Coordinated Support for Rural Small Businesses Act
Sponsored By: Senator Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
In Committee
Summary
Creates an Office of Rural Affairs inside the Small Business Administration to coordinate federal support for rural small businesses. It would install a noncareer Assistant Administrator in a Senior Executive Service role and require outreach, formal coordination with the Department of Agriculture, and public reporting.
Show full summary
- Rural small businesses: Would get a dedicated SBA office focused on outreach, capital access, and tailored help with loans and disaster assistance. The office must host regional outreach events and convene working groups to tackle investment and financing barriers.
- Federal agencies and programs: Would require the Assistant Administrator to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture to identify overlaps in loan programs, align the SBA Small Business Investment Company program with related USDA programs, share best practices, and coordinate disaster assistance and cooperative financing efforts.
- Transparency and accountability: Would require MOU updates within 7 days of changes and an initial report within 180 days followed by annual public reports that name the Assistant Administrator, list the office budget and staffing, count outreach events, and analyze lending to rural firms.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New SBA Office for Rural Businesses
This bill would create an Office of Rural Affairs inside the Small Business Administration. It would place an Assistant Administrator in charge, appointed by the SBA Administrator as a noncareer Senior Executive Service official. The Office would host outreach events across U.S. regions to help rural small businesses find loans, technical help, and services. The Assistant Administrator would coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and run interagency working groups on capital access, overlaps between SBA and USDA loan programs, Small Business Investment Company coordination, disaster assistance, cooperatives, export and procurement help, and related issues. The SBA would have to notify specified congressional committees within 7 days of any new or changed memorandum of understanding with USDA. The SBA Administrator would also publish a public report within 180 days of enactment and annually after, listing the Assistant Administrator, office budget and staff, outreach events, lending program analysis, MOU status, and working group findings. If enacted, these changes would take effect on enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA]
LA • R
Sponsored 3/24/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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