Sponsors (6)
The bill improves alignment between CTE training and local business needs—helping students, small businesses, and women entrepreneurs access talent and resources—but it adds duties and administrative burdens to SBDCs, WBCs, and CTE programs that may require additional funding or staff time.
Students and local employers benefit because the bill aligns CTE (career and technical education) training with local business needs, raising employment opportunities and reducing skills mismatches.
Small-business owners get practical guidance and connections to hire CTE graduates, easing recruitment and helping fill local skill gaps.
Women-owned businesses receive targeted outreach linking them to CTE talent and SBDC/WBC support services, improving their access to skilled hires and business resources.
SBDCs and WBCs face added duties to do outreach and coordination, which could require extra staff time or funding and may divert resources from other services.
CTE programs and educational institutions may incur increased administrative burden to respond to outreach and coordinate with SBDCs/WBCs without additional funding, straining school resources.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires SBDCs and WBCs to provide outreach, information, and connections between small businesses and career and technical education programs and graduates.
Adds a statutory definition of “career and technical education” to the Small Business Act and requires Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) to do outreach, share information, and connect small businesses with career and technical education (CTE) programs and CTE graduates. The change expands existing SBDC and WBC activities to include informing employers about hiring CTE graduates and informing CTE programs and students about SBDC/WBC services.
Introduced February 26, 2025 by Roger Williams · Last progress June 4, 2025