During National Small Business Week, Rosen Urges House Appropriators to Fund Programs to Help Neveda's Entrepreneurs and Workforce

Statement

Today, Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (NV-03) highlighted requests she has made to House appropriators to support Nevada entrepreneurs and workers. Rosen requested appropriations for the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Entrepreneurial Development Program, Small Business Development Centers that give free or low-cost assistance, 21st Century Community Learning Centers that provide academic enrichment, and industry partnerships to improve apprenticeship programs.

This week is National Small Business Week, an annual event hosted by the SBA to recognize the nation's top entrepreneurs and small business advocates. Congresswoman Rosen was recently awarded the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Spirit of Enterprise Award in recognition of her support for pro-growth policies in the first session of the 115th Congress. According to the SBA, Nevada's small businesses employed more than 450,000 people--41.3 percent of the private workforce--in 2014.

"We pride ourselves on being a business-friendly state, and Nevada's small businesses are an indispensable part of our local economy," said Rosen. "These federal programs need to be funded because they help us invest in our workforce, close the skills gap, and support startups and entrepreneurs with the tools to succeed. In Congress, I will continue to be an advocate for smart, pro-growth solutions that support Nevada's small business community."

Below is a list of the programs Rosen has urged House appropriators to fund in the Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations bill:

Small Business Administration's (SBA) Entrepreneurial Development Program: SBA's Entrepreneurial Development Programs offer training, counseling, and technical assistance to entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs): SBDCs provide free or low-cost assistance to small businesses using programs customized to local conditions. SBDCs support small business in marketing and business strategy, finance, technology transfer, government contracting, management, manufacturing, engineering, sales, accounting, exporting, and other subjects. In 2017, Nevada SBDC counseled 1,546 clients, helped create/retain 497 jobs, and helped start 148 new businesses.
21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC): 21st CCLC supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children (afterschool and summer programs), particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. In Fiscal Year 2017, 9,410 students in Nevada were enrolled in a 21st CCLC program.
Industry partnerships to improve apprenticeships to close the skills gap: In order to expand and improve apprenticeships and work-based learning programs, we need coordinated multi-employer apprenticeship programs and strong local partnerships that respond to local workforce needs. This letter asks for report language to strengthen investments in work-based learning programs that respond to local industry demand.

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