Sponsors (2)
The bill provides multi-year federal funding and program continuity to boost regional commercialization, small-business financing, and workforce collaboration, but does so at a direct fiscal cost to taxpayers and with design choices that may reduce local funding incentives, limit administrative flexibility, and shift limited grant dollars toward prioritized communities.
State and local innovation programs and grant recipients receive sustained federal funding of $50 million per year for FY2026–2030, providing continuity for regional commercialization and grant awards.
Small businesses and innovation-focused startups in participating regions gain increased access to capital and direct financing to support commercialization.
Regional workforce programs and local workforce boards face stronger incentives for collaboration and required outreach, which can improve job training and placement outcomes.
Taxpayers will fund $50 million per year plus any carry-forward obligations for FY2026–2030, increasing federal spending and potentially adding to the deficit.
State and local governments and private investors may face reduced incentives to contribute as federal cost-share flexibility (up to a 90% federal share in high-need areas) could crowd out local funding and private investment in some regions.
The Secretary of Commerce and program administrators lose some discretion because actions that were previously discretionary are made mandatory, reducing flexibility to adapt policy in edge cases.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Expands and reauthorizes the Stevenson-Wydler regional innovation program, revises eligibility and cost-share rules, adds outreach priorities, and authorizes $50M/year for FY2026–2030.
Official title: Amend the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to reauthorize the regional innovation program, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 30, 2026 by Todd Young · Last progress July 30, 2026
Reauthorizes and updates the Stevenson-Wydler regional innovation program (commonly called Build to Scale) by expanding program purposes, redefining eligible venture development organizations, changing program wording to emphasize "initiatives," adjusting federal cost-share rules, specifying outreach priorities (including underserved and rural communities and workforce partnerships), and increasing coordination with DOE and NSF. It authorizes $50 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2030 and requires the Commerce Secretary to issue a notice of funding opportunity within 90 days of enactment. The bill also allows carry-forward of unobligated funds, changes certain cross-references, removes one paragraph, and tightens matching share limits so federal support is capped at 50 percent plus an additional discretionary allowance up to 40 percent based on area need.