II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 3169 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES October 31, 2023 Mr. Padilla introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works A BILL To amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to establish university centers to encourage certain economic development, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the University Centers for Growth, Development, and Prosperity Act of 2023 . 2. Economic development agency university centers (a) Establishment Section 207 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3147 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2)(D), by inserting in accordance with subsection (c) after university centers ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (c) University centers (1) In general The Secretary shall make awards to institutions of higher education for such institutions to serve as university centers. (2) Geographic coverage The Secretary shall ensure that at least one university center is established in each State to provide services in such State. (3) Prioritization of historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and universities, Hispanic-Serving institutions, and minority-Serving institutions In establishing university centers under this subsection, the Secretary shall prioritize institutions of higher education that are eligible to receive funds under section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) ). (4) Duties The university centers established under this subsection, to the extent practicable, shall— (A) collaborate with other university centers; (B) collaborate with economic development districts, trade adjustment assistance centers, Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Business Centers and Rural Business Centers of the Minority Business Development Agency, and other relevant Federal economic development technical assistance and service providers to provide expertise and technical assistance to develop, implement, and support comprehensive regional economic development strategies that assist in job creation, high-skilled regional talent pools, and business expansion in a region’s innovation cluster; (C) provide technical assistance, business development services, and technology transfer services to businesses in the service area of the university center; (D) establish partnerships with one or more commercialization intermediaries that are public or nonprofit technology transfer organizations eligible to receive a grant under section 602(d)(1)(B) of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1862s–9(d)(1)(B) ); and (E) provide to communities and regions assistance relating to data collection and analysis and other research relating to economic conditions and vulnerabilities that can inform economic development and adjustment strategies. (5) Amount of award The Secretary may provide to each university center under this subsection for each fiscal year an amount that is not less than $500,000 and not more than $1,000,000. . (b) Conforming amendment Section 3(12) of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 ( 42 U.S.C. 3122(12) ) is amended by striking section 207(a)(2)(D) and inserting section 207 .