Politics

Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship

By Karina

Today, the House passed the bipartisan Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act (HR 2352) by a vote of 406-15–giving established small businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups the needed tools and resources to thrive, create jobs and drive economic growth.

This bill is the first major overhaul in a decade of the Small Business Administration?s entrepreneurial development programs ? such as Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women?s Business Centers (WBCs), and the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) ? with the expansion and improvement of some of the most successful programs. The bill also creates new entrepreneurial development programs — establishing a nationwide network of Veterans Business Centers to provide specialized entrepreneurial training and counseling to our nation?s veterans, creating new support services for Native American-owned small businesses, and offering new online learning programs to help entrepreneurs in rural regions and underserved communities. The legislation also creates a grant program for SBDCs specifically designed to assist small firms in securing capital such as the new small business lending generated under the Recovery Act. Learn more>>

Chair Nydia Velazquez (D-NY):

Chair Velazquez: “Every $1 put into the program puts another $2.87 into the Treasury–if you ask me, that is a pretty good return on investment. By modernizing the programs, the returns will only get better because at the end of the day strengthening entrepreneurial development programs empowers small businesses, allowing them to grow and perhaps most importantly, create new jobs for American workers.”

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ):

Rep. Giffords: “Before I got involved in politics I was the President and CEO of my family small tire and automotive company and I know how exactly how hard it is to compete in this day and age. Small businesses are looking for the tools and resources they need to operate and grow their businesses during this tough economic climate.”

Full post as published by The Gavel on May 20, 2009 (boomark / email).