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Golden Continues Push to Reauthorize, Expand Small Business Development Centers in Committee Forum

May 14, 2020

SBDCs have only become more vital to Maine small businesses during COVID-19 pandemic

VIDEO: Golden Addresses House Small Business Committee and SBA Resource Partners

WASHINGTON — At a recent meeting of the House Small Business Committee, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) continued his work to advocate for Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and underscored their importance — particularly in an economic recession — to the success of small businesses in Maine and across the country.

Golden has led the charge in the House to expand SBDCs and equip them to provide more small businesses with their low- and no-cost training and consulting services. He introduced and passed the Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act through the House last year. In March, he introduced legislation to direct additional funds to SBDCs to help small businesses navigate the COVID-19 crisis. A version of his legislation was included in the CARES Act, which was signed into law by the president.

"Over the past several months, I've held a series of tele-town halls for small businesses. Thousands of Mainers have participated. That shows how hungry small businesses are for timely, accurate information as they try to make business decisions in the middle of this crisis." said Golden. "SBDCs are perfectly situated to be pushing out that helpful information to the small business owners who need it most. It's so important to reauthorize these programs and ensure SBDCs get the funding they need to help American small businesses. I hope the Chair, Ranking Member, and all of my colleagues on the committee will join me in calling for the Senate Small Business Committee to pass my bill, which passed the House with 375 bipartisan votes, to reauthorize the SBDC program."

In 2019, Maine SBDCs supported over 1,500 existing businesses, helped create 133 new businesses, and helped create or protect 600 jobs. America's SBDCs, the organization representing SBDCs across the country, estimates that their organizations have already done the equivalent of a year's work in just the last few months as they help small businesses respond to the COVID-19 crisis.

During the Small Business Committee Forum, Golden also questioned Tee Rowe, the President of America's SBDCs, on what feedback SBDCs are hearing from the small businesses on the Paycheck Protection Program. Mr. Rowe agreed with the congressman that more flexibility and clarity was needed in the PPP, particularly in how the program treats seasonal businesses.

Watch the full meeting of the House Small Business Committee here.