HR 3793
Minority Entrepreneurship Grant Program Act of 2025
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill establishes a grant program through the Small Business Administration to support minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities. The program aims to create or expand programs that foster minority business ownership and entrepreneurship, specifically targeting student entrepreneurs. Grants of at least $250,000 will be awarded to these institutions to provide resources like legal and business training to students.
Key provisions
- Establishes a grant program for minority-serving institutions and HBCUs.
- Grants must support student entrepreneurs enrolled at these institutions.
- Grants will provide business development resources such as legal and accounting assistance.
- Each grant awarded must be at least $250,000.
- Institutions receiving grants must submit annual reports detailing program outcomes.
- Creates a Minority Entrepreneurship Advisory Board to advise the Administrator.
- The Small Business Administration is authorized to receive $50,000,000 for the program.
Who is affected
- Minority-serving institutions
- Historically Black colleges and universities
- Student entrepreneurs
- Small business owners
- The Small Business Administration
Notable changes
- Expands access to business resources for student entrepreneurs at minority-serving institutions and HBCUs.
- Provides dedicated funding for programs focused on minority business development.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yoursRead the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 3793
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development, to establish a grant program to create or expand programs at minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities that promote minority business ownership and entrepreneurship, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Minority Entrepreneurship Grant Program Act of 2025
.
In this Act:
The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
The term Board means the Minority Entrepreneurship Advisory Board established under section 4(a).
The term historically Black college or university means a part B institution, as that term is defined in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
The term minority includes an individual who is—
Black or African American;
Hispanic or Latino;
Native or Indigenous American;
Asian;
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander;
Native Alaskan; or
a member of a group that the Minority Business Development Agency of the Department of Commerce determines under part 1400 of title 15, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on November 23, 1984, is a socially disadvantaged group eligible to receive assistance.
The term minority-serving institution means any of the following:
A Hispanic-serving institution, as that term is defined in section 502(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a(a)).
A Tribal College or University, as that term is defined in section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)).
An Alaska Native-serving institution, as that term is defined in section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)).
A Native Hawaiian-serving institution, as that term is defined in section 317(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)).
A Predominantly Black Institution, as that term is defined in section 318(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)).
A Native American-serving, nontribal institution, as that term is defined in section 319(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059f(b)).
An Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, as that term is defined in section 320(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b)).
The term Program means the grant program established under section 3(a).
The term small business concern has the meaning given the term in section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)).
The term student entrepreneur means a student who is—
a minority;
enrolled at a minority-serving institution or a historically Black college or university; and
seeking to establish or develop a business.
The term Under Secretary means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the Under Secretary, shall establish a grant program within the Small Business Administration, the purpose of which shall be to create or expand programs at minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities that foster, promote, and increase opportunities for minority business ownership.
A minority-serving institution or a historically Black college or university seeking a grant under the Program shall submit to the Administrator an application that contains a description of—
the need for the grant funds to promote minority entrepreneurship and business ownership among student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or the historically Black college or university;
how the grant funds will be used to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1);
how the programs created or expanded with the grant funds will provide support to student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university who—
seek support for an established business; or
need assistance in establishing a business; and
how the minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university will create or expand programs or initiatives that—
increase minority business ownership; and
expand business resources to student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university.
A grant made to a minority-serving institution or a historically Black college or university under the Program shall be not less than $250,000.
With a grant received under the Program, a minority-serving institution or a historically Black college or university shall support the creation or expansion of programs or initiatives that offer business development resources that support student entrepreneurs enrolled at the minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university, such as—
free legal, accounting, human resources, information technology, marketing, training, counseling, networking, and technical assistance; and
access to capital resources, such as the costs associated with forming a new business enterprise.
A minority-serving institution or historically Black college or university to which a grant is made under the Program shall, each year, submit to the Administrator a mid-year and year-end report, each of which shall contain, for the period covered by the report, the number of—
student entrepreneurs trained, assisted, and counseled with the grant funds;
businesses created through the expenditure of the grant funds, including, with respect to each such business—
the name of the business;
a description of the business; and
the amount of grant funds expended in creating the business;
student entrepreneurs referred to other resources of the Small Business Administration; and
student entrepreneurs participating in programs created or expanded through the expenditure of the grant funds, which, to the extent possible, shall be disaggregated by sex, race, and ethnicity.
Not later than 18 months after the date on which the first grant is made under the Program, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report that contains information regarding the minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges or universities to which grants were made under the Program for the period covered by the report, which shall include—
the name of each such minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university and the amount of each such grant;
the number of student entrepreneurs trained, assisted, and counseled with Program grant funds—
at each minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university to which a grant was made under the Program; and
in total under the Program;
the number of businesses created through the expenditure of Program grant funds—
with respect to each minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university to which a grant was made under the Program; and
in total under the Program;
the number of student entrepreneurs referred to resources of the Small Business Administration—
at each minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university to which a grant was made under the Program; and
in total under the Program;
the number of student entrepreneurs participating in programs created or expanded through the expenditure of Program grant funds at each minority-serving institution and historically Black college or university to which a grant was made under the Program, and in total under the Program, which, to the extent possible, shall be disaggregated by sex, race, and ethnicity; and
a statement regarding whether any amounts made available to carry out this section remain unexpended, as of the date on which the report is submitted.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator $50,000,000 to carry out this section.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a Minority Entrepreneurship Advisory Board to develop recommendations regarding how minority-serving institutions and historically Black colleges and universities can better serve minority businesses and entrepreneurs.
The members of the Board shall be—
appointed by the Administrator; and
individuals with—
outstanding qualifications;
knowledge regarding the needs of small business concerns that are owned by minorities; and
experience—
working with startups; or
in providing consultation to small business concerns.
Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress the recommendations developed by the Board under subsection (a).
Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply with respect to the Board or the activities of the Board.