Innovation Centers Acceleration Act

To strengthen American economic resiliency and equitably expand economic opportunity by launching a national competition, promoting State and local strategic planning, encouraging innovation by the public and private sectors, and by substantially investing Federal resources in research and development. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Committee The term Committee (2) Eligible area The term eligible area (A) has a population of not less than 500,000; and (B) is not designated as an established tech hub. (3) Established tech hub The term established tech hub (4) Hispanic-serving institution The term Hispanic-serving institution 20 U.S.C. 1101a (5) Historically Black college or university The term historically Black college or university part B institution 20 U.S.C. 1061 (6) Innovation center The term innovation center (7) Innovation sector job The term innovation sector job (A) Basic chemical manufacturing (3251). (B) Pesticide, fertilizer, and other agricultural chemical manufacturing (3253). (C) Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing (3254). (D) Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing (3341). (E) Communications equipment manufacturing (3342). (F) Semiconductor and other electronic components manufacturing (3344). (G) Navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing (3345). (H) Aerospace product and parts manufacturing (3364). (I) Software publishers (5112). (J) Satellite telecommunications (5174). (K) Data processing, hosting, and related services (5182). (L) Other information services (5191). (M) Scientific research and development services (5417). (8) STEM The term STEM 3. Innovation Center Selection Committee (a) Establishment There is established the Innovation Center Selection Committee, which shall— (1) establish the global competitive edge of the United States in the 21st century across a range of innovation sectors critical to national and economic security; (2) enable 9 metropolitan statistical areas in the United States to become innovation centers for global innovation leadership and models for inclusive growth, equal opportunity, and rising living standards for disadvantaged populations; (3) inspire, within metropolitan statistical areas in the United States across the country, new and constructive collaboration among local, State, and Federal Government entities, academia, and private industry by issuing a call for innovation center proposals with clear, ambitious objectives; (4) carry out a transparent, competitive, fair, and rigorous process for selecting innovation centers; (5) ensure the transparent, efficient and effective use of taxpayer funds; and (6) empirically evaluate the effectiveness of innovation centers through release of publicly available reports and data. (b) Membership (1) Composition (A) Voting members The Committee shall be composed of the following voting members: (i) The Secretary of Commerce, who shall serve as chairperson of the Committee. (ii) The Administrator of the Small Business Administration. (iii) The Deputy Secretary for Housing and Urban Development. (iv) The Director of the Community Development Financial Institution Fund. (v) The Director of the National Science Foundation. (vi) The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (vii) The Director of the National Economic Council. (viii) The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. (ix) The Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training. (x) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. (xi) The Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. (xii) The Under Secretary for Science of the Department of Energy. (xiii) The Director of the National Institutes of Health. (xiv) The Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security. (xv) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2) Nonvoting members (A) In general The Committee shall have 8 nonvoting members, of which, from among leaders of labor organizations or research institutions, or leaders from private industry or professional societies— (i) two shall be appointed by the majority leader of the Senate; (ii) two shall be appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; (iii) two shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and (iv) two shall be appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives. (B) Term The nonvoting members appointed under subparagraph (A)— (i) shall serve for a term of 5 years; and (ii) may be reappointed to subsequent terms. (C) Vacancies A vacancy in the nonvoting membership of the Committee shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, but the individual appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired portion of the term for which the individual's predecessor was appointed. (D) Deadline for appointments The nonvoting members of the Committee shall be appointed under this paragraph not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (3) Initial meeting Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Committee are appointed, the Committee shall hold its first meeting. (c) Compensation A nonvoting member of the Committee appointed under subsection (b)(2) shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 (d) Staff (1) In general The Committee may appoint a staff director and other personnel as necessary to carry out the duties of the Committee. (2) Member agencies The Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Transportation shall provide necessary staffing support to the Committee, as determined by the Committee. (e) Selection of innovation centers (1) In general The Committee shall select 9 eligible areas to serve as innovation centers and receive the Federal innovation supports described in section 4. (2) Application (A) Request for proposals Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Committee shall issue a request for applications from eligible entities. (B) Submission Each eligible area desiring to be selected as an innovation center shall submit to the Committee an application through a proposal committee created by the eligible area, which shall include representation from each State located in the eligible area and each municipal government representing not less than 200,000 individuals located in the eligible area. (3) Selection criteria In selecting innovation centers under this section, the Committee shall evaluate each applicant based on— (A) the performance of the applicant in— (i) STEM spending per capita; (ii) the number of patents per 100,000 residents; (iii) the share of the population with a Bachelor of Arts degree or a higher degree; and (iv) the number of STEM university degrees per capita; (B) a plan to use data-driven strategies to promote innovation-based, advanced sector takeoff, focused on local interplay of university, Federal research institution, and industry core competencies; (C) a plan to increase innovation readiness, including expanding research and technology development facilities and developing the local STEM workforce, including through partnerships with entities with demonstrated success of administering apprenticeship and other workforce development models; (D) a plan to build or improve areas that attract and support workers and firms; (E) a plan to foster racial equity and inclusive growth, including by leveraging minority serving institutions, preventing gentrification, combatting segregation, promoting the inclusion of underrepresented residents, and ensuring affordable housing options; (F) a plan to invest the financial resources of the applicant; (G) a plan to partner with local workforce development boards to scale up training to meet new workforce demands; (H) a plan to incorporate and bring growth and opportunity to a broad geographic area beyond the limits of the metropolitan statistical area, including rural areas, through improved transportation, high speed internet access, other investments, and partnerships; and (I) the relative potential for the selection of the innovation center to reverse a decline, or accelerate growth, in innovation sector jobs. (4) Geographic diversity In selecting innovation centers under this section, the Committee shall ensure a broad geographic representation of the United States. (5) Site visits The Committee may conduct site visits to eligible areas that are finalists for selection as an innovation center. (6) Timeline for selection The Committee shall, by secret ballot, vote to select the 9 innovation centers not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act. (7) Evaluation and renewal (A) In general Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Committee shall establish evaluation and renewal criteria to measure— (i) the progress of an innovation center toward becoming a center for technology innovation; (ii) the effectiveness of an innovation center in translating innovation sector growth into broadly shared economic opportunity within the innovation center; and (iii) the ethical and efficient use of Federal funds. (B) Report to Congress Beginning in the third full year following the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 3 years thereafter, the Committee shall submit to Congress and each agency represented on the Committee, and make publicly available, a report on the progress of each innovation center in meeting the objectives described in paragraph (3). (C) Evaluation (i) In general During the third year in which an innovation center is in existence, the Committee shall conduct an evaluation based on established benchmarks for achieving the objectives described in paragraph (3) to determine whether the designation as an innovation center shall be renewed for 3 additional years. (ii) Failure to meet benchmarks An innovation center that fails to meet a majority of the benchmarks established under clause (i) shall not be renewed as an innovation center. (D) Renewal limit An innovation center shall be designated as such for a period of 3 years, and the Committee may renew the designation for not more than 2 additional 3-year terms. (f) Final report Not later than 1 year after the date on which all innovation centers have exhausted their designations and renewals as an innovation center, the Committee shall submit to Congress and each agency represented on the Committee, and make publicly available, a final cumulative report on the efficacy of the program. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Committee for travel and administrative expenses related to carrying out the duties of the Committee— (1) $5,000,000 for each of the first 2 fiscal years beginning after the date of enactment of this Act; and (2) $1,000,000 for each of the 8 fiscal years following the 2 fiscal years described in paragraph (1). 4. Federal innovation supports (a) In general An innovation center shall be eligible for the Federal innovation supports described in this section. (b) Direct Federal investment (1) National Science Foundation research funding (A) Funding goal The Director of the National Science Foundation shall pursue a goal of awarding through a rigorous selection process, for each innovation center that gets its designation renewed continually for 3 terms, a total of $1,250,000,000 in grant funds to entities located in that innovation center by the end of the 9th year of the designation of that innovation center, by proportionally increasing the total amount of the grants awarded over the 9-year period. (B) Additional funding In addition to awarding grants in pursuit of the goal described in subparagraph (A), the Director shall award grants— (i) with a focus on universities or other research institutions that commit to expanding research and workforce capabilities aligned with industries and technologies and with a preference for universities or institutions that are— (I) concentrated in an innovation center; or (II) key to national challenges; or (ii) that include industry-university research partnership programs. (C) Tracking In each year, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall track the aggregate amount of grants awarded by the Director to entities in that year, disaggregated by innovation center. (D) Authorization of additional appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph, in addition to amounts that would otherwise be appropriated in a year for the National Science Foundation, amounts as follows: (i) For fiscal year 2021, $0. (ii) For fiscal year 2022, $1,110,000,000. (iii) For fiscal year 2023, $2,220,000,000. (iv) For fiscal year 2024, $3,330,000,000. (v) For fiscal year 2025, $4,440,000,000. (vi) For fiscal year 2026, $5,550,000,000. (vii) For fiscal year 2027, $6,660,000,000. (viii) For fiscal year 2028, $7,770,000,000. (ix) For fiscal year 2029, $8,880,000,000. (x) For fiscal year 2030, $9,990,000,000. (2) National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships and undergraduate research programs (A) Expansion The Director of the National Science Foundation shall expand graduate research fellowships and programs focused on undergraduate research opportunities, including— (i) research experiences for undergraduates; (ii) advanced technological education programs; (iii) historically Black colleges and universities undergraduate programs; and (iv) Hispanic-serving institutions. (B) Allocation The amounts expended by the Director to carry out subparagraph (A), 35 percent of such amounts shall be expended for the expansion of graduate research fellowships and undergraduate research opportunities in innovation centers. (C) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph amounts as follows: (i) In fiscal year 2022, $57,000,000. (ii) In fiscal year 2023, $114,000,000. (iii) In fiscal year 2024, $171,000,000. (iv) In fiscal year 2025, $228,000,000. (v) In fiscal year 2026, $285,000,000. (vi) In fiscal year 2027, $342,000,000. (vii) In fiscal year 2028, $399,000,000. (viii) In fiscal year 2029, $456,000,000. (ix) In fiscal year 2030, $513,000,000. (3) National Science Foundation Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers program The Director of the National Science Foundation shall consider the location of a university within an innovation center to be a strength for purposes of selection criteria under the Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers program. (4) Small business innovation research Section 9(j) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 638(j) (5) Modifications relating to innovation centers (A) Definition In this paragraph, the term innovation center Innovation Centers Acceleration Act (B) Requirement Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act (i) to provide that, during the 10-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act (ii) to require the Administrator to track and publish on an annual basis the total value of SBIR awards made to small business concerns located in innovation centers. . (5) Manufacturing USA program (A) Definitions In this paragraph: (i) Manufacturing USA Program The term Manufacturing USA Program 15 U.S.C. 278s(b) (ii) Manufacturing USA institute The term Manufacturing USA institute 15 U.S.C. 278s(d) (B) Expansion Under section 34(e) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act ( 15 U.S.C. 278s(e) (i) 9 new Manufacturing USA institutes; or (ii) a combination of satellites to existing Manufacturing USA institutes or new Manufacturing USA institutes. (C) Selection (i) In general Manufacturing USA institutes and satellites shall be identified and funded under subparagraph (B) from among proposals submitted to the Secretary for purposes of this paragraph. (ii) Proposal elements Any proposal submitted to the Secretary in accordance with clause (i) shall include— (I) a plan for the institute or satellite concerned to support or otherwise align with existing Manufacturing USA institutes, including through— (aa) membership in, or partnership or formal affiliation with, an existing Manufacturing USA institute; or (bb) a plan to reach a segment, population, or geographic area not already covered by or engaged with existing Manufacturing USA institutes; and (II) a plan for cost-sharing for the activities of the institute or satellite concerned, including the sources of funds and amounts to be contributed. (iii) Selection of satellites Any selection of a satellite to an existing Manufacturing USA institute under this subparagraph shall be made by the Secretary in consultation with exiting Manufacturing USA institutes. (iv) Priority relating to innovation centers In identifying and funding a new Manufacturing USA institute or a combination of satellites to existing or new Manufacturing USA institutes under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall give priority to proposals for identification and funding of Manufacturing USA institutes in an innovation center, in whole or in substantial part. (v) Prevention of overlap and redundancy In identifying and funding Manufacturing USA institutes or satellites to Manufacturing USA institutes under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, avoid overlap or redundancy in mission, technology focus, or funding with existing Manufacturing USA institutes. (D) Amount of financial assistance (i) New Manufacturing USA institutes For each Manufacturing USA institute identified and funded under subparagraph (B), the Secretary may expend up to $70,000,000 during the period of fiscal years 2021 through 2032. (ii) Manufacturing USA institute satellites For each Manufacturing USA institute satellite or expansion supported under subparagraph (B), the Secretary may expend up to $25,000,000 during the period of fiscal years 2021 through 2032. (E) Allocation Not less than 33 percent of the financial assistance provided under subparagraph (B) shall be for identifying and funding Manufacturing USA institutes in innovation centers. (6) Manufacturing universities The Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Defense shall consider the location of a university within an innovation center to be a strength for purposes of selection criteria under the Manufacturing Universities Program. (7) Minority Business Development Agency (A) In general The National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency may, acting through the Inner City Innovation Hub program, award not more than 2 grants to eligible entities located within each innovation center. (B) Amount of grant A grant awarded under subparagraph (A) may not exceed $1,500,000. (C) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency $27,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2030. (8) Additional regional innovations strategies grants (A) Definition of innovation center Section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3703 (12) Innovation center Innovation Centers Acceleration Act . (B) Grants Section 27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3722 (i) in subsection (c)— (I) in paragraph (1), by striking As part of the program (A) In general As part of the program ; and (II) by adding at the end the following: (B) Innovation center grants As a part of the program established pursuant to subsection (b), the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development may award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible recipients described in subsection (a)(1)(D) located within innovation centers. ; and (ii) in subsection (h)— (I) by striking From amounts appropriated (1) In general From amounts appropriated ; and (II) by adding at the end the following: (2) Innovation center grants There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to award grants under subsection (c)(1)(B) $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2030. . (9) Workforce investment activities in consultation with innovation centers (A) Youth workforce activities Section 129 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3164 (d) Youth workforce activities in consultation with innovation centers (1) Funding (A) In general Using funds made available under section 136(d), the Secretary shall provide a grant to each local area that— (i) is within the area covered by an innovation center selected under subsection (e) of section 3 of the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act; and (ii) the Innovation Center Selection Committee established under that section 3 certifies is working in partnership with that innovation center. (B) Amount The amount of the grant for a fiscal year shall be equal to the allocation that the local area receives under section 128(b) for that fiscal year. (C) Prohibition The Secretary may not reduce the amount that any local area receives through an allocation under section 128(b) because local areas described in subparagraph (A) receive grants under this subsection. (2) Use of funds The local area shall use the grant funds in accordance with subsection (c), after consultation with the innovation center. . (B) Adult and dislocated worker employment and training activities Section 134 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3174 (e) Adult and dislocated worker employment and training activities in consultation with innovation centers (1) Funding (A) In general Using funds made available under section 136(d), the Secretary shall provide a grant to each local area that— (i) is within the area covered by an innovation center selected under subsection (e) of section 3 of the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act; and (ii) the Innovation Center Selection Committee established under that section 3 certifies is working in partnership with that innovation center. (B) Amount The amount of the grant for a fiscal year shall be equal to the sum of the allocations that the local area receives under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 133(b) for that fiscal year. (C) Prohibition The Secretary may not reduce the amount that any local area receives through an allocation under paragraph (1) or (2) of section 133(b)(3) because local areas described in subparagraph (A) receive grants under this subsection. (2) Use of funds The local area shall use the grant funds in accordance with subsections (b), (c), and (d), after consultation with the innovation center. . (C) Authorization of appropriations Section 136 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3181 (i) in subsections (a), (b), and (c), by inserting before the first comma the following: (except for activities funded from amounts appropriated under subsection (d)) (ii) by adding at the end the following: (d) Workforce investment activities in consultation with innovation centers There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out sections 129(d) and 134(e) such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year that an innovation center designation is in effect. . (10) Additional STEM Apprenticeship grants Section 28 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3723 (e) Innovation center grants (1) Definition of eligible entity In this subsection, the term eligible entity (A) described in subsection (b)(4); and (B) located within an innovation center. (2) Grants authorized The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development shall provide to not less than 1 eligible entity located in each innovation center a grant to develop infrastructure to expand STEM apprenticeship programs. (3) Amount; renewal (A) Amount The amount of a grant under paragraph (2) shall be not more than $5,000,000 for each year over a 3-year period. (B) Renewal The Secretary may provide an eligible entity that receives a grant under paragraph (2) not more than 2 additional grants under that paragraph. (4) Preference The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development shall give preference for a grant under this subsection to an eligible entity with demonstrated success of administering apprenticeship and other workforce development models and that demonstrates a commitment to serving individuals— (A) from underrepresented populations; or (B) who face barriers to employment, including— (i) long-term unemployment; (ii) past incarceration; or (iii) veteran or disability status. (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2030. . (11) National Institutes of Health research funding (A) Funding goal The Director of the National Institutes of Health shall pursue a goal of awarding through a rigorous selection process and subject to peer review, for each innovation center that gets its designation renewed continually for 3 terms, a total of $1,250,000,000 in meritorious research awards in priority areas of biomedical science to entities located in that innovation center by the end of the 9th year of the designation of that innovation center, by proportionally increasing the total amount of the grants, contracts, or other transactions awarded in each innovation center each year over the 9-year period. (B) Additional funding In addition to awarding grants, contracts, or other transactions in pursuit of the goal described in subparagraph (A), the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall award grants— (i) with a focus on universities or other research institutions that commit to expanding research capabilities aligned with industries and technologies and with a preference for universities or institutions that are— (I) concentrated in an innovation center; or (II) key to national challenges; or (ii) that include industry-university research partnership programs. (C) Tracking In each year, the Director of the National Institutes of Health shall track the aggregate amount of grants, contracts, or other transactions awarded by the Director to entities in that year, disaggregated by innovation center. (D) Authorization of additional appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph, in addition to amounts that would otherwise be appropriated in a year for the National Institutes of Health, amounts as follows: (i) For fiscal year 2021, $0. (ii) For fiscal year 2022, $140,000,000. (iii) For fiscal year 2023, $280,000,000. (iv) For fiscal year 2024, $420,000,000. (v) For fiscal year 2025, $560,000,000. (vi) For fiscal year 2026, $700,000,000. (vii) For fiscal year 2027, $840,000,000. (viii) For fiscal year 2028, $980,000,000. (ix) For fiscal year 2029, $1,120,000,000. (x) For fiscal year 2030, $1,260,000,000. (c) Tax incentives (1) New markets tax credit allocations Subsection (f) of section 45D (4) Special allocation for innovation centers In the case of any calendar year beginning after 2021— (A) the limitation under paragraph (1) (including in calendar years for which the limitation under paragraph (1) is zero) shall be increased by $50,000,000 for each metropolitan statistical area which is designated as an innovation center under section 3(e) of the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act (B) the additional limitation under subparagraph (A) shall be divided equally among such innovation centers and allocated (as provided in paragraph (2)) among qualified community development entities in such innovation centers. . (2) Research credit (A) In general Section 41 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i) Special rules relating to innovation centers (1) In general In the case of— (A) any qualified research expenses paid or incurred for qualified services or qualified research, (B) any basic research payments for basic research, and (C) amounts paid or incurred by the taxpayer in carrying on any trade or business of the taxpayer (including as contributions) to an energy research consortium for energy research, during the taxable year at a location in a metropolitan statistical area which is an innovation center for such taxable year, this section shall be applied as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3). (2) Credit rate Subsection (a) shall be applied by substituting 30 percent 20 percent (3) Alternative simplified credit Subsection (c)(4) shall be applied— (A) by substituting 21 percent 14 percent (B) by substituting 9 percent 6 percent (4) Credit for qualified small businesses In the case of a trade or business located primarily within a metropolitan statistical area which is an innovation center for the taxable year, subsection (h) shall be applied— (A) by substituting $15,000,000 $5,000,000 (B) by substituting 8-taxable-year 5-taxable-year (C) by substituting $500,000 $250,000 (5) Innovation center For purposes of this subsection, for any taxable year, the term innovation center Innovation Centers Acceleration Act (6) Termination This subsection shall not apply to expenses paid or incurred after December 31, 2030. . (B) Training included as research expenses (i) In general Paragraph (1) of section 41(b) of such Code is amended— (I) by striking and (II) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (B) and inserting , and (III) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C) employee training expenses. . (ii) Employee training expenses Subsection (b) of section 41 of such Code is amended— (I) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (II) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph: (4) Employee training expenses (A) In general The term employee training expenses (B) Wages, etc For purposes of this paragraph— (i) In general The term wages (ii) Rules The rules of paragraph (2)(D) shall apply. (C) Termination The term employee training expenses . (C) Effective date The amendments made by this paragraph shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021. (d) Regulatory modernization (1) Definition In this paragraph, the term startup 15 U.S.C. 632(a) (A) has been in existence for less than 3 years; and (B) has annual average gross receipts of less than $3,000,000. (2) Requirement Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the case of a startup that is operating within an innovation center, any requirement related to a Federal grant that prohibits the use of university laboratory or other research assets purchased or supposed by the grant from being used for commercial purposes for an initial time period shall be waived. (e) Business access to capital (1) Innovation center debentures (A) In general Section 303 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 ( 15 U.S.C. 683 (l) Innovation center debentures In addition to any other authority under this Act, on and after the first day of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of enactment of this subsection, a small business investment company may issue innovation center debentures. . (B) Definitions Section 103 of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 ( 15 U.S.C. 662 (i) in paragraph (19), by striking and (ii) in paragraph (20), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (21) the term innovation center debenture (A) is issued at a discount; (B) has a 5-year maturity or a 10-year maturity; (C) requires no interest payment or annual charge for the first 5 years; (D) is restricted to companies located within an innovation center, as defined in section 2 of the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act (E) is issued at no cost (as defined in section 502 of the Credit Reform Act of 1990 ( 2 U.S.C. 661a (22) the term innovation center startup (A) is primarily located within an innovation center (as defined in section 2 of the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act (B) is innovation- or technology-oriented; and (C) has been in existence for less than 5 years. . (C) Exemption from capital requirements Section 301(c) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 ( 15 U.S.C. 681(c) (5) Exception for applications located in innovation centers An applicant that is located in an innovation center (as defined in section 2 of the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act . (2) 7(a) (A) Loan guarantee percentage Section 7(a)(2) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(2) (i) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking and (F) (F), and (G) (ii) by adding at the end the following: (G) Participation for innovation center startups (i) Definition In this subparagraph, the term innovation center startup (I) is primarily located within an innovation center (as defined in section 2 of the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act (II) is innovation- or technology-oriented; and (III) has been in existence for less than 5 years. (ii) Participation In an agreement to participate in a loan on a deferred basis under this subsection for an innovation center startup, the participation by the Administration shall be 90 percent. . (B) Guarantee fee reduction Section 7(a)(18) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(18) (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking With respect Except as provided in subparagraph (C), with respect (ii) by adding at the end the following: (C) Innovation center startups With respect to a loan guaranteed under this subsection for a small business concern described in paragraph (2)(G)(i)— (i) the Administration may not collect a guarantee fee under this paragraph for a loan of not more than $350,000; and (ii) for a loan of more than $350,000, the Administration shall collect a guarantee fee under this paragraph equal to 50 percent of the guarantee fee that the Administration would otherwise collect for the loan. . (3) Certified development company loans for innovation center startups (A) Maximum loan amount Section 502(2)(A) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 ( 15 U.S.C. 696(2)(A) (i) in clause (iv), by striking and (ii) in clause (v), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (vi) $10,000,000 for each project of an innovation center startup. . (B) Contribution requirement Section 502(3)(C) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 ( 15 U.S.C. 696(3)(C) (i) in clause (iii), by striking or (ii) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and (iii) by inserting after clause (iii) the following: (iv) for an innovation startup— (I) at least 5 percent of the total cost of the project financed, if the innovation startup has been in operation for a period of 2 years or less; and (II) at least 5 percent of the total cost of the project financed if the project involves the construction of a limited or single purpose building or structure. . (4) SBA resources (A) In general The Small Business Administration shall provide innovation center startups (as defined in section 7(a)(2)(G) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(2)(G) (B) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Small Business Administration $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2021 and every fiscal year thereafter to carry out subparagraph (A). (f) Neighborhood, property, and infrastructure modernization (1) Community Development Block Grant funding (A) Definitions In this paragraph— (i) the term eligible entity 42 U.S.C. 5301 (ii) the terms Indian tribe unit of general local government 42 U.S.C. 5302 (iii) the term qualified affordable housing (I) for rental only by a low-income family (as defined in section 3(b) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 ( 42 U.S.C. 1437a(b) (II) at a monthly rent amount that does not exceed 30 percent of the monthly adjusted income (as defined in such section 3(b)) of the tenant low-income family; and (III) maintains affordability for residents who are low-income families for a period of not less than 30 years; and (iv) the term Secretary (B) Funding (i) In general The Secretary shall provide a grant to each eligible entity that— (I) is within the area covered by an innovation center; and (II) the Committee certifies is working in partnership with that innovation center. (ii) Amount The amount of a grant provided to an eligible entity under clause (i) for a fiscal year shall be equal to the allocation that the eligible entity receives under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5301 (iii) Prohibition The Secretary may not reduce the amount that any eligible entity receives under title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5301 (C) Use of funds An eligible entity shall use grant funds provided under subparagraph (B) for the development and preservation of qualified affordable housing, including the construction of such housing, within the area covered by an innovation center, in accordance with title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5301 (D) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this paragraph for each fiscal year in which an innovation center designation is in effect. (2) Infrastructure financing (A) BUILD grants (i) Definition of BUILD program In this subparagraph, the term BUILD program Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) discretionary grant program (ii) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2032 to carry out projects under the BUILD program in innovation centers. (iii) Supplement, not supplant Amounts authorized to be appropriated under clause (ii) shall supplement and not supplant any other amounts authorized to be appropriated for the BUILD program. (B) INFRA grants (i) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation $300,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2032 to carry out projects under the nationally significant freight and highway projects program under section 117 of title 23, United States Code, in innovation centers. (ii) Supplement, not supplant Amounts authorized to be appropriated under clause (i) shall supplement and not supplant any other amounts authorized to be appropriated for the nationally significant freight and highway projects program under section 117 of title 23, United States Code. (C) TIFIA program (i) Lines of credit Section 604(b)(2) of title 23, United States Code, is amended— (I) by striking The total (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the total ; and (II) by adding at the end the following: (B) Projects in innovation centers In the case of a project in an innovation center (as defined in section 2 of the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act . (ii) Fee waiver Section 605 of title 23, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (g) Projects in innovation centers Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, in the case of a project in an innovation center (as defined in section 2 of the Innovation Centers Acceleration Act .

Summary: Innovation Centers Acceleration Act This bill establishes a program to advance economic development by designating nine cities as innovation centers and providing and modifying certain related grants. It also establishes the Innovation Center Selection Committee to designate these cities. The innovation center designation entitles selected cities—and the businesses, research institutions, and other organizations that operate within them—to various federal funds and benefits for research activities, business and workforce development, and transportation infrastructure projects. These benefits include expanding various tax credits and incentives for businesses. The bill also makes it easier for those businesses to access loans and other financial instruments to raise capital. In addition, the bill establishes a grant program for local and tribal governments that partner with innovation centers to develop and preserve affordable housing. It also modifies existing grants, loans, and other programs that support transportation infrastructure to specifically target initiatives in innovation centers.