[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 88 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3236-S3237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 1779. Mr. MORAN (for himself and Ms. Baldwin) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 1260, to
establish a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the
National Science Foundation, to establish a regional technology hub
program, to require a strategy and report on economic security,
science, research, innovation, manufacturing, and job creation, to
establish a critical supply chain resiliency program, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. __. REGIONAL INNOVATION CLUSTERS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
(2) Award.--The term ``award'' means a contract, grant, or
cooperative agreement.
(3) Cluster initiative.--The term ``Cluster Initiative''
means a formally organized effort to promote the growth and
competitiveness of an industry sector through collaborative
activities among Industry Cluster participants that is led
by--
(A) a State;
(B) an Indian Tribe;
(C) a city or other political subdivision of a State;
(D) a nonprofit organization, including an institution of
higher education or a venture development organization; or
(E) a small business concern.
(4) Industry cluster.--The term ``Industry Cluster'' means
a geographic concentration, relative to the size of the
region under consideration, of interconnected businesses,
suppliers, service providers, and associated institutions in
an industry sector, including advanced manufacturing,
precision agriculture, cybersecurity, biosciences, water
technologies, energy production and efficiency, and outdoor
recreation.
(5) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term ``Indian tribe'' in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304).
(6) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001).
(7) Small business concern.--The term ``small business
concern'' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
(8) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, or any other territory or
possession of the United States.
(b) Supporting Industry Clusters.--
(1) Authorization.--The Administrator shall enter into
contracts with Cluster Initiatives that strengthen Industry
Clusters in accordance with the requirements under this
subsection.
(2) Industry cluster outcomes.--Cluster Initiatives shall
be assessed according to their performance along the
following metrics:
(A) Growth in number of small business concerns
participating in the Industry Cluster and support industries.
(B) Growth in number of small business concern startups in
the Industry Cluster.
(C) Growth in total capital, including revenue and equity
investments, flowing to small business concern participants
in the Industry Cluster.
(D) Growth in job creation by small business concerns or,
in regions with declining total employment, job retention by
small business concerns in the Industry Cluster.
(E) Growth in new products, services, or business lines.
(F) Growth in new technologies developed within the
Industry Cluster.
(3) Reporting.--The Administrator shall require Cluster
Initiatives to submit annual reports documenting the outcomes
in paragraph (2) and the activities contributing to those
outcomes.
(4) Selection criteria.--In entering into contracts with
Cluster Initiatives under this subsection, the Administrator
shall consider--
(A) the probable impact of the Cluster Initiative on the
competitiveness of the Industry Cluster, including--
(i) whether the Cluster Initiative will be inclusive of any
and all organizations that might benefit from participation,
including startups, small business concerns not locally
owned, and small business concerns rival to existing members
of the Industry Cluster; and
(ii) whether the Cluster Initiative will encourage broad
participation by and collaboration among all types of
participants;
(B) if the proposed Cluster Initiative fits within a
broader and achievable economic development strategy;
(C) the capacity and commitment of the sponsoring
organization of the Cluster Initiative organization,
including--
(i) the expected ability of the Cluster Initiative to
access additional funds from other sources; and
(ii) the capacity of the Cluster Initiative to sustain
activities once grant funds have been expended;
(D) the degree of involvement from relevant State and
regional economic and workforce development organizations,
other public purpose institutions (such as universities,
community colleges, venture development organizations, and
workforce boards), and the private sector, including industry
associations; and
(E) the extent to which economic diversity across regions
of the United States would be increased through the contract.
(5) Initial award.--The Administrator may enter into a 1-
year award not to exceed $1,000,000 with each Cluster
Initiative.
(6) Renewal.--
(A) In general.--The Administrator may renew an award
entered into with a Cluster Initiative under paragraph (5)--
(i) for 1 year in an amount not to exceed $750,000 per
year; and
(ii) for a total period not to exceed 5 years.
(B) Requirement.--A Cluster Initiative shall compete in a
new funding opportunity to receive any further awards under
this subsection.
(7) Cluster initiative resources.--
(A) In general.--The Administrator may not enter into a
contract under this subsection that would provide more than
two-thirds of the revenue of the entity receiving the award.
(B) Exception.--The Administrator may make an award
providing a higher percentage of the revenue of the entity
receiving the award if the recipient adequately demonstrates
that the Cluster Initiative will be able to access additional
funding, such as through the revenues of subcontractors or
through a commitment of matching funds provided from regional
partners.
(8) Competitive process.--The Administrator shall enter
into new awards under this subsection for each year that
appropriations are available.
(c) Feasibility Study Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator may award grants for
feasibility studies, planning, and operations to support the
launch of new Cluster Initiatives.
(2) Amount.--The total amount of grants awarded under
paragraph (1) shall not exceed $250,000.
[[Page S3237]]
(3) Eligible recipients.--The Administrator may provide
grants under paragraph (1) to--
(A) a State;
(B) an Indian Tribe;
(C) a city or other political subdivision of a State; or
(D) a nonprofit organization, including an institution of
higher education or a venture development organization.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each
subsequent fiscal year to carry out this section.
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