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Creates a new competitive pilot grant program at the Economic Development Administration to fund technical assistance, capacity building, and related services for organizations that support business district revitalization in low-income, rural, minority, and Native communities. Grants will be awarded to intermediary and eligible recipients who then provide services to local business district organizations; awards must be competitive, include multiple recipients, prioritize underserved communities, run at least two years initially, and include annual reporting requirements.
Business districts are vital parts of thriving communities and provide important commercial goods and services to community residents.
Business districts contribute to the vitality, character, and identity of urban neighborhoods, small towns, and rural and Native communities.
Business districts drive entrepreneurship, local business ownership, economic growth, and job creation.
Business districts are an essential part of the economic development ecosystem for towns, cities, and rural communities, and help attract consumers, visitors, new residents, and new businesses.
Locally based business district organizations are well positioned to provide technical assistance and support to small and underserved businesses and to attract customers by shaping and nurturing the physical environment of business districts.
Who is affected and how:
Local business districts and small businesses: Local commercial corridors and the small businesses that operate there could get stronger support for revitalization through training, planning, and capacity-building services. That can help attract customers, create jobs, and stabilize storefronts.
Community-based organizations and business district management entities: Local nonprofit or community organizations that run or support business districts stand to receive technical assistance and capacity-building support either directly or via subrecipients, improving their ability to manage programs, secure funding, and deliver services.
Intermediary organizations and eligible recipients: Regional or national intermediaries (organizations that can administer grants and distribute assistance to smaller groups) are positioned to receive competitive grants and play a conduit role, expanding reach into underserved places.
Tribal governments and Native communities: The program explicitly prioritizes Native communities, so tribal governments and Native-serving organizations could gain targeted assistance for business corridors in tribal settings.
Economic Development Administration (EDA) / federal administrators: EDA will need to set up competitive solicitations, manage centralized award processes outside regional offices, monitor recipients, and collect annual reports—adding administrative responsibilities.
Potential effects and limitations:
Positive: Improved organizational capacity for local actors could lead to more effective revitalization efforts, better use of existing funds, and increased local economic activity.
Constraints: The statute establishes the program but does not provide specific funding amounts; actual impact depends on appropriations and the number/size of grants awarded. The pilot structure limits initial scale and the centralized administration may reduce regional tailoring unless EDA implements local engagement mechanisms.
Administrative burden: Recipients must report annually and meet competitive grant conditions, which can increase paperwork for smaller organizations but also creates accountability and performance data for future scaling.
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Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced May 23, 2025 by Mike Ezell · Last progress May 23, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House