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
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
Administratormeans the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. - The term
Boardmeans the Minority Entrepreneurship Advisory Board established under section 4(a). - The term
historically Black college or universitymeans 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 institutionmeans any of the following: - The term
Programmeans the grant program established under section 3(a). - The term
small business concernhas the meaning given the term in section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (). 15 U.S.C. 632(a) - The term
student entrepreneurmeans a student who is— - The term
Under Secretarymeans the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development.
- The term
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.
- 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—
- (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.
- 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—
- (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.
- 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—
- (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.
- 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—
- (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.
- The members of the Board shall be—
- (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