II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 3759 

To assist entrepreneurs and support development of the creative economy, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 7, 2024 

Mr. SCHATZ (for himself and Mr. CORNYN) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business 

and Entrepreneurship 

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’’. 

7 SEC. 2. SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS. 

8 (a) MICROLOAN PROGRAM EXTENSION.—Section 

9 7(m)(6) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(m)(6)) 

10 is amended by adding at the end the following: 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
2 

•S 3759 IS

1 ‘‘(F) LOAN CRITERIA FOR ARTISTS AND

2 ARTS ENTREPRENEURS.—The Administration, 

3 in consultation with eligible intermediaries, 

4 shall develop loan criteria to ensure that small 

5 business concerns owned and controlled by art6 ists and small business concerns that support 

7 the creative economy receive loan proceeds 

8 under this subsection.’’. 

9 (b) BUSINESS LOANS FOR THE CREATIVE ECON10 OMY.—Section 7(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 

11 636(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘(38) CREATIVE ECONOMY.—In providing as13 sistance under this subsection, the Administration 

14 shall develop procedures to evaluate the business 

15 proposals and business plans of non-employer busi16 nesses, microenterprises, and small business con17 cerns that focus on economic development, job cre18 ation, and community growth with respect to the 

19 creative economy.’’. 

20 (c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.—Section 21 

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

22 by adding at the end the following: 

23 ‘‘(p) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR ART24 ISTS AND ARTS ENTREPRENEURS.—The Administration, 

25 in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall develop 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
3 

•S 3759 IS

1 technical assistance programs to be carried out by small 

2 business development centers under this subsection that 

3 target the specific needs of artists and arts entre4 preneurs.’’. 

5 SEC. 3. ARTS-FOCUSED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

12 term ‘business incubation program’ means a pro13 gram that— 

14 ‘‘(A) accelerates the successful develop15 ment of entrepreneurial businesses through 

16 business support resources and services, devel17 oped or orchestrated by incubator management; 

18 ‘‘(B) is designed to produce successful 

19 businesses; and 

20 ‘‘(C) provides management guidance, tech21 nical assistance, and consulting designed for 

22 young, growing businesses, including by pro23 viding— 

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


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
4 

•S 3759 IS

1 ‘‘(ii) shared basic business services 

2 and equipment; 

3 ‘‘(iii) technology support services; and 

4 ‘‘(iv) assistance in obtaining financing 

5 necessary for growth of the business. 

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

7 a multitenant facility with on-site management that 

8 directs a business incubation program. 

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

10 providing grants and assistance under this Act (including 

11 through the local technical assistance, partnership plan12 ning, and comprehensive economic development strategies 

13 programs of the Economic Development Administration), 

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

15 arts agencies, artists, and creative workers support 

16 through traditional economic development tools, includ17 ing— 

18 ‘‘(1) incubators; and 

19 ‘‘(2) economic development planning and tech20 nical assistance, including assistance for State, re21 gional, and local arts agencies in work related to 

22 comprehensive economic development strategies.’’. 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
5 

•S 3759 IS

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 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS