Strengthen Entrepreneurship Centers

Section 1. Subdivisions 2, 3 and 6 of section 211 of the economic development law, as added by chapter 398 of the laws of 2018, are amended to read as follows:

2. The department shall establish criteria for selection and designation of such centers which shall include, but not be limited to:

(a) require that each support center program provide at least sixty hours of instruction for each participant and that each program be supplemented by ongoing technical assistance for business development for those who have completed the program;

(b) the level of support for the center from local post-secondary education institutions, businesses, and government;

[(b)] (c) the level of financial assistance provided at the local and federal level to support the operations of the center;

[(c)] (d) the applicant's understanding of program goals and objectives articulated by the department;

[(d)] (e) the plans of the center to supplement state and local funding through fees for services which may be based on a sliding scale based on ability to pay;

[(e)] (f) the need for and anticipated impact of the center on the community in which it will function;

[(f)] (g) the quality of the proposed work plan and staff of the center; and

[(g)] (h) the extent of economic distress in the area to be served.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD07023-01-9

A. 4312 2

3. Application for grants made pursuant to this section shall be made in the manner and on forms prescribed by the [department] commissioner. Such application shall include, but shall not be limited to:

(a) a description of the training programs available within the geographic area to be served by the center to which eligible clients may be referred;

(b) designation of a program director;

(c) plans for providing ongoing technical assistance to program graduates, including linkages with providers of other entrepreneurial assistance programs and with providers of small business technical assistance and services;

(d) a program budget, including matching funds, in-kind and otherwise, to be provided by the applicant; [and]

(e) permit a joint application from a consortium of career education agencies and not-for-profit corporations, or any combination thereof, for establishing a cooperative program; and

(f) such other requirements as deemed necessary by the department.

6. Grants made pursuant to this section shall be subject to the following limitations:

(a) no grant shall be made to any one or any consortium of career education agencies and not-for-profit corporations in excess of one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars; and

(b) each grant shall be disbursed for payment of the cost of services and expenses of the program director, the instructors of the participating career education agency or not-for-profit corporation, the faculty and support personnel thereof and any other person in the service of providing instruction and counseling in furtherance of the program.

§ 2. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 212 of the economic development law, as added by chapter 398 of the laws of 2018, are amended to read as follows:

2. Evaluate the entrepreneurial assistance centers established under this article and report [quarterly and] annually, on or before January first, two thousand [eighteen] twenty, and on or before each January first thereafter, and submit the results of such evaluation to the governor and the legislature. Such report shall discuss the extent to which the centers serve minority group members, women, individuals with a disability, dislocated workers and veterans; the extent to which the training program is coordinated with other assistance programs targeted to small and new businesses; the ability of such program to leverage other sources of funding and support; and the success of the program in aiding entrepreneurs to start up new businesses, including the number of new business start-ups resulting from the program. Such report shall recommend changes and improvements in the training program and in the quality of supplemental technical assistance offered to graduates of the training programs. [Such reports] The report shall be made available to the public on the department's website.

3. Submit to the director of the division of the budget, the chairperson of the senate finance committee and the chairperson of the assembly ways and means committee an evaluation of the effectiveness of the programs established under this article prepared by an entity independent of the department. Such evaluation shall be submitted by January first, two thousand [nineteen] twenty-one and by January first every [year] two years thereafter.

§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.