I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7451 
To establish a competitive grant program to provide assistance to support 
small businesses and business district revitalization in low-income, rural, 
and minority communities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 7, 2022 
Mr. CARTER of Louisiana (for himself and Mr. GUEST) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, 
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 establish a competitive grant program to provide assist-
ance to support small businesses and business district 
revitalization in low-income, rural, and minority commu-
nities, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Revitalizing Small and 
Local Businesses Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. REVITALIZING BUSINESS DISTRICTS PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title II of the Public Works and 
Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 219. REVITALIZING BUSINESS DISTRICTS PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) NATIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.— 
The term ‘national nonprofit organization’ means a 
nonprofit organization that— 
‘‘(A) operates, including through affiliates, 
membership networks or partnerships with 
third party entities, in each geographic area 
served by a regional office of the Economic De-
velopment Administration; and 
‘‘(B) has experience and expertise in pro-
viding technical assistance and capacity build-
ing programs in support of community-based 
organizations that focus on revitalizing business 
districts and commercial corridors, including 
through support of underserved small busi-
nesses. 
‘‘(2) NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘nonprofit organization’ means an organization that 
is— 
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‘‘(A) described in paragraph (3), (4), (5), 
or (6) of section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986; and 
‘‘(B) exempt from taxation under section 
501(a) of that Code. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall establish a na-
tional program under which the Secretary shall award 
grants on a competitive basis to national nonprofit organi-
zations to carry out place-based programs, in partnership 
with locally-based nonprofit or public community and eco-
nomic development partners, to provide specialized tech-
nical assistance, capacity building, and related services 
that support small businesses and business district revital-
ization in low-income, rural, and minority communities. 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—The Secretary shall establish 
reasonable caps on administrative costs and activities nec-
essary for awardees to implement activities funded under 
the program established under subsection (b). 
‘‘(d) APPLICATION.—A national nonprofit organiza-
tion seeking a grant under this section shall submit an 
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may re-
quire. Applications shall include a strategy for distribu-
tions of grant funds to local business district organizations 
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or similar place-based business or economic development 
organizations. 
‘‘(e) PARTNERSHIPS.—In order to receive a grant 
under this section, a national nonprofit organization shall 
demonstrate a track record of supporting local business 
district organizations or similar place-based business or 
economic development organizations and serving disadvan-
taged businesses or communities that are socially and eco-
nomically disadvantaged, including rural communities. 
‘‘(f) PRIORITIZATION.—Notwithstanding section 206 
in selecting grant recipients under this section, the Sec-
retary shall ensure a broad geographic distribution of 
award activities, and give priority to an applicant— 
‘‘(1) that would serve communities that are so-
cially and economically disadvantaged, including 
rural communities; and 
‘‘(2) that has the demonstrated capacity to 
serve multiple States or multiple geographies within 
a State. 
‘‘(g) REPORTING.—Awardees must submit to the 
Secretary (at such time and in such manner as the Sec-
retary may prescribe, but no more frequently than annu-
ally) a report specifying— 
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‘‘(1) the names and addresses of the local busi-
ness development or economic development organiza-
tions funded by the awardee; 
‘‘(2) the use of funds, both by the awardee and 
by each funded entity; 
‘‘(3) the total number of small businesses re-
ceiving direct or indirect assistance through the 
funding and the number of employees at those busi-
ness; 
‘‘(4) the total number of such small businesses 
that qualify as disadvantaged businesses or are in 
communities that are socially or economically dis-
advantaged, including rural communities, and the 
number of employees at such businesses; and 
‘‘(5) such other information as the Secretary 
may require. 
‘‘(h) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall carry 
out this section through the headquarters office of the 
Economic Development Administration. 
‘‘(i) FEDERAL SHARE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) 
and (3) and notwithstanding section 204 or any 
other provision of law, the Federal share of the cost 
of a project carried out with assistance under this 
section shall be not more than 80 percent. 
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