Capacity Building for Business Districts Pilot Program Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]
In Committee
Summary
Would create a Capacity Building for Business Districts pilot program within the Public Works and Economic Development Act to fund technical assistance and revitalization for local business districts in low-income, rural, minority, and Native communities. The pilot focuses on place-based help, grants to intermediaries, and support that strengthens local business districts and underserved small firms.
Show full summary
- Local business district organizations would be eligible as subrecipients if they are public entities or nonprofits under sections 501(c)(3)-(6). They could get direct technical assistance and pass-through grant funds to support business services and physical improvements.
- National or multi‑area intermediaries would qualify as specified recipients if they operate across multiple EDA regions and show experience delivering capacity building. Grants would be competitive and multiple awards would be made to different organizations.
- The pilot would prioritize distressed communities, including rural areas and Indian Tribes, require broad geographic distribution, set an initial grant term of at least 2 years, ban administration through a regional office, and require reporting on subrecipients, fund use, geographic reach, NAICS codes, and jobs created or retained.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Pilot grants for local business districts
If enacted, this would start a pilot to fund groups that help local business districts. The Secretary would award competitive grants to multi‑region nonprofits with proven experience. Money would pay for training, technical help, and operating support for eligible local nonprofits or public entities in low‑income, rural, minority, and Native communities. Awards would be spread across regions, with priority to distressed, rural, and Tribal areas and to groups able to serve multiple states or regions. Multiple awards would be made, and each initial grant would last at least 2 years.
New reporting rules for grantees
If enacted, specified recipients would have to file reports no more than once a year. Reports would list subrecipients and addresses, explain how funds were used, note areas served, list each assisted entity’s name and NAICS code, and count jobs created or kept. The Secretary could require other program information. The pilot would not be run through regional offices, which would change how the agency manages the program.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]
MS • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Amodei (NV)
NV • R
Sponsored 2/23/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/23/2026
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Kelly (MS)
MS • R
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Schmidt
KS • R
Sponsored 3/18/2026
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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