[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69380-69381]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25193]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION


Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Small Business Administration.

ACTION: 30-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking approval 
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information 
collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act and OMB procedures, SBA is publishing this notice to allow all 
interested member of the public an additional 30 days to provide 
comments on the proposed collection of information.

DATES: Submit comments on or before December 19, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for this information 
collection request should be sent within 30 days of publication of this 
notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection request by selecting ``Small Business 
Administration;'' ``Currently Under Review,'' then select the ``Only 
Show ICR for Public Comment'' checkbox. This information collection can 
be identified by title and/or OMB Control Number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may obtain a copy of the 
information collection and supporting documents from the Agency 
Clearance Office at [email protected]; (202) 205-7030, or from 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The SBA Emerging Leaders (EL) initiative was 
designed to strengthen and grow existing local entrepreneur communities 
in historically distressed cities. The key goals of the program are to 
(1) increase small business growth and survival, and (2) promote 
economic growth in distressed communities by providing employment 
opportunities as well as necessary goods and services. To achieve these 
goals, the program offers executives of high-growth small businesses a 
five-month executive leader education series, free of charge, that 
provide the networks, resources, and knowledge required to promote a 
sustainable business growth, create jobs, and contribute to the 
economic well-

[[Page 69381]]

being of local communities. In 2022, the program was revamped under the 
new name, T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined. The revised program 
provides training that customizes content for small businesses' unique 
needs, increases accessibility through a virtual component, and 
specifically promotes business ecosystem connections among business 
owners, government agencies, and the financial community. This 
information collection is necessary for SBA to understand the progress 
made by the T.H.R.I.V.E. program toward achieving its goals.
    The evaluation will be used to track participants' business growth, 
to provide guidance to the program training contractor on areas for 
additional assistance, and to increase SBA's understanding of the 
program outcome trends. This evaluation aims to examine the program 
participants' business growth outcomes including revenue, profits, job 
creation, and business survival. The evaluation also describes the 
population of program participants--their businesses, business 
management practices, experiences with the program, and satisfaction 
with and perceived effectiveness of the program. Over the previous 
years, the evaluation results have helped to track the program 
performance outcomes and provide suggestions for program improvements 
to better facilitate small business growth. The results are also 
expected to provide suggestions for improving future evaluations.
    The following surveys are conducted with the program participants: 
(1) the application form before the program enrollment, (2) the intake 
survey before the training, (3) the module feedback form during the 
training, (4) the feedback survey right after the graduation, and (5) 
the follow-up survey annually up to three years after graduation. The 
application form examines the eligibility status of the enrollees, 
obtains their contact information, and asks for their business goals. 
The data from the Intake survey is used to determine baseline levels of 
business outcomes, the use of management practices, and the extent to 
which the target population for the program is reached. The module 
feedback form assesses the participants' experience with each of the 
eight modules of the training program. The feedback survey is used to 
measure participant satisfaction with the training activities and to 
suggest training adjustments, if necessary. The annual follow-up survey 
tracks changes in the small business owner's management practices and 
business outcomes for three years after graduation from the program. 
The data collection covers four cohorts of program participants. The 
given year participants complete the application form, intake survey, 
module feedback, and feedback survey. The three cohorts of participants 
who graduated from the program one, two, and three years prior complete 
the follow-up survey.

Solicitation of Public Comments

    Comments may be submitted on (a) whether the collection of 
information is necessary for the agency to properly perform its 
functions; (b) whether the burden estimates are accurate; (c) whether 
there are ways to minimize the burden, including through the use of 
automated techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) 
whether there are ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information.
    Title: The SBA Emerging Leaders (EL) initiative was designed to 
strengthen and grow existing local entrepreneur communities in 
historically distressed cities. The key goals of the program are to (1) 
increase small business growth and survival, and (2) promote economic 
growth in distressed communities by providing employment opportunities 
as well as necessary goods and services. To achieve these goals, the 
program offers executives of high-growth small businesses a five-month 
executive leader education series, free of charge, that provide the 
networks, resources, and knowledge required to promote a sustainable 
business growth, create jobs, and contribute to the economic well-being 
of local communities. In 2022, the program was revamped under the new 
name, T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined. The revised program 
provides training that customizes content for small businesses' unique 
needs, increases accessibility through a virtual component, and 
specifically promotes business ecosystem connections among business 
owners, government agencies, and the financial community. This 
information collection is necessary for SBA to understand the progress 
made by the T.H.R.I.V.E. program toward achieving its goals.
    The evaluation will be used to track participants' business growth, 
to provide guidance to the program training contractor on areas for 
additional assistance, and to increase SBA's understanding of the 
program outcome trends. This evaluation aims to examine the program 
participants' business growth outcomes including revenue, profits, job 
creation, and business survival. The evaluation also describes the 
population of program participants--their businesses, business 
management practices, experiences with the program, and satisfaction 
with and perceived effectiveness of the program. Over the previous 
years, the evaluation results have helped to track the program 
performance outcomes and provide suggestions for program improvements 
to better facilitate small business growth. The results are also 
expected to provide suggestions for improving future evaluations.
    The following surveys are conducted with the program participants: 
(1) the application form before the program enrollment, (2) the intake 
survey before the training, (3) the module feedback form during the 
training, (4) the feedback survey right after the graduation, and (5) 
the follow-up survey annually up to three years after graduation. The 
application form examines the eligibility status of the enrollees, 
obtains their contact information, and asks for their business goals. 
The data from the Intake survey is used to determine baseline levels of 
business outcomes, the use of management practices, and the extent to 
which the target population for the program is reached. The module 
feedback form assesses the participants' experience with each of the 
eight modules of the training program. The feedback survey is used to 
measure participant satisfaction with the training activities and to 
suggest training adjustments, if necessary. The annual follow-up survey 
tracks changes in the small business owner's management practices and 
business outcomes for three years after graduation from the program. 
The data collection covers four cohorts of program participants. The 
given year participants complete the application form, intake survey, 
module feedback, and feedback survey. The three cohorts of participants 
who graduated from the program one, two, and three years prior complete 
the follow-up survey.
    OMB Control Number: 3245-0394.
    Title: T.H.R.I.V.E. Emerging Leaders Reimagined.
    Description of Respondents: Existing local entrepreneur communities 
in historically distressed cities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,644.
    Estimated Annual Responses: 5,644.
    Estimated Annual Hour Burden: 4,851.

Curtis Rich,
Agency Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2022-25193 Filed 11-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8026-09-P