H.R. 3793

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, to establish a grant program to create or expand programs at minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities that promote minority business ownership and entrepreneurship, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · June 5, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Williams of Georgia · Committee: Committee on Small Business

Table of contents

• H.R. 3793
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Definitions
  • SEC. 3. Grant program
  • SEC. 4. Advisory board

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the Minority Entrepreneurship Grant Program Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Definitions

• In this Act:
  • The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
  • The term Board means the Minority Entrepreneurship Advisory Board established under section 4(a).
  • The term historically Black college or university means a part B institution, as that term is defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (). 20 U.S.C. 1061
  • The term includes an individual who is— minority
  • The term minority-serving institution means any of the following:
  • The term Program means the grant program established under section 3(a).
  • The term small business concern has the meaning given the term in section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (). 15 U.S.C. 632(a)
  • The term student entrepreneur means a student who is—
  • The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development.

SEC. 3. Grant program

• (a) Establishment
  • Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Under Secretary, shall establish a grant program within the Small Business Administration, the purpose of which shall be to create or expand programs at minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities that foster, promote, and increase opportunities for minority business ownership.
• (b) Application process
  • A minority-serving institution or a historically Black college or university seeking a grant under the Program shall submit to the Administrator an application that contains a description of—
    • the need for the grant funds to promote minority entrepreneurship and business ownership among student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or the historically Black college or university;
    • how the grant funds will be used to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1);
    • how the programs created or expanded with the grant funds will provide support to student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university who—
      • seek support for an established business; or
      • need assistance in establishing a business; and
    • how the minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university will create or expand programs or initiatives that—
      • increase minority business ownership; and
      • expand business resources to student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university.
• (c) Amount of grant
  • A grant made to a minority-serving institution or a historically Black college or university under the Program shall be not less than $250,000.
• (d) Use of grant funds
  • With a grant received under the Program, a minority-serving institution or a historically Black college or university shall support the creation or expansion of programs or initiatives that offer business development resources that support student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university, such as—
    • free legal, accounting, human resources, information technology, marketing, training, counseling, networking, and technical assistance; and
    • access to capital resources, such as the costs associated with forming a new business enterprise.
• (e) MSI submission requirement
  • A minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university to which a grant is made under the Program shall, each year, submit to the Administrator a mid-year and year-end report, each of which shall contain, for the period covered by the report, the number of—
    • student entrepreneurs trained, assisted, and counseled with the grant funds;
    • businesses created through the expenditure of the grant funds, including, with respect to each such business—
      • the name of the business;
      • a description of the business; and
      • the amount of grant funds expended in creating the business;
    • student entrepreneurs referred to other resources of the Small Business Administration; and
    • student entrepreneurs participating in programs created or expanded through the expenditure of the grant funds, which, to the extent possible, shall be disaggregated by sex, race, and ethnicity.
• (f) Report to Congress
  • Not later than 18 months after the date on which the first grant is made under the Program, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that contains information regarding the minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges or universities to which grants were made under the Program for the period covered by the report, which shall include—
    • the name of each such minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university and the amount of each such grant;
    • the number of student entrepreneurs trained, assisted, and counseled with Program grant funds—
      • at each minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university to which a grant was made under the Program; and
      • in total under the Program;
    • the number of businesses created through the expenditure of Program grant funds—
      • with respect to each minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university to which a grant was made under the Program; and
      • in total under the Program;
    • the number of student entrepreneurs referred to resources of the Small Business Administration—
      • at each minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university to which a grant was made under the Program; and
      • in total under the Program;
    • the number of student entrepreneurs participating in programs created or expanded through the expenditure of Program grant funds at each minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university to which a grant was made under the Program, and in total under the Program, which, to the extent possible, shall be disaggregated by sex, race, and ethnicity; and
    • a statement regarding whether any amounts made available to carry out this section remain unexpended, as of the date on which the report is submitted.
• (g) Authorization of appropriations
  • There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $50,000,000 to carry out this section.

SEC. 4. Advisory board

• (a) In general
  • Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a Minority Entrepreneurship Advisory Board to develop recommendations regarding how minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities can better serve minority businesses and entrepreneurs.
• (b) Membership of Board
  • The members of the Board shall be—
    • appointed by the Administrator; and
    • individuals with—
      • outstanding qualifications;
      • knowledge regarding the needs of small business concerns that are owned by minorities; and
      • experience—
        • (i) working with startups; or
        • (ii) in providing consultation to small business concerns.
• (c) Submission to Congress
  • Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress the recommendations developed by the Board under subsection (a).
• (d) Inapplicability of Federal advisory committee requirements
  • of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply with respect to the Board or the activities of the Board. Chapter 10