Wicker’s bipartisan bill establishes more minority business centers

U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) on Oct. 26 unveiled bipartisan legislation that would authorize the federal government to establish up to 10 business centers at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) that would provide rural minority businesses with education, training and technical assistance. 

Sen. Wicker sponsored the Reaching America’s Rural Minority Businesses Act of 2020, S. 4873, with original cosponsors including U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Tim Scott (R-SC) to authorize $10 million a year to the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) within the U.S. Department of Commerce to establish additional business centers. 

Eligible institutions would not have to be located in a rural area, but would be required to demonstrate how they would serve a rural or underserved minority population, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Wicker’s office.

Currently, MBDA Minority Business Centers are concentrated in the urban areas of 18 states, leaving many areas across the country without easy access to MBDA’s services, according to Sen. Wicker’s office.

“The Minority Business Development Agency has been a lifeline for many minority business owners and entrepreneurs seeking to start and grow their businesses,” Sen. Wicker said. “This bill would help extend these resources to more of rural America, leveraging the expertise and innovation of our nation’s historically black colleges and universities.” 

If enacted, the bill also would allow HBCUs to form a consortium with other HBCUs or institutions of higher learning aimed at bolstering the capacity of an established center and to broaden its outreach, according to the summary.

“This bipartisan legislation is a big win for rural and underserved communities in North Carolina,” said Sen. Tillis. “North Carolina’s HBCUs have the potential to become education, support and training hubs for the rural minority businesses in the communities they support, and this legislation makes long-term future success possible for so many businesses and is a great way to focus on each individual need.”

In Sen. Wicker’s home state of Mississippi, S. 4873 received endorsements from every state HBCU, including Alcorn State University, Coahoma Community College, Hinds Community College-Utica, Jackson State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Rust College, and Tougaloo College.