Capacity Building for Business Districts Pilot Program Act of 2025

This bill would amend the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to create a new Capacity Building for Business Districts Pilot Program within the Economic Development Administration (EDA), overseen by the Secretary of Commerce. The program would award competitive grants to specified recipients—national or multi-state intermediaries with experience in capacity building—to provide technical assistance, capacity building, and related services to eligible subrecipients (local business district organizations) that support revitalization efforts in low-income, rural, minority, and Native communities. Grants would emphasize place-based initiatives, geographic dispersion, and the ability to serve multiple states or geographies. Initial grants would run for at least two years, with annual reporting requirements on subrecipient activities, fund use, jobs created or retained, and other program metrics. The bill frames this pilot as addressing a gap where locally based business district organizations need technical assistance and flexible capital that are not readily available through existing programs. It emphasizes leveraging intermediary organizations capable of deploying funds and sharing best practices across diverse regions, while prioritizing distressed communities and broad geographic reach.