Legislation

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bill late Thursday providing $107 million in additional funding for the Small Business Administration and some of its core programs.

The bill increases funding for Small Business Development Centers, Women Business Centers, microloans, contracting assistance and veterans' outreach programs.

The funding increases the budget by about 45 percent over President Bush's budget request for the agency.

The bill also halts action on a controversial rule proposed by the SBA that would govern women's procurement programs. The committee, which appropriates funding for federal agencies, included a prohibition on funding the proposed rule's implementation.

Capital Programs

-- Microloans to $2.5 million to leverage more than $21 million in loans (from zero funding), and microloan technical assistance to $20 million (the President's budget sought to eliminate it). Last year, SBA's microlenders leveraged a program level of $21 million into more than $31 million in microloans, proportionally helping more women and minorities than other programs.

Entrepreneurial Development and Outreach Programs

-- Small Business Development Centers to $108 million (from $87 million). The 950 SBDC offices around the country provided counseling to 600,665 businesses last year.

-- Veterans Programs at SBDCs to $1 million. A veterans entrepreneurship bill signed into law in February 2008 established a grant program for SBDCs to provide more information to veterans about small business resources.

-- Energy Efficiency Programs at SBDCs to $1 million. The energy bill signed into law in December 2007 established a grant program for SBDCs to provide more information to small businesses about how to become more energy efficient.

-- Women's Business Centers to $13.4 million (from $11.9 million). The 95 Women's Business Centers, that provide business assistance to socially and economically disadvantaged women and men, last year helped 147,000 businesses.

-- SCORE Program to $5.1 million (from $4.95 million). Through the SCORE program, volunteers provide one-on-one counseling to small business owners.

-- Veterans Programs to $1.2 million (from $743,000).

-- Native American Outreach to $1 million (from $730,000).

-- Program for the Investment in Microentrepreneurs to $3.1 million (the President's budget proposal sought to eliminate it). PRIME provides training and business assistance to low-income and very low-income entrepreneurs.

Contracting Programs and Assistance

-- Technical Assistance Program to $2.4 million (from $1.5 million). This program provides small disadvantaged businesses with training in financing, business development, management, accounting, and marketing.

-- HUBZones to $2.2 million (from $1 million). Historically Underutilized Business Zones create incentives for contracting with small firms to create jobs in underserved communities.