Next Generation Entrepreneurship Corps Act

To establish a Next Generation Entrepreneurship Corps program within the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Next Generation Entrepreneurship Corps Act 2. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) the United States has a successful fellowship for building the next generation of public servants; and (2) with the devastation facing small businesses in the United States as a result of the novel 2019 Coronavirus (COVID–19), rebuilding Main Street will require a new generation of entrepreneurial talent with the backing of the Federal Government. 3. Next generation entrepreneurship corps program The Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 631 (1) by redesignating section 49 ( 15 U.S.C. 631 (2) by inserting after section 48 ( 15 U.S.C. 657u 49. Next generation entrepreneurship corps program (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term Committee (2) the term community development financial institution 12 U.S.C. 4702 (3) the term distressed region section 45D (4) the term equity investment (A) means an investment for an ownership interest in an entity, the financial return with respect to which is principally aligned with the financial return of the plurality of ownership interests in the entity; and (B) includes a debt instrument that can be converted to an equity ownership interest in an entity based on future events; (5) the term fellow (6) the term minority depository institution 12 U.S.C. 1463 (7) the term Program (8) the term qualified investor (A) invests equity in a small business concern owned and operated under the Program by a fellow; and (B) has not more than $250,000,000 in assets; (9) the term SCORE (10) the term State (11) the term veteran business outreach center (12) the term women's business center (b) Establishment (1) In general There is established within the Administration an independent fellowship pilot program to be known as the Next Generation Entrepreneurship Corps Program (2) Administration The Program shall be administered by the Office of Entrepreneurial Development of the Administration. (3) Authorization (A) In general Under the Program, there shall be 1 group of fellows selected each year for 5 years of the Program, with each group serving for a 2-year period. (B) Reports Not later than 1 year after the second group of fellows is selected under the Program, and every 2 years thereafter, the Committee shall submit to Congress an evaluation of the Program, along with any recommendations and options to expand the Program and make the Program permanent. (4) Third party contracts (A) In general The Office of Entrepreneurial Development of the Administration may contract with third party nonprofit organizations that— (i) do or plan to do service work to execute the Program; and (ii) the Committee determines have relevant experience to carry out the Program. (B) Report Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Next Generation Entrepreneurship Corps Act (i) the requirements and plans relating to third party contractors described in subparagraph (A); and (ii) how those third party contractors will begin to carry out the Program. (5) Implementation plan Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Next Generation Entrepreneurship Corps Act (A) how the Administrator will provide administrative support to the Committee; (B) the plan of the Administrator to coordinate the implementation of the Program with the Committee; and (C) the status of the appointment of members of the Committee. (c) Stipends (1) In general Each fiscal year, the Committee may select not more than 320 fellows to participate in the Program and receive a 2-year stipend of $120,000 to start and grow a new small business concern. (2) Authority to reject The Assistant Administrator of the Office of Entrepreneurial Development of the Administration shall have the authority to reject any fellow selected by the Committee to participate in the Program. (3) Allowable uses The Committee shall determine the allowable uses of a stipend awarded under this subsection. (4) Stipend amount The amount of a stipend made under this subsection shall be adjusted every 3 years to reflect increases in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers during that period. (5) Applications Each applicant for a stipend under this subsection shall— (A) propose a small business concern idea that will be located in a distressed region; and (B) submit to the Committee a small business concern plan that demonstrates— (i) that the applicant will have primary decision making authority in the small business concern; (ii) a need for the small business concern of the applicant in the community or how the small business concern solves an economic or social problem in the area to be served by the small business concern or the United States; (iii) how the applicant plans to build their small business concern to employ local talent in entry-level and mid-level positions to ensure quality job growth; (iv) a vision for long-term growth in the area to be served by the small business concern; and (v) that the applicant does not, at the time of application, have the resources to start and grow a small business concern on their own without assistance. (6) Requirements To receive a stipend under this subsection, the applicant shall— (A) live or be willing to relocate to live in the distressed region in which the small business concern of the applicant is located, as determined by the Committee; (B) indicate that the applicant intends to provide products or services to such distressed region through such small business concern; and (C) agree to make a good faith effort to, if the applicant is hiring employees during the period of participation in the Program or the 3 years following such participation, hire— (i) locally from distressed regions in the area served by the business of the applicant; (ii) racial or ethnic minorities; (iii) persons with criminal convictions; or (iv) the hard to employ. (7) Preference (A) In general The Committee shall give preference to applicants for a stipend under this subsection that are— (i) individuals moving to a distressed region to encourage new small business concern owners in those areas post-COVID–19; (ii) individuals who can demonstrate a connection to the State or locality in which the proposed small business concern will be located; (iii) owners of small business concerns whose businesses were closed or who had to significant change their business model or services due to the COVID–19 public health crisis; (iv) entrepreneurs within populations underrepresented among small business concern owners in the United States, including women and racial and ethnic minority groups; (v) veterans; (vi) individuals who can demonstrate residence of not less than 2 years in a low-income census tract; (vii) individuals who have taken non-traditional pathways for professional development, including individuals without a bachelor's degree or who received Federal Pell Grants under section 401 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070a (viii) individuals with business plans that have potential, if successful, to be eligible for any contracting assistance program of the Administration, including the business development program under section 8(a), the Women Owned Small Business Federal contracting program under section 8(m), the service-disabled veteran-owned small business program under section 36, and the HUBZone program under section 31. (B) Considerations When evaluating applicants for a stipend under this subsection, the Committee— (i) shall differentiate between applicants for a stipend under this subsection that aim to be a high-growth startup and a traditional small business concern; (ii) shall consider similar categories of applicants concurrently; (iii) should seek to encourage both high-growth and traditional startups across all geographic areas; and (iv) shall— (I) not prioritize applicants with prior experience with starting and growing a small business concern over applications without that experience; and (II) give equal consideration to applicants with and without the experience described in subclause (I). (C) Additional metrics The Committee shall establish additional metrics by which to evaluate applicants for a stipend under this subsection, including by creating local and State level applicant competitions. (8) New entrepreneurs The Committee may award stipends under this subsection to applicants both at the beginning stages of building their small business concern as well as to applicants who have had limited prior business experience. (9) Number of fellows per SCORE chapter (A) In general Each year, the Committee shall, to the maximum extent practicable, designate 1 fellow per SCORE chapter in the United States, provided that the selection process under this subsection remains competitive. (B) Distribution The Committee shall ensure a fair geographic distribution of fellows selected under this subsection, including between urban and rural areas, and may create a process for ensuring that distribution if the Committee determines necessary. (d) Benefits (1) Student loan deferment For each fellow who notifies the Committee that the fellow has a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part B, D, or E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1071 (A) the Committee shall— (i) inform the Secretary of Education that the fellow is participating in a fellowship through the Program; and (ii) provide any additional information requested by the Secretary of Education regarding the fellow and the loan; and (B) the Secretary of Education shall, for the period of the fellowship— (i) in the case of a loan made under part B or E of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1071 20 U.S.C. 1078(b)(1)(M) (ii) in the case of a loan made under part D of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1087a 20 U.S.C. 1087e(f)(1) (2) Health care With respect to any fellow that is not otherwise covered under a health care policy, the Administrator shall provide or make available a basic health care policy in accordance with section 140(d) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 ( 42 U.S.C. 12594(d) (e) Mentor support (1) In general Each fellow— (A) shall be assigned by the designated SCORE chapter of the fellow a local mentor, and the designated SCORE chapter may work in partnership with a small business development center, a veteran business outreach center, a women's business center, or other local resources to pair the fellow with a mentor and provide mentorship; (B) following completion of the Program is encouraged to join SCORE, a small business development center, a veteran business outreach center, or a women's business center to contribute back to the Program and facilitate partnerships with local resource partners of the Administration; and (C) shall be assigned by the Committee a mentor from the Next Generation Entrepreneurship Corps Board, which shall be created by the Committee and consist of notable chief executive officers of companies and venture capitalists from across the United States to help advise fellows. (2) Partnership The Committee shall develop a partnership with the mentor-protege program for small business concerns eligible to receive contracts pursuant to section 8(a) to assign a mentor during the second year of the fellowship to any fellow that has proposed a small business concern that may be eligible to receive contracts pursuant to section 8(a). (3) Resources In providing mentorship under paragraph (1), each resource partner described in that paragraph shall engage the resources of the Administration in each State, including through partnerships with community organizations. (4) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (A) in addition to the mentor assigned under paragraph (1)(A), the Committee should make a good faith effort to pair each fellow with a mentor located in the region in which the designated SCORE chapter of the fellow is located; and (B) fellows should be encouraged to become mentors under the Program after completion of their participation in the Program. (f) Immersive initial training (1) In general Each fellow shall attend an immersive training course designed by the Committee at the beginning of the fellowship, which shall— (A) provide distinct education materials, including resources and information, for all fellows on high-growth startups and distinct education materials for all fellows on traditional small business concerns; (B) incorporate skills building, transfer of business know-how when beginning a small business concern, and a discussion of resources of the Administration; and (C) include information on local resources available from SCORE, small business development centers, veteran business outreach centers, and women's business centers. (2) Selection of hosts Each year, the Committee shall select not more than 1 small business resource partner to host the immersive training course described in paragraph (1). (g) Network building (1) In general To foster connections across the United States with other innovators, each fellow— (A) shall attend not less than 1 small business concern-related conference per year of the fellowship; and (B) is encouraged to attend regional small business concern-related conferences. (2) Committee The Committee— (A) is encouraged to— (i) introduce and foster relationships between Federal, State, and local entrepreneurial support organizations and the fellows; and (ii) work to build a peer to peer network among the fellows by providing resources for events for fellows in order to build community among fellows; and (B) may use funds received by the organization described in subsection (k)(5)(D) for purposes described in subparagraph (A)(ii). (h) Access to capital strategy (1) Establishment (A) In general The Committee shall establish a strategy for access to capital, insurance, and other core small business concern services and products, for use both during and after the Program, for fellows that provides for the needs of both traditional small business concerns and high-growth startups. (B) Requirements Under the strategy established under subparagraph (A), the Committee shall— (i) provide to each fellow information regarding the program under section 8(a) and assistance in submitting the information required for the small business concern of the fellow to be certified to participate in the program; and (ii) at the end of each fellowship, provide follow-up assistance to facilitate the certification of the small business concern of the fellow to participate in the program under section 8(a). (2) Matching Under the strategy established under paragraph (1), the Committee shall match fellows with a full range of lenders, investors, and insurers, including both local and national resources. (3) Preference The Administrator may give preference to fellows with respect to loans under section 7(a), microloans under section 7(m), and assistance provided under title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 ( 15 U.S.C. 695 (A) waiving the credit elsewhere requirement; and (B) expediting the application timeline for that assistance. (4) Waiver of personal guarantee With respect to high growth startup small business concerns established by fellows, the Administrator shall waive the personal guarantee requirement for those small business concerns that apply for loans under section 7(a), microloans under section 7(m), or assistance provided under title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 ( 15 U.S.C. 695 (5) Assistance with access to the 8(a) For purposes of participation in the program under section 8(a)— (A) a small business concern of a fellow shall be eligible to seek certification to participate in the program under section 8(a) if the small business concern has been in business in the primary industry classification of the small business concern for at least 18 months; and (B) the Administrator— (i) shall evaluate whether to establish an expedited process for certification of a small business concern of a fellow to participate in the program under section 8(a); and (ii) may implement a process described in clause (i) for fellows during the period of the fellowship and during the 5-year period after the end of the fellowship. (i) Program fund for capital (1) In general There is established in the Treasury a fund, which shall be available to the Administrator to provide loans to qualified investors. (2) Amount of loans (A) In general A loan to a qualified investor under this subsection shall be not more than 66.6 percent of the amount of equity the qualified investor invested in the applicable small business concern owned and operated under the Program by a fellow. (B) Establishment of loan limits The Administrator may establish additional limits on the maximum amount of loans to qualified investors under this subsection if the Administrator determines the limits are necessary to ensure that the Administrator may make such loans during the full period of the Program, using the amounts made available for such loans. (3) Loan term A loan under this subsection shall have a maturity of not longer than 30 years. (4) Rate of interest The rate of interest on a loan under this subsection shall be equal to the discount window primary credit interest rate most recently published on the Federal Reserve Statistical Release on selected interest rates (daily or weekly), commonly referred to as the H.15 release Federal funds rate (5) Funding (A) Appropriations Out of funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, there is appropriated to the fund established under paragraph (1) $30,000,000, to remain available until expended. (B) Reinvestment of repayments Any amounts received from the repayment of a loan under this subsection shall be deposited in the fund established under paragraph (1) and shall remain available until expended. (j) Reporting by fellows Each fellow shall submit to the Committee and each mentor assigned to the fellow under subsection (e) a progress report on the activities of the fellow with respect to each year during which the fellow participates in the Program and each of the 3 years after the fellow completes participation in the Program, which shall include information regarding revenue, jobs created, pursuit of external funding and other metrics determined by Committee. (k) Selection committee (1) In general The Administration shall establish a selection committee composed of experts from educational, scientific, technical, and public service backgrounds to— (A) build the next generation of entrepreneurs under the Program through a transparent, competitive, fair, and rigorous process; (B) enable entrepreneurs each year under the Program to successfully build small business concerns in distressed regions by providing guidance, expertise, and partnerships between the fellows and business supports; (C) increase the diversity of entrepreneurship in the United States; (D) increase entrepreneurship in distressed regions; (E) increase talent retention and migration to distressed regions; (F) increase investment and growth in communities in distressed regions; and (G) ensure the transparent, efficient and effective use of taxpayer funds. (2) Membership (A) Composition The Committee shall be composed of 12 members appointed by the Administrator, of whom— (i) 1 member shall be a small business concern investor such as a venture capitalist or an angel investor; (ii) 1 member shall be a small business concern banker, including— (I) a community development financial institution; or (II) a minority depository institution; (iii) 3 members shall be successful entrepreneurs; (iv) 1 member shall be a SCORE representative; (v) 1 member shall be a mentor in the mentor-protege program for small business concerns eligible to receive contracts pursuant to section 8(a) who has relevant contracting experience; (vi) 1 member shall be an expert on economic development; (vii) 1 member shall be an expert on distressed regions; and (viii) 3 members shall be individuals from the private sector with relevant experience as related to the mission and the duties of the Committee. (B) Preference There shall be a preference for the appointment of members of the Committee who are within populations that are underrepresented among small business concern owners in the United States, including women and ethnic minority groups. (C) Chair The Administrator shall select the chair of the Committee from among members of the Committee. (D) Term; vacancies The term of office of each member of the Committee shall be 6 years, except that— (i) of the members first serving on the Committee— (I) 4 shall serve terms of 2 years; (II) 4 shall serve terms of 4 years; and (III) 4 shall serve terms of 6 years; (ii) any member appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term for which his predecessor was appointed and shall be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment for that vacancy was made; and (iii) upon the expiration of their term of office, any member of the Committee may continue to serve until their successor is appointed. (E) Political party Not more than 6 members of the Committee shall be from the same political party. (F) Appointments Appointments to the Committee shall be made not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of the Next Generation Entrepreneurship Corps Act (3) Compensation Members of the Committee shall serve without pay, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. (4) First meeting Not later than 30 days after the appointment of a majority of Committee members, the Committee shall hold its first meeting. (5) Duties and responsibilities The Committee— (A) shall provide for the conduct of a nationwide competition for selecting fellows to participate in the Program by— (i) issuing a request for applications not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Next Generation Entrepreneurship Corps Act (ii) partnering with private organizations, including those with investment experience or experience in the area of investing in businesses, to provide educational materials to educate the public about the Program, help ensure that the Program is competitive, and increase awareness of the Program; (iii) partnering with organizations that work with or provide programming for the K–20 entrepreneurship pipeline; and (iv) subject to subsection (c)(2), selecting fellows, which shall include selecting the first group of fellows not later than 13 months after the date of enactment of the Next Generation Entrepreneurship Corps Act (B) shall carry out the duties described in this section with respect to the Program; (C) may identify— (i) priority sectors that advance the social and economic development of a geographic area or the United States, including social services, education, health and nutrition, child care, manufacturing, technology, or any industry sector that supports the economic development strategy of an area; and (ii) prohibited sectors and businesses that could harm the economic development of communities, such as— (I) predatory financial services and addictive substances; and (II) businesses described in section 120.110 of title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor regulation; (D) may create an entity described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code to solicit private funding for the Program; (E) may work with the Economic Development Agency of the Department of Commerce in carrying out the duties of the Program and providing resources to fellows; and (F) shall assist with the facilitation of pairing, and encourage designated SCORE chapters to pair, assigned fellows with local accelerators. (6) Staff The Committee may appoint a staff director and other personnel as necessary to carry out the duties of the Committee. (7) Applicability of FACA The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Committee. (l) Reports Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Committee selects the first group of fellows, and every year thereafter, the Committee shall submit to Congress a report that empirically evaluates the effectiveness of the Program, including an evaluation by revenues and jobs created and sustained, small business concern survival rates, capital raised, and other metrics determined appropriate by the Committee. (m) Authorizations of appropriations (1) Stipends and network building There is authorized to be appropriated $39,200,000 for each fiscal year for the Program, of which— (A) $38,400,000 shall be for stipends made under subsection (b)(1); and (B) $800,000 shall be for providing reimbursable expenses for travel and stay up to $2,500 per fellow to attend 1 conference described in subsection (g). (2) SCORE There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for each fiscal year to SCORE to carry out activities under the Program. (3) Immersive initial training There is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to provide to the Committee $4,000 per fellow for the cost of hosting the immersive initial training under subsection (f). (4) Staff and administration There is authorized to be appropriated $2,500,000 for each fiscal year for staff and administrative expenses of the Administration to implement the Program. (5) Student loan deferral and healthcare There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out subsection (d). (6) Committee costs There is authorized to be appropriated $4,000,000 for each fiscal year for travel and administrative expenses of the Committee. .

Summary: Next Generation Entrepreneurship Corps Act This bill establishes the Next Generation Entrepreneurship Corps Program to promote entrepreneurship in the most distressed regions of the United States, including those regions affected by COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), by awarding participating fellows a two-year stipend to start and grow a new small business. Fellows will receive (1) a $120,000, two-year stipend for living and basic startup expenses; (2) health care; and (3) interest-free federal student loan deferral for two years. Further, fellows shall receive mentorship from the Service Corps of Retired Executives and be matched with a full range of lenders, investors, and insurers. The bill also establishes a fund in the Department of the Treasury from which the SBA may provide loans for qualified investors to support a small business owned and operated under the program by a fellow.