(1) The construction industry often serves as a 
preferred entry point for emerging small businesses, 
including those undertaken by minorities, women 
and veterans, which may conduct business as con-
tractors, specialty trade contractors, suppliers, fab-
ricators, vendors or a myriad of other businesses 
serving the needs of the construction industry. 
(2) Construction provides rewarding careers, 
but is a challenging and competitive business envi-
ronment that demands specialized knowledge and 
skill sets of business owners, especially small and 
emerging businesses owned by minorities, women, 
and veterans, who may be underrepresented or dis-
advantaged or who have given service unselfishly to 
their country. 
SEC. 2. MENTORSHIP AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR MI-
NORITY, 
VETERAN-OWNED, 
AND 
WOMEN- 
OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES WITH RESPECT 
TO CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE 
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. 
The Small Business Act is amended by redesignating 
section 44 as section 45 and by inserting after section 43 
the following new section: 
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‘‘SEC. 44. MENTORSHIP AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR 
MINORITY, VETERAN-OWNED, AND WOMEN- 
OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES WITH RESPECT 
TO CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE 
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall estab-
lish programs for the purpose of assisting eligible small 
business concerns to gain access to the specialized knowl-
edge and professional services needed to operate business 
concerns in the construction industry, enhance their ca-
pacities and their qualifications for financial and surety 
credit, and access and compete for construction con-
tracting opportunities. 
‘‘(b) GRANTS
TO
STATE
AND
LOCAL
GOVERN-
MENTS.—The Administrator may make grants to State 
and local government entities to assist such entities— 
‘‘(1) to establish or expand mentorship and as-
sistance programs designed to carry out the pur-
poses of this section; 
‘‘(2) to identify problems and solutions regard-
ing eligible small business concerns in the construc-
tion industry; 
‘‘(3) to establish performance criteria and ob-
jectives with respect to the mentoring and assistance 
programs; 
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‘‘(4) to encourage the involvement of relevant 
industry trade associations to partner with State 
and local government entities to carry out the pur-
poses of this section; 
‘‘(5) to establish and fund State and local grant 
programs for universities, colleges, community col-
leges and vocational/technical schools, and for busi-
ness leagues or for similar not for profit entities that 
conduct business or executive training programs to 
develop and administer a standing curriculum bene-
fitting owners and executives of eligible small busi-
ness concerns and focused on business, financial ac-
counting, and risk management courses addressing 
the operation of small business concerns in the con-
struction industry; and 
‘‘(6) to establish and fund State and local grant 
programs to award eligible small business concerns 
grants of not more than $15,000 each to pay for the 
services of legal, accounting, and other business con-
sultants to prepare such concerns for qualifying for 
financial and surety credit. 
‘‘(c) OTHER ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator shall 
provide support and resources to State and local govern-
ment entities receiving assistance under this section, in-
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cluding training and marketing materials and assistance 
in joint marketing and outreach campaigns. 
‘‘(d) ELIGIBLE SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS.—For 
purposes of this section, the term ‘eligible small business 
concern’ means— 
‘‘(1) any small business concern owned and con-
trolled by women (as defined in section 3(n)); 
‘‘(2) any socially and economically disadvan-
taged small business concern (as defined in section 
8(a)(4)); and 
‘‘(3) any small business concern owned and con-
trolled by veterans (as defined in section 3(q)), espe-
cially service-disabled veterans (as defined in such 
section). 
‘‘(e) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Entities receiving assist-
ance under this section shall report annually to the Ad-
ministrator on their activities under this section. 
‘‘(f) FUNDING.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
section.’’. 
Æ 
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