Golden introduces amendment to boost resources for Small Business Development Centers

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today introduced a bipartisan amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Service and General Government Appropriations Act that would increase funding for Small Business Development Centers (SBDC). Congressman Marc Molonaro (R-NY-19) cosponsored the amendment. 

“Small businesses are the backbone of Maine’s economy, and SBDCs have been helping them for decades,” Golden said. “I repeatedly hear from Maine small-business owners how much of a lifeline the SBDC program has been, and these additional resources will help bring these invaluable services to even more Mainers.”

There are 149,493 small businesses in Maine — representing over 99% of total businesses in the state — which together employ 55.9% of all Maine workers. For more than 45 years, Maine SBDCs have served tens of thousands of clients.

SBDCs help small businesses get off the ground and expand their capacity through low- or no-cost business training and advising in areas such as business plan development, marketing and sales, e-commerce, and small business strategic planning. Maine has a lead SBDC located at the University of Southern Maine, which operates ten outreach locations in Maine’s Second District. 

Golden’s amendment would increase SBDC funding by $5 million for FY2025. 

“We are thankful to Congressman Golden for his work on the House Small Business Committee and his continued support of the Small Business Development Center program,” Mark Delisle, State Director of the Maine SBDC, said. “The SBDC is instrumental to the success of entrepreneurs and small businesses and this funding would provide essential support in communities across Maine and the country.”

“America’s SBDC strongly supports Representatives Golden and Molinaro in their effort to increase SBDC funding,” C.E. Rowe, Director of America’s SBDC, said. “While we appreciate the pressures of the federal budget, the SBDC program is a net positive for the American economy – producing two dollars for every federal dollar and three dollars in state revenue. SBDCs help small businesses start, create jobs and build their communities. This increase will ensure SBDCs can continue to reach all small businesses in their states and regions.”

Golden, a member of the House Small Business Committee,  has been a champion of SBDCs throughout his time in Congress. In February, his bipartisan bill to bolster congressional coordination with the National SBDC Advisory Board unanimously passed the Committee. Last September, he introduced legislation — based on bills he passed through the House in 2022 and 2019 — to reauthorize and expand the program. 

Full text of Golden’s amendment can be found here.

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