IB 
Union Calendar No. 189 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4387 
[Report No. 116–238] 
To establish Growth Accelerator Fund Competition within the Small Business 
Administration, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 
Mr. ESPAILLAT (for himself and Mr. BALDERSON) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Small Business 
OCTOBER 17, 2019 
Additional sponsors: Mr. HAGEDORN, Mr. FITZPATRICK, and Mr. EVANS 
OCTOBER 17, 2019 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed 
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A BILL 
To establish Growth Accelerator Fund Competition within 
the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. GROWTH ACCELERATOR FUND COMPETITION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is established a program 
within the Small Business Administration to be known as 
the ‘‘Growth Accelerator Fund Competition’’ under which 
the Administrator of the Small Business Administration 
shall award prizes on a competitive basis to covered enti-
ties that— 
(1) assist small business concerns with access-
ing capital and finding mentors and networking op-
portunities; and 
(2) advise small business concerns, including 
advising on market analysis, company strategy, rev-
enue growth, and securing funding. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Except as otherwise provided 
in this section, the Administrator shall carry out the pro-
gram established under this section in accordance with the 
requirements of section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Tech-
nology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719). 
(c) APPLICATION.—A prize only may be awarded to 
a covered entity that submits to the Administrator an ap-
plication at such time, in such manner, and containing 
such information as the Administrator may require. 
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(d) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to apply for a prize 
under this section, a covered entity— 
(1) may not have an outstanding, unresolved fi-
nancial obligation to the Federal Government; and 
(2) may not be currently suspended or debarred 
as specified under subpart 9.4 of title 48, Code of 
Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation). 
(e) SELECTION OF COVERED ENTITIES.—From ap-
plications submitted under subsection (c), the Adminis-
trator shall select covered entities that will provide to 
small business concerns— 
(1) regular networking opportunities, including 
introductions to customers, partners, suppliers, advi-
sory boards, and other persons; 
(2) mentorship opportunities, including advice 
on strategy, technology, finances, and commer-
cialization assistance; 
(3) shared working environments focused on 
building a strong community amongst other similar 
small business concerns; 
(4) resources and co-working arrangements; 
(5) opportunities to pitch ideas to investors and 
other capital formation opportunities; 
(6) small amounts of angel money, seed capital, 
or structured loans; and 
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