,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #agdi ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #bj1 #bjba,mr4 ,wicker 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 ,mr4 ,scott of ,south ,carolina1 ,mr4 ,coons1 and ,mr4 ,tillis7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,minority ,business ,development ,agency of the ,department of ,commerce to establish business centers at historically ,black colleges and universities1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,reaching ,america's ,rural ,minority ,businesses ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,definitions 7#a7 ,agency ,the term ,agency means the ,minority ,business ,development ,agency of the ,department of ,commerce4 7#b7 ,appropriate congressional committees ,the term appropriate congressional committees means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,small ,business and ,entrepreneurship of the ,senate2 7,c7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,d7 the ,committee on ,small ,business of the ,house of ,representatives4 7#c7 ,eligible entity ,the term eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a historically ,black college or university2 or 7,b7 a consortium of institutions of higher education that is led by a historically ,black college or university4 7#d7 ,historically ,black college or university ,the term historically ,black college or university has the meaning given the term part ,b institution in section #cbb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajfa74 7#e7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#f7 ,,mbda center ,the term ,,mbda center means any business center established by the ,agency4 7#g7 ,,mbdc agreement ,the term ,,mbdc agreement means a collaborative agreement entered into between the ,agency and an eligible entity under section #c7;b77#b74 7#h7 ,minority business enterprise ,the term minority business enterprise has the meaning given the term in section #aajh7;a7 of the ,,cares ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #ijjg7;a774 7#i7 ,rural area ,the term rural area means an area located outside a metropolitan statistical area 7as designated by the ,office of ,management and ,budget74 7#aj7 ,rural business center ,the term rural business center means an ,,mbda center with the functions described in section #c7;c74 7#aa7 ,rural minority business enterprise ,the term rural minority business enterprise means a minority business enterprise located in a rural area4 #c4 ,business centers 7a7 ,in general ,the ,agency may establish not more than #aj rural business centers4 7b7 ,partnership 7#a7 ,in general ,the agency shall establish each rural business center in partnership with an eligible entity in accordance with paragraph 7#b74 7#b7 ,,mbdc agreement 7,a7 ,in general ,with respect to each rural business center established by the ,agency1 the ,agency shall enter into a collaborative agreement with an eligible entity that provides that-- 7i7 the eligible entity shall provide space1 facilities1 and staffing for the rural business center2 7ii7 the ,agency shall provide funding for1 and oversight with respect to1 the rural business center2 and 7iii7 subject to subparagraph 7,b71 the eligible entity shall match #bj percent of the amount of the funding provided by the ,agency under clause 7ii71 which may be calculated to include the costs of providing the space1 facilities1 and staffing under clause 7i74 7,b7 ,lower match requirement ,based on the available resources of an eligible entity1 the ,agency may enter into a collaborative agreement with the eligible entity that provides that the eligible entity shall match less than #bj percent of the amount of the funding provided by the ,agency under subparagraph 7,a77ii74 7#c7 ,term ,the term of an ,,mbdc agreement shall be #e years4 7#d7 ,renewal ,the ,agency and an eligible entity may agree to extend the term of an ,,mbdc agreement with respect to a rural business center for an additional #e years4 7c7 ,functions ,a rural business center shall-- 7#a7 primarily serve clients that are-- 7,a7 rural minority business enterprises2 or 7,b7 minority business enterprises that are located more than #ej miles from an ,,mbda center 7other than that rural business center72 7#b7 focus on issues relating to-- 7,a7 the adoption of broadband internet access service 7as defined in section #h4a7;b7 of title #dg1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or any successor regulation71 digital literacy skills1 and e-commerce by rural minority business enterprises2 7,b7 advanced manufacturing2 7,c7 the promotion of manufacturing in the ,united ,states2 7,d7 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 ,states2 7,e7 improving the connectivity of rural minority business enterprises through transportation and logistics2 7,f7 promoting trade and export opportunities by rural minority business enterprises2 7,g7 securing financial capital2 and 7,h7 facilitating entrepreneurship in rural areas2 and 7#c7 provide education1 training1 and technical assistance to minority business enterprises4 7d7 ,applications 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,agency shall issue a request for applications from eligible entities that desire to enter into ,,mbdc agreements with the ,agency4 7#b7 ,criteria and priority ,in selecting an eligible entity with which to enter into an ,,mbdc agreement1 the ,agency shall-- 7,a7 select an eligible entity that demonstrates-- 7i7 the ability to collaborate with governmental and private sector entities to leverage capabilities of minority business enterprises through public-private partnerships2 7ii7 the research and extension capacity to support minority business enterprises2 7iii7 knowledge of the community that the eligible entity serves and the ability to conduct effective outreach to that community to advance the goals of a rural business center2 7iv7 the ability to provide innovative business solutions1 including access to contracting opportunities1 markets1 and capital2 7v7 the ability to provide services that advance the development of science1 technology1 engineering1 and math jobs within minority business enterprises2 7vi7 the ability to leverage resources from within the eligible entity to advance a rural business center2 7vii7 that the mission of the eligible entity aligns with the mission of the ,agency2 and 7viii7 the ability to leverage relationships with rural minority business enterprises2 and 7,b7 give priority to an eligible entity located in a ,state or region that lacks an ,,mbda center1 as of the date of enactment of this ,act4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,agency to establish rural business centers under this section #aj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf4 #d4 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,agency shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes-- 7#a7 a summary of the efforts of the ,agency to provide services to minority business enterprises located in ,states that lack an ,,mbda center1 as of the date of enactment of this ,act1 and especially in those ,states that have significant minority populations2 and 7#b7 recommendations for extending the outreach of the ,agency to underserved areas4 #e4 ,study and report 7a7 ,in general ,the ,agency1 in coordination with the ,administrator of the ,small ,business ,administration1 shall conduct a study on the ways in which minority business enterprises can meet gaps in the supply chain of the ,united ,states1 with a particular focus on the supply chain of advanced manufacturing and essential goods and services4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,agency shall submit to ,congress a report that includes-- 7#a7 the results of the study conducted under subsection 7a72 and 7#b7 recommendations on the ways in which minority business enterprises can meet gaps in the supply chain of the ,united ,states4