The Commerce Department’s Minority Business Development Agency is setting up the Rural Business Center Program, and it wants your comments.
The new centers — authorized in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden on Nov. 16, 2021 — would be a series of partnerships between the MBDA and private organizations to provide technical assistance to minority businesses in rural areas. A private organization would match 20% of the funding it received from the Commerce Department and would provide space, facilities and staffing for a rural business center in an agreement that would last no less than three years, according to the legislation.
The legislation also said the centers would focus on issues such as broadband internet access, advanced manufacturing, how rural businesses can meet supply chain gaps, promote export opportunities and secure capital.
But now the Minority Business Development Agency is looking for public comment to help inform its launch of the new centers and its focus.
