Notice2022-15176
Data Collection Available for Public Comments
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
July 15, 2022
Issuing agencies
Small Business Administration
Abstract
The Small Business Administration (SBA) plans to seek approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct the data collection activities described below. The Paperwork Reduction Act requires federal agencies to publish a notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information to OMB, and to allow 60 days for the public to comment in response to the notice. This notice complies with such requirements and announces the SBA's proposal to conduct a survey of cluster administrators, small businesses, and large organizations who participated in the SBA's Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) Initiative.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 135 (Friday, July 15, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 135 (Friday, July 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42535-42536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-15176]
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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Data Collection Available for Public Comments
ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Small Business Administration (SBA) plans to seek approval
from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to conduct the data
collection activities described below. The Paperwork Reduction Act
requires federal agencies to publish a notice in the Federal Register
concerning each proposed collection of information to OMB, and to allow
60 days for the public to comment in response to the notice. This
notice complies with such requirements and announces the SBA's proposal
to conduct a survey of cluster administrators, small businesses, and
large organizations who participated in the SBA's Regional Innovation
Cluster (RIC) Initiative.
DATES: Submit comments on or before September 13, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Send all comments to Philip T. Gibson; Office of
Entrepreneurship Education; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b4c4dcddd8ddc49ad3ddd6c7dbdaf4c7d6d59ad3dbc2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b0c0d8d9dcd9c09ed7d9d2c3dfdef0c3d2d19ed7dfc6">[email protected]</span></a>, 409 3rd Street SW,
Washington, DC 20416.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip T. Gibson; Office of
Entrepreneurship Education; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#74041c1d181d045a131d16071b1a340716155a131b02"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f2829a9b9e9b82dc959b90819d9cb2819093dc959d84">[email protected]</span></a>, 409 3rd Street SW,
Washington, DC 20416, or Curtis B. Rich, Management Analyst, 202-205-
7030, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#8deef8fff9e4fea3ffe4eee5cdfeefeca3eae2fb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c4a7b1b6b0adb7eab6ada7ac84b7a6a5eaa3abb2">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a request for a revision of a
currently approved collection (OMB number: 3245-0392). Through the RIC
initiative, SBA is investing in regional clusters--geographic
concentrations of interconnected companies, specialized suppliers,
academic institutions, service providers, and associated organizations
with a specific industry focus--throughout the United States that span
a variety of industries. The three primary goals of the initiative are
to (1) increase opportunities for small business participation within
clusters, (2) promote innovation in the industries on which the
clusters are focused, and (3) enhance economic development and growth
in cluster regions. To achieve these goals, the clusters provide a host
of services to the target population of small and emerging businesses
within their regional and industry focuses. Services include direct
business advising and support and sponsoring events, such as networking
opportunities with investors, large businesses and other stakeholders
in the regions. This information collection is necessary for SBA to
understand the progress of the RIC initiative toward achieving its
goals.
The evaluation consists of two key components: an implementation
evaluation and an outcome evaluation. The implementation evaluation
focuses on how the Initiative is implemented across the 12 clusters and
on the services that each cluster provides to its small businesses. The
outcome evaluation focuses on short- and intermediate-term outcomes
linked directly to the cluster services, as well as on long-term
business outcomes that can be reasonably expected to result from the
short- and intermediate-term outcomes. The short-term outcomes include
the satisfaction and the perceived effectiveness of the program for
business management and growth. The intermediate outcomes include
development of new products, commercialization of new technologies,
marketing and export services, improved access to capital, and industry
integration. Long-term outcomes include increased revenue and
employment. Over the previous years, evaluation results have helped to
track the program performance outcomes and provide suggestions for
program improvements to better facilitate innovation and small business
growth. Furthermore, the evaluation survey data helped the SBA to
better focus cluster activities on local contexts, particularly for
rural and agricultural small businesses. This data will not be used to
evaluate the effectiveness of an individual cluster.
The data collection effort involves three types of RIC initiative
stakeholders: small businesses, large organizations, and cluster
administrators. Small businesses participating in the cluster will be
sent an online survey to provide data about their cluster participation
experiences, satisfaction with the program and its components, the
performance of their firms with respect to a variety of outcomes, and
the role of cluster participation in the achievement of these outcomes.
Similarly, large organizations--a broad group that includes
universities, public sector agencies, nonprofit organizations, and
business associations--will be asked to complete an online survey to
provide data about their experiences with the RIC Initiative. The
questions include reasons for the RIC participation, collaboration with
and support for small businesses, and the role of cluster participation
on key organizational outcomes associated with the RIC participation.
The RIC administrators will be asked to complete a survey that provides
the framework of the surveys that the small business and large
organizations are sent. The administrator survey requests information
about the services they provided to these two groups of stakeholders,
and their operations in general. Cluster administrators will also be
interviewed once a year to obtain information about how their
operations have evolved, the adjustments they made, best practices,
issues encountered, and the lessons learned.
Solicitation of Public Comments
SBA is requesting comments on (a) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the agency to properly perform its
functions; (b) whether the burden estimates are accurate; (c) whether
there are ways to minimize the burden, including through the use of
automated techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d)
whether there are ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information.
Summary of Information Collection
PRA Number: OMB 3245-0392.
(1) Title: Regional Clusters.
Description of Respondents: Small and emerging businesses.
Total Estimated Annual Responses: 248.
[[Page 42536]]
Total Estimated Annual Hour Burden: 196.
Curtis B. Rich,
Agency Forms Manager.
[FR Doc. 2022-15176 Filed 7-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8026-09-P
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