[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 248 (Thursday, December 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74403-74404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28331]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Minority Business Development Agency


Rural Business Center Program

AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included statutory 
authority within the Minority Business Development Act (the Act) for 
the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to establish a Rural 
Business Center Program. MBDA is seeking public comment on various 
issues related to rural areas and rural minority business enterprises 
to inform the agency and provide fundamental information regarding this 
sector of the economy. This notice requests comments on or before 
January 25, 2022.

DATES: The deadline for filing comments is January 25, 2022.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be submitted in electronic form to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danae Pauli, Senior Advisor to the 
National Director, MBDA, U.S. Department of Commerce, by email at 
[email protected], or at (202) 482-2332.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a bureau of the 
U.S. Department of Commerce, leads Federal Government efforts to 
promote the growth and global competitiveness of minority business 
enterprises (MBEs). The Minority Business Development Act (the Act) 
authorized MBDA to establish a rural business center program to serve 
rural minority business enterprises or minority business enterprises 
located more than 50 miles from an MBDA Business Center (other than an 
MBDA Rural Business Center) and provide education and training, legal, 
financial, and technical assistance to minority business enterprises. 
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58, division K, 
title III, sections 100301 and 100302 (November 15, 2021). Rural area 
is defined in the MBDA Act pursuant to section 371(a) of the 
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, 7 U.S.C. 1991(a). The Act 
designated minority-serving institutions (as defined in section 
371(a)(1) through (7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 
1067q(a)) as the entities that are eligible to receive grants to 
operate a rural business center. MBDA has initiated the process of 
conducting research and collecting information to design the new 
program that meets the business development needs of MBEs located in 
rural areas across the United States. Comments may be used to help MBDA 
decide policy related to the areas of focus, geographical location and 
distribution, and additional areas of service for the rural business 
center program. As part of this process, MBDA is seeking comments from 
members of the public, including but not limited to operators of rural 
businesses and persons with expertise and information, to provide the 
following information related to minority businesses in rural areas:
    1. Describe the types of business operations in rural areas.
    2. What are the financial, operational, and logistical needs of 
rural business enterprises?
    3. Are there unique challenges faced by MBEs located in rural and 
remote areas of the U.S.? If so, describe.
    4. What are the best methods to provide education, training, legal,

[[Page 74404]]

financial, and technical assistance to MBEs in rural areas?
    5. Are there examples or success stories from organizations that 
provide services to MBEs in rural areas?
    6. How should MBDA measure success for rural business centers?
    7. What specific performance metrics should MBDA consider for rural 
business centers that would measure service to rural businesses?
    8. What factors should be measured to demonstrate elements of 
success from the perspective of organizations that support, or 
customers served by rural businesses?
    9. What is the most effective role for Minority Serving 
Institutions (MSIs) to foster the establishment and growth of MBEs in 
rural America and how should that impact be measured?
    10. How many MSIs have degree and/or academic programs focused on 
business-related topics (e.g., entrepreneurship, supply chains, 
advanced manufacturing/manufacturing, innovation, etc.) or offer 
business accelerator programs and/or business incubators? Provide names 
and locations of MSIs that have these programs.
    11. What is the most effective way for MSIs to collaborate with 
community-based organizations? Please provide examples.
    In addition, MBDA is seeking public comment regarding the focal 
points for the rural business centers as directed by the section 
100302(c) of the MBDA Act: (i) The adoption of broadband internet 
access service (as defined in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of 
Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation), digital literacy 
skills, and e-commerce by rural minority business enterprises; (ii) 
advanced manufacturing; (iii) the promotion of manufacturing in the 
United States; (iv) ways in which rural minority business enterprises 
can meet gaps in the supply chain of critical supplies and essential 
goods and services for the United States; (v) improving the 
connectivity of rural minority business enterprises through 
transportation and logistics; (vi) promoting trade and export 
opportunities by rural minority business enterprises; (vii) securing 
financial capital; (viii) facilitating entrepreneurship in rural areas; 
and (ix) creating jobs in rural areas.
    All comments must be submitted in electronic form (Word or other 
consistent software program) to the comment mailbox listed in the 
ADDRESSES section above. Comments should include the name or 
organization represented, contact information for the commenter, and 
the specific issue or subject addressed in accordance with this notice 
and the provisions of the MBDA Act, Rural Business Center Program 
section.

Josephine Arnold,
Chief Counsel, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. 2021-28331 Filed 12-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P