15 U.S.C. § 9512 — Public sector development

Page 2602 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 9511 (2) Director The Office of Business Centers shall be ad- ministered by a Director, who shall be ap- pointed by the Under Secretary. (e) Offices of the Agency (1) In general In addition to the regional offices that the Under Secretary is required to establish under paragraph (2), the Under Secretary shall estab- lish such other offices within the Agency as are necessary to carry out this chapter. (2) Regional offices (A) In general In order to carry out this chapter, the Under Secretary shall establish a regional office of the Agency for each of the regions of the United States, as determined by the Under Secretary. (B) Duties Each regional office established under sub- paragraph (A) shall expand the reach of the Agency and enable the Federal Government to better serve the needs of minority busi- ness enterprises in the region served by the office, including by— (i) understanding and participating in the business environment of that region; (ii) working with— (I) MBDA Business Centers that are lo- cated in that region; (II) resource and lending partners of other appropriate Federal agencies that are located in that region; and (III) Federal, State, and local procure- ment offices that are located in that re- gion; (iii) being aware of business retention or expansion programs that are specific to that region; (iv) seeking out opportunities to collabo- rate with regional public and private pro- grams that focus on minority business en- terprises; and (v) promoting business continuity and preparedness. (Pub. L. 117–58, div. K, § 100003, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1448.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b)(1)(B) and (e)(1), (2)(A), was in the original ‘‘this division’’, mean- ing div. K of Pub. L. 117–58, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1445, which is classified prinicpally to this chapter. For com- plete classification of division K to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9501 of this title and Tables. CODIFICATION Section is comprised of section 100003 of Pub. L. 117–58. Subsec. (b)(2)(B) of section 100003 amended sec- tion 5314 of Title 5, Government Organization and Em- ployees. SUBCHAPTER I—EXISTING INITIATIVES PART A—MARKET DEVELOPMENT, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION § 9511. Private sector development The Under Secretary shall, whenever the Under Secretary determines such action is nec- essary or appropriate— (1) provide Federal assistance to minority business enterprises operating in domestic and foreign markets by making available to those business enterprises, either directly or in co- operation with private sector entities, includ- ing community-based organizations and na- tional nonprofit organizations— (A) resources relating to management; (B) technological and technical assistance; (C) financial, legal, and marketing serv- ices; and (D) services relating to workforce develop- ment; (2) encourage minority business enterprises to establish joint ventures and projects— (A) with other minority business enter- prises; or (B) in cooperation with public sector enti- ties or private sector entities, including community-based organizations and na- tional nonprofit organizations, to increase the share of any market activity being per- formed by minority business enterprises; and (3) facilitate the efforts of private sector en- tities and Federal agencies to advance the growth of minority business enterprises. (Pub. L. 117–58, div. K, title I, § 100101, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1449.) § 9512. Public sector development The Under Secretary shall, whenever the Under Secretary determines such action is nec- essary or appropriate— (1) consult and cooperate with public sector entities for the purpose of leveraging re- sources available in the jurisdictions of those public sector entities to promote the position of minority business enterprises in the local economies of those public sector entities, in- cluding by assisting public sector entities to establish or enhance— (A) programs to procure goods and services through minority business enterprises and goals for that procurement; (B) programs offering assistance relating to— (i) management; (ii) technology; (iii) law; (iv) financing, including accounting; (v) marketing; and (vi) workforce development; and (C) informational programs designed to in- form minority business enterprises located in the jurisdictions of those public sector en- tities about the availability of programs de- scribed in this section; (2) meet with leaders and officials of public sector entities for the purpose of recom- Page 2603 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 9523 1 So in original. See References in Text note below. 1 So in original. See References in Text note below. mending and promoting local administrative and legislative initiatives needed to advance the position of minority business enterprises in the local economies of those public sector entities; and (3) facilitate the efforts of public sector enti- ties and Federal agencies to advance the growth of minority business enterprises. (Pub. L. 117–58, div. K, title I, § 100102, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1450.) § 9513. Research and information (a) In general In order to achieve the purposes of this chap- ter, the Under Secretary— (1) shall— (A) collect and analyze data, including data relating to the causes of the success or failure of minority business enterprises; (B) conduct research, studies, and surveys of— (i) economic conditions generally in the United States; and (ii) how the conditions described in clause (i) particularly affect the develop- ment of minority business enterprises; and (C) provide outreach, educational services, and technical assistance in, at a minimum, the 5 most commonly spoken languages in the United States to ensure that limited English proficient individuals receive cul- turally and linguistically appropriate access to the services and information provided by the Agency; and (2) may perform an evaluation of programs carried out by the Under Secretary that are designed to assist the development of minority business enterprises. (b) Information clearinghouse The Under Secretary shall— (1) establish and maintain an information clearinghouse for the collection and dissemi- nation to relevant parties (including business owners and researchers) of demographic, eco- nomic, financial, managerial, and technical data relating to minority business enterprises; and (2) take such steps as the Under Secretary may determine to be necessary and desirable to— (A) search for, collect, classify, coordinate, integrate, record, and catalog the data de- scribed in paragraph (1); and (B) in a manner that is consistent with section 552a of title 5, protect the privacy of the minority business enterprises to which the data described in paragraph (1) relates. (Pub. L. 117–58, div. K, title I, § 100103, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1450.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original ‘‘this division’’, meaning div. K of Pub. L. 117–58, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1445, which is classified prinicpally to this chapter. For complete classification of division K to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 9501 of this title and Tables. PART B—MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM § 9521. Definition In this part, the term ‘‘MBDA Business Center Program’’ means the program established under section lll113. 1 (Pub. L. 117–58, div. K, title I, § 100111, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1451.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Section lll113, referred to in text, probably means section 100113 of Pub. L. 117–58, which is classified to section 9523 of this title. § 9522. Purpose The purpose of the MBDA Business Center Program shall be to create a national network of public-private partnerships that— (1) assist minority business enterprises in— (A) accessing capital, contracts, and grants; and (B) creating and maintaining jobs; (2) provide counseling and mentoring to mi- nority business enterprises; and (3) facilitate the growth of minority business enterprises by promoting trade. (Pub. L. 117–58, div. K, title I, § 100112, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1451.) § 9523. Establishment (a) In general There is established in the Agency a pro- gram— (1) that shall be known as the MBDA Busi- ness Center Program; (2) that shall be separate and distinct from the efforts of the Under Secretary under sec- tion lll101; 1 and (3) under which the Under Secretary shall make Federal assistance awards to eligible en- tities to operate MBDA Business Centers, which shall, in accordance with section lll114, 1 provide technical assistance and business development services, or specialty services, to minority business enterprises. (b) Coverage The Under Secretary shall take all necessary actions to ensure that the MBDA Business Cen- ter Program, in accordance with section lll114, 1 offers the services described in sub- section (a)(3) in all regions of the United States. (Pub. L. 117–58, div. K, title I, § 100113, Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 1451.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Section lll101, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), prob- ably means section 100101 of Pub. L. 117–58, which is classified to section 9511 of this title. Section lll114, referred to in subsecs. (a)(3) and (b), probably means section 100114 of Pub. L. 117–58, which is classified to section 9524 of this title.