H.R. 1730 would require Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) to help small businesses hire graduates of career and technical education programs and assist such graduates in starting small businesses. Under current law, the SBDC and WBC programs, administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), awards grants to centers that counsel and train current and prospective small-business owners. In 2023, the Congress appropriated $140 million for the SBDC program and $27 million for the WBC program.
The costs of the legislation, detailed in Table 1, fall within budget function 370 (commerce and housing credit).
