Notice2021-28331
Rural Business Center Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 30, 2021
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentMinority Business Development Agency
Abstract
On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included statutory authority within the Minority Business Development Act (the Act) for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to establish a Rural Business Center Program. MBDA is seeking public comment on various issues related to rural areas and rural minority business enterprises to inform the agency and provide fundamental information regarding this sector of the economy. This notice requests comments on or before January 25, 2022.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 248 (Thursday, December 30, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 248 (Thursday, December 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74403-74404]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28331]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Minority Business Development Agency
Rural Business Center Program
AGENCY: Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which included statutory
authority within the Minority Business Development Act (the Act) for
the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to establish a Rural
Business Center Program. MBDA is seeking public comment on various
issues related to rural areas and rural minority business enterprises
to inform the agency and provide fundamental information regarding this
sector of the economy. This notice requests comments on or before
January 25, 2022.
DATES: The deadline for filing comments is January 25, 2022.
ADDRESSES: All comments should be submitted in electronic form to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#107d7274716065727c797371767671796263507d7274713e777f66"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3a57585e5b4a4f585653595b5c5c5b5348497a57585e5b145d554c">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danae Pauli, Senior Advisor to the
National Director, MBDA, U.S. Department of Commerce, by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e88c98899d8481a8858a8c89c68f879e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8de9fdecf8e1e4cde0efe9eca3eae2fb">[email protected]</span></a>, or at (202) 482-2332.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a bureau of the
U.S. Department of Commerce, leads Federal Government efforts to
promote the growth and global competitiveness of minority business
enterprises (MBEs). The Minority Business Development Act (the Act)
authorized MBDA to establish a rural business center program to serve
rural minority business enterprises or minority business enterprises
located more than 50 miles from an MBDA Business Center (other than an
MBDA Rural Business Center) and provide education and training, legal,
financial, and technical assistance to minority business enterprises.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58, division K,
title III, sections 100301 and 100302 (November 15, 2021). Rural area
is defined in the MBDA Act pursuant to section 371(a) of the
Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, 7 U.S.C. 1991(a). The Act
designated minority-serving institutions (as defined in section
371(a)(1) through (7) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C.
1067q(a)) as the entities that are eligible to receive grants to
operate a rural business center. MBDA has initiated the process of
conducting research and collecting information to design the new
program that meets the business development needs of MBEs located in
rural areas across the United States. Comments may be used to help MBDA
decide policy related to the areas of focus, geographical location and
distribution, and additional areas of service for the rural business
center program. As part of this process, MBDA is seeking comments from
members of the public, including but not limited to operators of rural
businesses and persons with expertise and information, to provide the
following information related to minority businesses in rural areas:
1. Describe the types of business operations in rural areas.
2. What are the financial, operational, and logistical needs of
rural business enterprises?
3. Are there unique challenges faced by MBEs located in rural and
remote areas of the U.S.? If so, describe.
4. What are the best methods to provide education, training, legal,
[[Page 74404]]
financial, and technical assistance to MBEs in rural areas?
5. Are there examples or success stories from organizations that
provide services to MBEs in rural areas?
6. How should MBDA measure success for rural business centers?
7. What specific performance metrics should MBDA consider for rural
business centers that would measure service to rural businesses?
8. What factors should be measured to demonstrate elements of
success from the perspective of organizations that support, or
customers served by rural businesses?
9. What is the most effective role for Minority Serving
Institutions (MSIs) to foster the establishment and growth of MBEs in
rural America and how should that impact be measured?
10. How many MSIs have degree and/or academic programs focused on
business-related topics (e.g., entrepreneurship, supply chains,
advanced manufacturing/manufacturing, innovation, etc.) or offer
business accelerator programs and/or business incubators? Provide names
and locations of MSIs that have these programs.
11. What is the most effective way for MSIs to collaborate with
community-based organizations? Please provide examples.
In addition, MBDA is seeking public comment regarding the focal
points for the rural business centers as directed by the section
100302(c) of the MBDA Act: (i) The adoption of broadband internet
access service (as defined in section 8.1(b) of title 47, Code of
Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation), digital literacy
skills, and e-commerce by rural minority business enterprises; (ii)
advanced manufacturing; (iii) the promotion of manufacturing in the
United States; (iv) ways in which rural minority business enterprises
can meet gaps in the supply chain of critical supplies and essential
goods and services for the United States; (v) improving the
connectivity of rural minority business enterprises through
transportation and logistics; (vi) promoting trade and export
opportunities by rural minority business enterprises; (vii) securing
financial capital; (viii) facilitating entrepreneurship in rural areas;
and (ix) creating jobs in rural areas.
All comments must be submitted in electronic form (Word or other
consistent software program) to the comment mailbox listed in the
ADDRESSES section above. Comments should include the name or
organization represented, contact information for the commenter, and
the specific issue or subject addressed in accordance with this notice
and the provisions of the MBDA Act, Rural Business Center Program
section.
Josephine Arnold,
Chief Counsel, Minority Business Development Agency.
[FR Doc. 2021-28331 Filed 12-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-21-P
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