accounting, and merchandising.
                            ``(iii) Assisting service-disabled veteran-
                        owned small businesses to locate and secure 
                        business opportunities.
                    ``(B) Award size.--The Director may not award a 
                veterans business center more than $75,000 in grants 
                under this paragraph.
                    ``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
                authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
                paragraph $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 and 
                2011.
    ``(i) Veterans Entrepreneurial Development Summit.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of the Veterans Business 
        Center program is authorized to carry out an event, once every 
        two years, for the purpose of providing networking 
        opportunities, outreach, education, training, and support to 
        veterans business centers funded under this section, veteran-
        owned small businesses, veterans service organizations, and 
        other entities as determined appropriate for inclusion by the 
        Director.
            ``(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $450,000 for 
        fiscal years 2010 and 2011.''.

SEC. 102. REPORTING REQUIREMENT FOR INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE.

    Section 32(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b(c)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Report.--The Administrator shall submit to Congress 
        biannually a report on the appointments made to and activities 
        of the task force.''.

      TITLE II--EDUCATING ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY

SEC. 201. EDUCATING ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY.

    The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) is amended by 
redesignating section 44 as section 46 and by inserting the following 
new section after section 43:

``SEC. 44. EDUCATING ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH TECHNOLOGY.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide high-
quality distance learning to potential and existing entrepreneurs 
through the use of technology.
    ``(b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term `qualified 
third-party vendor' means an entity with experience in distance 
learning content or communications technology, or both, with the 
ability to utilize on-line, satellite, video-on-demand, and connected 
community-based organizations to distribute and conduct distance 
learning related to entrepreneurship, credit management, financial 
literacy, and Federal small business development programs.
    ``(c) Authority.--The Administrator shall contract with qualified 
third-party vendors for entrepreneurial training content and the 
development of communications technology that can distribute content 
under this section throughout the United States. The Administrator 
shall contract with at least 2 qualified third-party vendors to develop 
content.
    ``(d) Content.--The Administrator shall ensure that the content 
referred to in subsection (c) is timely and relevant to entrepreneurial 
development and can be successfully communicated remotely to an 
audience through the use of technology. The Administrator shall, to the 
maximum extent practicable, promote content that makes use of 
technologies that allow for remote interaction by the content provider 
with an audience. The Administrator shall ensure that the content is 
catalogued and accessible to small businesses on-line or through other 
remote technologies.
    ``(e) Communications Technology.--The Administrator shall ensure 
that the communications technology referred to in subsection (c) is 
able to distribute content throughout all 50 States and the territories 
of the United States to small business concerns, home-based businesses, 
Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, Veterans 
Business Centers, and the Small Business Administration. To the extent 
possible, the qualified third-party vendor should deliver the content 
using broadband technology.
    ``(f) Reports to Congress.--The Administrator shall submit a report 
to Congress 6 months after the date of the enactment of this section 
containing an analysis of the Small Business Administration's progress 
in implementing this section. The Administrator shall submit a report 
to Congress one year after the date of the enactment of this section 
and annually thereafter containing the number of presentations made 
under this section, the number of small businesses served under this 
section, the extent to which this section resulted in the establishment 
of new businesses, and feedback on the usefulness of this medium in 
presenting entrepreneurial education throughout the United States.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2010 and 2011.''.

         TITLE III--ENHANCING NATIVE AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

SEC. 301. OFFICE OF NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS; TRIBAL BUSINESS 
              INFORMATION CENTERS PROGRAM.

    (a) Associate Administrator.--Section 4(b)(1) of the Small Business 
Act (15 U.S.C. 633(b)(1)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``five Associate Administrators'' and 
        inserting ``six Associate Administrators''; and
            (2) by inserting after ``vested in the Administration.'' 
        the following: ``One such Associate Administrator shall be the 
        Associate Administrator for Native American Affairs, who shall 
        administer the Office of Native American Affairs established 
        under section 44.''.
    (b) Establishment.--The Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.) 
is amended by inserting after section 44, as added by section 201 of 
this Act, the following:

``SEC. 45. OFFICE OF NATIVE AMERICAN AFFAIRS AND TRIBAL BUSINESS 
              INFORMATION CENTERS PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Office of Native American Affairs.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the 
        Administration an Office of Native American Affairs 
        (hereinafter referred to in this subsection as the `Office').
            ``(2) Associate administrator.--The Office shall be 
        administered by an Associate Administrator appointed under 
        section 4(b)(1).
            ``(3) Responsibilities.--The Office shall have the 
        following responsibilities:
                    ``(A) Developing and implementing tools and 
                strategies to increase Native American 
                entrepreneurship.
                    ``(B) Expanding the access of Native American 
                entrepreneurs to business training, capital, and 
                Federal small business contracts.
                    ``(C) Expanding outreach to Native American 
                communities and aggressively marketing entrepreneurial 
                development services to such communities.
                    ``(D) Representing the Administration with respect 
                to Native American economic development matters.
            ``(4) Coordination and oversight function.--The Office 
        shall provide oversight with respect to and assist the 
        implementation of all Administration initiatives relating to 
        Native American entrepreneurial development.
            ``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
        subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Administrator $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 and 
        2011.
    ``(b) Tribal Business Information Centers Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Administrator is authorized to 
        operate, alone or in coordination with other Federal 
        departments and agencies, a Tribal Business Information Centers 
        program that provides Native American populations with business 
        training and entrepreneurial development assistance.
            ``(2) Designation of centers.--The Administrator shall 
        designate entities as centers under the Tribal Business 
        Information Centers program.
            ``(3) Administration support.--The Administrator may 
        contribute agency personnel and resources to the centers 
        designated under paragraph (2) to carry out this subsection.
            ``(4) Grant program.--The Administrator is authorized to 
        make grants of not more than $300,000 to centers designated 
        under paragraph (2) for the purpose of providing Native 
        Americans the following:
                    ``(A) Business workshops.
                    ``(B) Individualized business counseling.
                    ``(C) Entrepreneurial development training.
                    ``(D) Access to computer technology and other 
                resources to start or expand a business.
            ``(5) Regulations.--The Administrator shall by regulation 
        establish a process for designating centers under paragraph (2) 
        and making the grants authorized under paragraph (4).
            ``(6) Definition of administrator.--In this subsection, the 
        term `Administrator' means the Administrator, acting through 
        the Associate Administrator administering the Office of Native 
        American Affairs.
            ``(7) Authorization of appropriations.--To carry out this 
        subsection, there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Administrator $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and $17,000,000 
        for fiscal year 2011.
    ``(c) Definition of Native American.--The term `Native American' 
means an Indian tribe member, Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian as such 
are defined in section 21(a)(8) of this Act.''.

SEC. 302. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER ASSISTANCE TO INDIAN TRIBE 
              MEMBERS, ALASKA NATIVES, AND NATIVE HAWAIIANS.

    (a) In General.--Section 21(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
648(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) Additional grant to assist indian tribe members, 
        alaska natives, and native hawaiians.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any applicant in an eligible 
                State that is funded by the Administration as a Small 
                Business Development Center may apply for an additional 
                grant to be used solely to provide services described 
                in subsection (c)(3) to assist with outreach, 
                development, and enhancement on Indian lands of small 
                business startups and expansions owned by Indian tribe 
                members, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
                    ``(B) Eligible states.--For purposes of 
                subparagraph (A), an eligible State is a State that has 
                a combined population of Indian tribe members, Alaska 
                Natives, and Native Hawaiians that comprises at least 1 
                percent of the State's total population, as shown by 
                the latest available census.
                    ``(C) Grant applications.--An applicant for a grant 
                under subparagraph (A) shall submit to the 
                Administration an application that is in such form as 
                the Administration may require. The application shall 
                include information regarding the applicant's goals and 
                objectives for the services to be provided using the 
                grant, including--
                            ``(i) the capability of the applicant to 
                        provide training and services to a 
                        representative number of Indian tribe members, 
                        Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians;
                            ``(ii) the location of the Small Business 
                        Development Center site proposed by the 
                        applicant;
                            ``(iii) the required amount of grant 
                        funding needed by the applicant to implement 
                        the program; and
                            ``(iv) the extent to which the applicant 
                        has consulted with local tribal councils.
                    ``(D) Applicability of grant requirements.--An 
                applicant for a grant under subparagraph (A) shall 
                comply with all of the requirements of this section, 
                except that the matching funds requirements under 
                paragraph (4)(A) shall not apply.
                    ``(E) Maximum amount of grants.--No applicant may 
                receive more than $300,000 in grants under this 
                paragraph for any fiscal year.
                    ``(F) Regulations.--After providing notice and an 
                opportunity for comment and after consulting with the 
                Association recognized by the Administration pursuant 
                to paragraph (3)(A) (but not later than 180 days after 
                the date of enactment of this paragraph), the 
                Administration shall issue final regulations to carry 
                out this paragraph, including regulations that 
                establish--
                            ``(i) standards relating to educational, 
                        technical, and support services to be provided 
                        by Small Business Development Centers receiving 
                        assistance under this paragraph; and
                            ``(ii) standards relating to any work plan 
                        that the Administration may require a Small 
                        Business Development Center receiving 
                        assistance under this paragraph to develop.
                    ``(G) Advice of local tribal organizations.--A 
                Small Business Development Center receiving a grant 
                under this paragraph shall request the advice of a 
                tribal organization on how best to provide assistance 
                to Indian tribe members, Alaska Natives, and Native 
                Hawaiians and where to locate satellite centers to 
                provide such assistance.
                    ``(H) Definitions.--In this paragraph, the 
                following definitions apply:
                            ``(i) Indian lands.--The term `Indian 
                        lands' has the meaning given the term `Indian 
                        country' in section 1151 of title 18, United 
                        States Code, the meaning given the term `Indian 
                        reservation' in section 151.2 of title 25, Code 
                        of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the 
                        date of enactment of this paragraph), and the 
                        meaning given the term `reservation' in section 
                        4 of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (25 
                        U.S.C. 1903).
                            ``(ii) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian 
                        tribe' means any band, nation, or organized 
                        group or community of Indians located in the 
                        contiguous United States, and the Metlakatla 
                        Indian Community, whose members are recognized 
                        as eligible for the services provided to 
                        Indians by the Secretary of the Interior 
                        because of their status as Indians.
                            ``(iii) Indian tribe member.--The term 
                        `Indian tribe member' means a member of an 
                        Indian tribe (other than an Alaska Native).
                            ``(iv) Alaska native.--The term `Alaska 
                        Native' has the meaning given the term `Native' 
                        in section 3(b) of the Alaska Native Claims 
                        Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(b)).
                            ``(v) Native hawaiian.--The term `Native 
                        Hawaiian' means any individual who is--
                                    ``(I) a citizen of the United 
                                States; and
                                    ``(II) a descendant of the 
                                aboriginal people, who prior to 1778, 
                                occupied and exercised sovereignty in 
                                the area that now constitutes the State 
                                of Hawaii.
                            ``(vi) Tribal organization.--The term 
                        `tribal organization' has the meaning given 
                        that term in section 4(l) of the Indian Self-
                        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
                        U.S.C. 450b(l)).
                    ``(I) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
                authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
                paragraph $7,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 and 
                2011.
                    ``(J) Funding limitations.--
                            ``(i) Nonapplicability of certain 
                        limitations.--Funding under this paragraph 
                        shall be in addition to the dollar program 
                        limitations specified in paragraph (4).
                            ``(ii) Limitation on use of funds.--The 
                        Administration may carry out this paragraph 
                        only with amounts appropriated in advance 
                        specifically to carry out this paragraph.''.

        TITLE IV--BROADENING THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM

SEC. 401. NOTIFICATION OF GRANTS; PUBLICATION OF GRANT AMOUNTS.

    Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656) is amended by 
adding the following new subsection at the end thereof:
    ``(o) Notification of Grants; Publication of Grant Amounts.--The 
Administrator shall disburse funds to a women's business center not 
later than one month after the center's application is approved under 
this section. At the end of each fiscal year the Administrator (acting 
through the Office of Women's Business ownership) shall publish on the 
Administration's website a report setting forth the total amount of the 
grants made under this Act to each women's business center in the 
fiscal year for which the report is issued, the total amount of such 
grants made in each prior fiscal year to each such center, and the 
total amount of private matching funds provided by each such center 
over the lifetime of the center.''.

SEC. 402. COMMUNICATIONS.

    Section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656), as amended, 
is further amended by adding the following new subsection at the end 
thereof:
    ``(p) Communications.--The Administrator shall establish, by rule, 
a standardized process to communicate with women's business centers 
regarding program administration matters, including reimbursement, 
regulatory matters, and programmatic changes. The Administrator shall 
notify each women's business center of the opportunity for notice and 
comment on the proposed rule.''.

SEC. 403. FUNDING.

    (a) Formula.--Section 29(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
656(b)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Authority.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator may provide financial 
        assistance to private nonprofit organizations to conduct 
        projects for the benefit of small business concerns owned and 
        controlled by women. The projects shall provide--
                    ``(A) financial assistance, including training and 
                counseling in how to apply for and secure business 
                credit and investment capital, preparing and presenting 
                financial statements, and managing cash flow and other 
                financial operations of a business concern;
                    ``(B) management assistance, including training and 
                counseling in how to plan, organize, staff, direct, and 
                control each major activity and function of a small 
                business concern; and
                    ``(C) marketing assistance, including training and 
                counseling in identifying and segmenting domestic and 
                international market opportunities, preparing and 
                executing marketing plans, developing pricing 
                strategies, locating contract opportunities, 
                negotiating contracts, and utilizing varying public 
                relations and advertising techniques.
            ``(2) Tiers.--The Administrator shall provide assistance 
        under paragraph (1) in 3 tiers of assistance as follows:
                    ``(A) The first tier shall be to conduct a 5-year 
                project in a situation where a project has not 
                previously been conducted. Such a project shall be in a 
                total amount of not more than $150,000 per year.
                    ``(B) The second tier shall be to conduct a 3-year 
                project in a situation where a first-tier project is 
                being completed. Such a project shall be in a total 
                amount of not more than $100,000 per year.
                    ``(C) The third tier shall be to conduct a 3-year 
                project in a situation where a second-tier project is 
                being completed. Such a project shall be in a total 
                amount of not more than $100,000 per year. Third-tier 
                grants shall be renewable subject to established 
                eligibility criteria as well as criteria in subsection 
                (b)(4).
            ``(3) Allocation of funds.--Of the amounts made available 
        for assistance under this subsection, the Administrator shall 
        allocate--
                    ``(A) at least 40 percent for first-tier projects 
                under paragraph (2)(A);
                    ``(B) 20 percent for second-tier projects under 
                paragraph (2)(B); and
                    ``(C) the remainder for third-tier projects under 
                paragraph (2)(C).
            ``(4)  Benchmarks for third-tier projects.--In awarding 
        third-tier projects under paragraph (2)(C), the Administrator 
        shall use benchmarks based on socio-economic factors in the 
        community and on the performance of the applicant. The 
        benchmarks shall include--
                    ``(A) the total number of women served by the 
                project;
                    ``(B) the proportion of low income women and socio-
                economic distribution of clients served by the project;
                    ``(C) the proportion of individuals in the 
                community that are socially or economically 
                disadvantaged (based on median income);
                    ``(D) the future fund-raising and service 
                coordination plans;
                    ``(E) the diversity of services provided; and
                    ``(F) geographic distribution within and across the 
                10 regions of the Small Business Administration.''.
    (b) Matching.--Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 29(c)(1) of the 
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656(c)(1)) are amended to read as 
follows:
                    ``(A) For the first and second years of the 
                project, 1 non-Federal dollar for each 2 Federal 
                dollars.
                    ``(B) Each year after the second year of the 
                project--
                            ``(i) 1 non-Federal dollar for each Federal 
                        dollar; or
                            ``(ii) if the center is in a community at 
                        least 50 percent of the population of which is 
                        below the median income for the State or United 
                        States territory in which the center is 
                        located, 1 non-Federal dollar for each 2 
                        Federal dollars.''.
    (c) Authorization.--Section 20 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
631 note) is amended by inserting the following new subsection after 
subsection (e):
    ``(f) Women's Business Centers.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for purposes of grants under section 29 to women's 
business centers not more than $20,000,000 in fiscal year 2010 and not 
more than $22,000,000 in fiscal year 2011.''.

SEC. 404. PERFORMANCE AND PLANNING.

    (a) In General.--Section 29(h)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 656(h)(1)) is amended by striking the ``and'' at the end of 
subparagraph (A), redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (D), 
and inserting the following new subparagraphs after subparagraph (A):
                    ``(B) establish performance measures, taking into 
                account the demographic differences of populations 
                served by women's business centers, which measures 
                shall include--
                            ``(i) outcome-based measures of the amount 
                        of job creation or economic activity generated 
                        in the local community as a result of efforts 
                        made and services provided by each women's 
                        business center, and
                            ``(ii) service-based measures of the amount 
                        of services provided to individuals and small 
                        business concerns served by each women's 
                        business center;
                    ``(C) require each women's business center to 
                submit an annual plan for the next year that includes 
                the center's funding sources and amounts, strategies 
                for increasing outreach to women-owned businesses, 
                strategies for increasing job growth in the community, 
                and other content as determined by the Administrator; 
                and''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 29(h)(1) of the Small Business 
Act (15 U.S.C. 656(h)(1)), as amended, is further amended by adding the 
following at the end thereof:
        ``The Administrator's evaluation of each women's business 
        center as required by this subsection shall be in part based on 
        the performance measures under subparagraphs (B) and (C). These 
        measures and the Administrator's evaluations thereof shall be 
        made publicly available.''.

SEC. 405. NATIONAL WOMEN'S BUSINESS COUNCIL.

    The Women's Business Ownership Act of 1988 is amended as follows:
            (1) In section 409(a) (15 U.S.C. 7109(a)), add the 
        following at the end thereof: ``Such studies shall include a 
        study on the impact of the 2008-2009 financial markets crisis 
        on women-owned businesses, and a study of the use of the Small 
        Business Administration's programs by women-owned 
        businesses.''.
            (2) In section 410(a) (15 U.S.C. 7110(a)), strike out 
        ``2001 through 2003'' and insert ``2010 and 2011''.

                  TITLE V--SCORE PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS

SEC. 501. EXPANSION OF VOLUNTEER REPRESENTATION AND BENCHMARK REPORTS.

    (a) Expansion of Volunteer Representation.--Section 8(b)(1)(B) of 
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting 
``(i)'' after ``(B)'' and by adding at the end the following:
            ``(ii) The Administrator shall ensure that SCORE, 
        established under this subparagraph, carries out a plan to 
        increase the proportion of mentors who are from socially or 
        economically disadvantaged backgrounds and, on an annual basis, 
        reports to the Administrator on the implementation of this 
        subparagraph.''.
    (b) Benchmark Reports.--Section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business 
Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)), as amended, is further amended by adding 
at the end the following:
            ``(iii) The Administrator shall ensure that SCORE, 
        established under this subparagraph, establishes benchmarks for 
        use in evaluating the performance of its activities and the 
        performance of its volunteers. The benchmarks shall include 
        benchmarks relating to the demographic characteristics and the 
        geographic characteristics of persons assisted by SCORE, 
        benchmarks relating to the hours spent mentoring by volunteers, 
        and benchmarks relating to the performance of the persons 
        assisted by SCORE. SCORE shall report, on an annual basis, to 
        the Administrator the extent to which the benchmarks 
        established under this clause are being attained.''.

SEC. 502. MENTORING AND NETWORKING.

    Section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
637(b)(1)(B)), as amended, is further amended by adding at the end the 
following:
            ``(iv) The Administrator shall ensure that SCORE, 
        established under this subparagraph, establishes a mentoring 
        program for small business concerns that provides one-on-one 
        advice to small business concerns from qualified counselors. 
        For purposes of this clause, qualified counselors are 
        counselors with at least 10 years experience in the industry 
        sector or area of responsibility of the small business concern 
        seeking advice.
            ``(v) The Administrator shall carry out a networking 
        program through SCORE, established under this subparagraph, 
        that provides small business concerns with the opportunity to 
        make business contacts in their industry or geographic 
        region.''.

SEC. 503. NAME OF PROGRAM CHANGED TO SCORE.

    (a) Name Change.--The Small Business Act is amended as follows:
            (1) In section 8(b)(1)(B) (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)), by 
        striking ``Executives (SCORE)'' and inserting ``Executives (in 
        this Act referred to as `SCORE')''.
            (2) In section 7(m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII) (15 U.S.C. 
        636(m)(3)(A)(i)(VIII)), by striking ``the Service Corps of 
        Retired Executives'' and inserting ``SCORE''.
            (3) In section 20 (15 U.S.C. 631 note)--
                    (A) in subsection (d)(1)(E), by striking ``the 
                Service Corps of Retired Executives program'' and 
                inserting ``SCORE''; and
                    (B) in subsection (e)(1)(E), by striking ``the 
                Service Corps of Retired Executives program'' and 
                inserting ``SCORE''.
            (4) In section 33(b)(2) (15 U.S.C. 657c(b)(2)), by striking 
        ``Service Corps of Retired Executives'' and inserting 
        ``SCORE''.
    (b) Elimination of ACE.--Section 8(b)(1)(B) of the Small Business 
Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)), as amended, is further amended by 
striking ``and an Active Corps of Executive (ACE)''.

SEC. 504. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 20 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 note), as 
amended by section 403(c) of this Act, is further amended by inserting 
the following new subsection after subsection (f):
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations for SCORE.--There is 
authorized to be appropriated $7,000,000 for SCORE under section 
8(b)(1) for each of the fiscal years 2010 and 2011.''.

                  TITLE VI--EXPANDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP

SEC. 601. EXPANDING ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

    Section 4 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 633) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(g) Management and Direction.--
            ``(1) Plan for entrepreneurial development and job creation 
        strategy.--The Administrator shall develop and submit to 
        Congress a plan, in consultation with a representative from 
        each of the agency's entrepreneurial development programs, for 
        using the Small Business Administration's entrepreneurial 
        development programs as a catalyst for job creation for fiscal 
        years 2009 and 2010. The plan shall include the 
        Administration's plan for drawing on existing programs, 
        including Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business 
        Centers, SCORE, Veterans Business Centers, Native American 
        Outreach, and other appropriate programs. The Administrator 
        shall identify a strategy for each Administration region to 
        create or retain jobs through Administration programs. The 
        Administrator shall identify, in consultation with appropriate 
        personnel from entrepreneurial development programs, 
        performance measures and criteria, including job creation, job 
        retention, and job retraining goals, to evaluate the success of 
        the Administration's actions regarding these efforts.
            ``(2) Data collection process.--The Administrator shall, 
        after notice and opportunity for comment, promulgate a rule to 
        develop and implement a consistent data collection process to 
        cover all entrepreneurial development programs. Such data 
        collection process shall include data relating to job creation, 
        performance, and any other data determined appropriate by the 
        Administrator with respect to the Administration's 
        entrepreneurial development programs.
            ``(3) Coordination and alignment of sba entrepreneurial 
        development programs.--The Administrator shall submit annually 
        to Congress, in consultation with other Federal departments and 
        agencies as appropriate, a report on opportunities to foster 
        coordination, limit duplication, and improve program delivery 
        for Federal entrepreneurial development programs.
            ``(4) Database of entrepreneurial development service 
        providers.--The Administrator shall, after a period of 60 days 
        for public comment, establish a database of providers of 
        entrepreneurial development services and, make such database 
        available through the Administration's Web site. The database 
        shall be searchable by industry, geography, and service 
        required.
            ``(5) Community specialist.--The Administrator shall 
        designate not less than one staff member in each Administration 
        district office as a community specialist who has as their 
        full-time responsibility working with local entrepreneurial 
        development service providers to increase coordination with 
        Federal resources. The Administrator shall develop benchmarks 
        for measuring the performance of community specialists under 
        this subsection.
            ``(6) Entrepreneurial development portal.--The 
        Administrator shall publish a design for a Web-based portal to 
        provide comprehensive information on the Administration's 
        entrepreneurial development programs. After a period of 60 days 
        for public comment, the Administrator shall establish such 
        portal and--
                    ``(A) integrate under one Web portal, Small 
                Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, 
                SCORE, Veterans Business Centers, the Administration's 
                distance learning program, and other programs as 
                appropriate;
                    ``(B) revise the Administration's primary Web site 
                so that the Web portal described in subparagraph (A) is 
                available as a link on the main Web page of the Web 
                site;
                    ``(C) increase consumer-oriented content on the 
                Administration's Web site and focus on promoting access 
                to business solutions, including marketing, financing, 
                and human resources planning;
                    ``(D) establish relevant Web content aggregated by 
                industry segment, stage of business development, level 
                of need, and include referral links to appropriate 
                Administration services, including financing, training 
                and counseling, and procurement assistance; and
                    ``(E) provide style guidelines and links for 
                visitors to the Administration's Web site to be able to 
                comment on and evaluate the materials in terms of their 
                usefulness.
            ``(7) Pilot programs.--The Administrator may not conduct 
        any pilot program for a period of greater than 3 years if the 
        program conflicts with, or uses the resources of, any of the 
        entrepreneurial development programs authorized under section 
        8(b)(1)(B), 21, 29, 32, or any other provision of this Act.''.

  TITLE VII--MODERNIZING THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER PROGRAM

SEC. 701. SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS OPERATIONAL CHANGES.

    (a) Accreditation Requirement.--Section 21(a)(1) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(1)) is amended as follows:
            (1) In the proviso, by inserting before ``institution'' the 
        following: ``accredited''.
            (2) In the sentence beginning ``The Administration shall'', 
        by inserting before ``institutions'' the following: 
        ``accredited''.
            (3) By adding at the end the following new sentence: ``In 
        this paragraph, the term `accredited institution of higher 
        education' means an institution that is accredited as described 
        in section 101(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)(5)).''.
    (b) Program Negotiations.--Section 21(a)(3) of the Small Business 
Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(3)) is amended in the matter before subparagraph 
(A), by inserting before ``agreed'' the following: ``mutually''.
    (c) Contract Negotiations.--Section 21(a)(3)(A) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(3)(A)) is amended by inserting after 
``uniform negotiated'' the following: ``mutually agreed to''.
    (d) SBDC Hiring.--Section 21(c)(2)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 648(c)(2)(A)) is amended by inserting after ``full-time staff'' 
the following: ``, the hiring of which shall be at the sole discretion 
of the center without the need for input or approval from any officer 
or employee of the Administration''.
    (e) Content of Consultations.--Section 21(a)(7)(A) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(7)(A)) is amended in the matter before 
clause (i) by inserting after ``under this section'' the following: ``, 
or the content of any consultation with such an individual or small 
business concern,''.
    (f) Amounts for Administrative Expenses.--Section 21(a)(4)(C)(v)(I) 
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(4)(C)(v)(I)) is amended to 
read as follows:
                            ``(I) In general.--Of the amounts made 
                        available in any fiscal year to carry out this 
                        section, not more than $500,000 may be used by 
                        the Administration to pay expenses enumerated 
                        in subparagraphs (B) through (D) of section 
                        20(a)(1).''.
    (g) Non-Matching Portability Grants.--Section 21(a)(4)(C)(viii) of 
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(4)(C)(viii)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: ``In the event of a disaster, the 
dollar limitation in the preceding sentence shall not apply.''.
    (h) Distribution to SBDCs.--Section 21(b) of the Small Business Act 
(15 U.S.C. 648(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph:
    ``(4) Limitation on Distribution to Small Business Development 
Centers.--
            ``(A) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
        paragraph, the Administration shall not distribute funds to a 
        Small Business Development Center if the State in which the 
        Small Business Development Center is located is served by more 
        than one Small Business Development Center.
            ``(B) Unavailability exception.--The Administration may 
        distribute funds to a maximum of 2 Small Business Development 
        Centers in any State if no applicant has applied to serve the 
        entire State.
            ``(C) Grandfather clause.--The limitations in this 
        paragraph shall not apply to any State in which more than one 
        Small Business Development Center received funding prior to 
        January 1, 2007.
            ``(D) Definition.--For the purposes of this paragraph, the 
        term `Small Business Development Center' means the entity 
        selected by the Administration to receive funds pursuant to the 
        funding formula set forth in subsection (a)(4), without regard 
        to the number of sites for service delivery such entity 
        establishes or funds.''.
    (i) Women's Business Centers.--Section 21(a)(1) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(1)), as amended, is further amended by 
striking ``and women's business centers operating pursuant to section 
29'' and by striking ``or a women's business center operating pursuant 
to section 29.''

SEC. 702. ACCESS TO CREDIT AND CAPITAL.

    Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(o) Access to Credit and Capital Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administration shall establish a 
        grant program for small business development centers in 
        accordance with this subsection. To be eligible for the 
        program, a small business development center must be in good 
        standing and comply with the other requirements of this 
        section. Funds made available through the program shall be used 
        to--
                    ``(A) develop specialized programs to assist local 
                small business concerns in securing capital and 
                repairing damaged credit;
                    ``(B) provide informational seminars on securing 
                credit and loans;
                    ``(C) provide one-on-one counseling with potential 
                borrowers to improve financial presentations to 
                lenders; and
                    ``(D) facilitate borrowers' access to non-
                traditional financing sources, as well as traditional 
                lending sources.
            ``(2) Award size limit.--The Administration may not award 
        an entity more than $300,000 in grant funds under this 
        subsection.
            ``(3) Authority.--Subject to amounts approved in advance in 
        appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to carry 
        out the program established in subsection (a)(1), the 
        Administration may make grants or enter into cooperative 
        agreements to carry out this subsection.
            ``(4) Authorization.--There is authorized to be 
        appropriated not more than $2,500,000 for the purposes of 
        carrying out this subsection for each of the fiscal years 2010 
        and 2011.''.

SEC. 703. PROCUREMENT TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE.

    Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648), as amended, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(p) Procurement Training and Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administration shall establish a 
        grant program for small business development centers in 
        accordance with this subsection. To be eligible for the 
        program, a small business development center must be in good 
        standing and comply with the other requirements of this 
        section. Funds made available through the program shall be used 
        to--
                    ``(A) work with local agencies to identify 
                contracts that are suitable for local small business 
                concerns;
                    ``(B) prepare small businesses to be ready as 
                subcontractors and prime contractors for contracts made 
                available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment 
                Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5) through training and 
                business advisement, particularly in the construction 
                trades; and
                    ``(C) provide technical assistance regarding the 
                Federal procurement process, including assisting small 
                business concerns to comply with federal regulations 
                and bonding requirements.
            ``(2) Award size limit.--The Administration may not award 
        an entity more than $300,000 in grant funds under this 
        subsection.
            ``(3) Authority.--Subject to amounts approved in advance in 
        appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to carry 
        out the program established in subsection (a)(1), the 
        Administration may make grants or enter into cooperative 
        agreements to carry out this subsection.
            ``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated not more than $2,500,000 for the purposes of 
        carrying out this subsection for each of the fiscal years 2010 
        and 2011.''.

SEC. 704. GREEN ENTREPRENEURS TRAINING PROGRAM.

    Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648), as amended, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(q) Green Entrepreneurs Training Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administration shall establish a 
        grant program for small business development centers in 
        accordance with this subsection. To be eligible for the 
        program, a small business development center must be in good 
        standing and comply with the other requirements of this 
        section. Funds made available through the program shall be used 
        to--
                    ``(A) provide education classes and one-on-one 
                instruction in starting a business in the fields of 
                energy efficiency, green technology, or clean 
                technology;
                    ``(B) coordinate such classes and instruction, to 
                the extent practicable, with local community colleges 
                and local professional trade associations; and
                    ``(C) assist and provide technical counseling to 
                individuals seeking to start a business in the fields 
                of energy efficiency, green technology, or clean 
                technology.
            ``(2) Award size limit.--The Administration may not award 
        an entity more than $300,000 in grant funds under this 
        subsection.
            ``(3) Authority.--Subject to amounts approved in advance in 
        appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to carry 
        out the program established in subsection (a)(1), the 
        Administration may make grants or enter into cooperative 
        agreements to carry out this subsection.
            ``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated not more than $2,500,000 for the purposes of 
        carrying out this subsection for each of the fiscal years 2010 
        and 2011.''.

SEC. 705. MAIN STREET STABILIZATION.

    Section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648), as amended, 
is further amended by adding the following new subsection at the end 
thereof:
    ``(r) Main Street Stabilization.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administration shall establish a 
        grant program for small business development centers in 
        accordance with this subsection. To be eligible for the 
        program, a small business development center must be in good 
        standing and comply with the other requirements of this 
        section. Funds made available through the program shall be used 
        to--
                    ``(A) establish a statewide small business helpline 
                within every State and United States territory to 
                provide immediate expert information and assistance to 
                small business concerns;
                    ``(B) develop a portfolio of online survival and 
                growth tools and resources that struggling small 
                business concerns can utilize through the Internet;
                    ``(C) develop business advisory capacity to provide 
                expert consulting and education to assist small 
                businesses at-risk of failure and to, in areas of high 
                demand, shorten the response time of small business 
                development centers, and, in rural areas, support added 
                outreach in remote communities;
                    ``(D) deploy additional resources to help specific 
                industry sectors with a high presence of small business 
                concerns, which shall be targeted toward clusters of 
                small businesses with similar needs and build upon best 
                practices from earlier assistance;
                    ``(E) develop a formal listing of financing options 
                for small business capital access; and
                    ``(F) deliver services that help dislocated workers 
                start new businesses.
            ``(2) Award size limit.--The Administration may not award 
        an entity more than $250,000 in grant funds under this 
        subsection.
            ``(3) Authority.--Subject to amounts approved in advance in 
        appropriations Acts and separate from amounts approved to carry 
        out the program established in subsection (a)(1), the 
        Administration may make grants or enter into cooperative 
        agreements to carry out this subsection.
            ``(4) Authorization.--There is authorized to be 
        appropriated not more than $2,500,000 for the purposes of 
        carrying out this subsection for each of the fiscal years 2010 
        and 2011.''.

SEC. 706. PROHIBITION ON PROGRAM INCOME BEING USED AS MATCHING FUNDS.

    Section 21(a)(4)(B) (15 U.S.C. 648(a)(4)(B)) is amended by 
inserting after ``Federal program'' the following: ``and shall not 
include any funds obtained through the assessment of fees to small 
business clients''.

SEC. 707. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 20 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 note), as 
amended by sections 403(c) and 504 of this Act, is further amended by 
inserting after subsection (g) the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Small Business Development Centers.--There is authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out the Small Business Development Center 
Program under section 21 $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2010 and 
$160,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.''.
                                 <all>