II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7281 

To assist entrepreneurs and support development of the creative economy, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 7, 2024 

Mrs. DINGELL (for herself and Mrs. GONZA ́LEZ-COLO ́N) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business, and 

in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, and Transportation 

and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To assist entrepreneurs and support development of the 

creative economy, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Comprehensive Re5 sources for Entrepreneurs in the Arts to Transform the 

6 Economy Act of 2024’’ or the ‘‘CREATE Act of 2024’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS. 

2 (a) MICROLOAN PROGRAM EXTENSION.—Section 

3 7(m)(6) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(6)) 

4 is amended by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(F) LOAN CRITERIA FOR ARTISTS AND

6 ARTS ENTREPRENEURS.—The Administration, 

7 in consultation with eligible intermediaries, 

8 shall develop loan criteria to ensure that small 

9 business concerns owned and controlled by art10 ists and small business concerns that support 

11 the creative economy receive loan proceeds 

12 under this subsection.’’. 

13 (b) BUSINESS LOANS FOR THE CREATIVE ECON14 OMY.—Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 

15 636(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

16 ‘‘(38) CREATIVE ECONOMY.—In providing as17 sistance under this subsection, the Administration 

18 shall develop procedures to evaluate the business 

19 proposals and business plans of non-employer busi20 nesses, microenterprises, and small business con21 cerns that focus on economic development, job cre22 ation, and community growth with respect to the 

23 creative economy.’’. 

24 (c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.—Section 21 

25 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648) is amended 

26 by adding at the end the following: 


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1 ‘‘(p) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR ART2 ISTS AND ARTS ENTREPRENEURS.—The Administration, 

3 in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall develop 

4 technical assistance programs to be carried out by small 

5 business development centers under this subsection that 

6 target the specific needs of artists and arts entre7 preneurs.’’. 

8 SEC. 3. ARTS-FOCUSED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title II of the Public Works and 

10 Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141 et 

11 seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘SEC. 219. ARTS-FOCUSED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 

13 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

14 ‘‘(1) BUSINESS INCUBATION PROGRAM.—The 

15 term ‘business incubation program’ means a pro16 gram that— 

17 ‘‘(A) accelerates the successful develop18 ment of entrepreneurial businesses through 

19 business support resources and services, devel20 oped or orchestrated by incubator management; 

21 ‘‘(B) is designed to produce successful 

22 businesses; and 

23 ‘‘(C) provides management guidance, tech24 nical assistance, and consulting designed for 


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1 young, growing businesses, including by pro2 viding— 

3 ‘‘(i) rental space and flexible leases; 

4 ‘‘(ii) shared basic business services 

5 and equipment; 

6 ‘‘(iii) technology support services; and 

7 ‘‘(iv) assistance in obtaining financing 

8 necessary for growth of the business. 

9 ‘‘(2) INCUBATOR.—The term ‘incubator’ means 

10 a multitenant facility with on-site management that 

11 directs a business incubation program. 

12 ‘‘(b) ARTS-FOCUSED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.—In 

13 providing grants and assistance under this Act (including 

14 through the local technical assistance, partnership plan15 ning, and comprehensive economic development strategies 

16 programs of the Economic Development Administration), 

17 the Secretary shall provide to State, regional, and local 

18 arts agencies, artists, and creative workers support 

19 through traditional economic development tools, includ20 ing— 

21 ‘‘(1) incubators; and 

22 ‘‘(2) economic development planning and tech23 nical assistance, including assistance for State, re24 gional, and local arts agencies in work related to 

25 comprehensive economic development strategies.’’. 


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1 SEC. 4. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM TO PROMOTE USE OF 

2 CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AND OCCUPATIONS 

3 IN CERTAIN ECONOMIC PLANNING. 

4 Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 

5 of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall establish a 

6 demonstration program to assess the feasibility and advis7 ability of providing support to local arts agencies and non8 profits through planning grants under section 203 of the 

9 Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 

10 U.S.C. 3143) and local technical assistance grants under 

11 section 207 of that Act (42 U.S.C. 3147) to promote the 

12 use of creative industries and occupations in the economic 

13 planning of local governments, including in comprehensive 

14 economic development strategies. 

Æ 


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