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HR 1590119th CongressIn Committee
Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act
Introduced: Feb 26, 2025
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The Rural Innovation and Small Business Support Act would require federal agencies that run the SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) programs to do more outreach in rural areas. Specifically, within 90 days of enactment, the Administrator must modify policy directives to ensure each agency participating in SBIR and STTR actively engages rural communities to boost participation by rural small businesses. The goal is to give rural firms better access to early-stage research funding and support, potentially spurring innovation and economic activity in rural areas.
Key Points
- 1Applies to the two federal R&D grant programs: SBIR and STTR, which provide funding to small businesses to perform research and develop new technologies.
- 2The bill directs the Administrator to modify policy directives within 90 days of enactment to require enhanced rural outreach by every agency participating in SBIR.
- 3The modification must aim to increase participation of small business concerns located in rural communities in both SBIR and STTR programs.
- 4Outreach must include active efforts to conduct program-related activities in rural areas.
- 5The changes focus on outreach requirements rather than providing new funding or separate programs; no new appropriations are specified in the bill.
Impact Areas
Primary group/area affected: Rural small businesses and rural communities that are eligible for or interested in SBIR/STTR funding.Secondary group/area affected: Federal agencies administering SBIR/STTR programs (e.g., requiring updated outreach policies and practice changes).Additional impacts: Potential administrative costs or workload changes for agencies to revise policy directives and implement enhanced rural outreach; potential improvements in geographic diversity of SBIR/STTR applicants; possible enhancement of rural economic development through increased access to federal R&D funding.
Generated by gpt-5-nano on Nov 1, 2025