119 HR 8708 IH: Main Street Business Resource Integration and Development for Growth and Equity Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-05-07 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I119th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 8708IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 7, 2026Ms. Scholten (for herself and Ms. Pettersen) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business, 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 concernedA BILLTo direct the Administrator of the Small Business Administration and the National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency to direct small business development centers and MBDA Business Centers to collaborate to better serve small business concerns, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Main Street Business Resource Integration and Development for Growth and Equity Act or Main Street BRIDGE Act.

2.

Collaboration between small business development centers and MBDA Business Centers

(a)

Collaboration required

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator and the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall direct small business development centers and MBDA Business Centers, respectively, to collaborate to better serve small business concerns. (b)

Report

Not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator and the Director shall jointly submit to Congress a report that includes the following: (1)A summary of the results of the collaboration required under subsection (a). (2)A description of the challenges faced by small business development centers and MBDA Business Centers in carrying out the collaboration required under subsection (a). (3)The number of consultations, educational activities, and outreach activities performed by small business development centers and MBDA Business Centers in connection with the collaboration required under subsection (a). (4)The number of small business concerns served as a result of the collaboration required under subsection (a). (5)The number of new small business concerns started as a result of the collaboration required under subsection (a). (6)The number of new jobs created and existing jobs supported, in small business concerns, as a result of the collaboration required under subsection (a). (7)The dollar amount of financial assistance provided to small business concerns as a result of assistance received from small business development centers and MBDA Business Centers in connection with the collaboration required under subsection (a). (8)Any recommendations for enhancing collaboration between small business development centers and MBDA Business Centers.

3.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. (2)

Director

The term Director means the National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency. (3)

MBDA Business Center

The term MBDA Business Center has the meaning given that term in section 100002(7) of the Minority Business Development Act of 2021 (15 U.S.C. 9501(7)). (4)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce. (5)

Small business concern

The term small business concern has the meaning given the term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). (6)

Small business development center

The term small business development center has the meaning given that term in section 3(t) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(t)).