Sponsor
Mark Alford
Representative · R-MO
Representative · R-MO
The bill aims to expand outreach to help rural small businesses access federal R&D funding—potentially boosting rural economic growth and equity—but risks uneven or superficial implementation and added agency costs unless outreach is properly funded and given sufficient time.
Rural communities and small businesses may gain increased funding and innovation support from SBIR/STTR programs, which can spur local job creation and broader economic activity.
Rural small-business owners and entrepreneurs will receive more targeted outreach and information, increasing their awareness of federal R&D grant opportunities and likelihood of applying.
Underrepresented rural innovators are more explicitly encouraged to participate, improving equity and inclusion in federal research and development programs.
If outreach efforts are not provided with dedicated funding, agencies may struggle to implement effective engagement, producing uneven results and leaving many rural communities with little or no benefit.
The short 90-day compliance window could force agencies to produce rushed or superficial outreach plans instead of sustained, effective engagement, reducing the program's real-world impact.
Federal agencies will face additional administrative costs and must divert staff time to design and carry out extra rural outreach, imposing modest costs on taxpayers and agency workloads.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires the SBA to direct SBIR/STTR-participating agencies to enhance outreach to and conduct outreach in rural communities to boost rural small-business participation.
Official title: To require Federal agencies with an SBIR or STTR program to enhance their outreach to rural communities with respect to such programs, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 26, 2025 by Mark Alford · Last progress February 26, 2025
Requires the Small Business Administration to direct federal agencies that run SBIR and STTR programs to improve outreach to rural communities so more rural small businesses participate. The SBA Administrator must update policy directives within 90 days of enactment to ensure each participating agency conducts outreach in rural areas and increases participation by small business concerns located there. The change is procedural and regulatory: it does not create new grant programs or appropriate new funding, but it makes outreach and inclusion of rural small businesses an explicit requirement for agencies that participate in the SBIR/STTR programs.