Action Subject to Intergovernmental Review

SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Action Subject to Intergovernmental Review

AGENCY: Small Business Administration.

ACTION: Notice of Action Subject to Intergovernmental Review Under

Executive Order 12372.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides for public awareness of SBA's intention

to refund twenty-two existing Small Business Development Centers

(SBDCs) on October 1, 1994. Currently there are 56 SBDCs operating in

the SBDC program. The following SBDCs are intended to be refunded,

subject to the availability of funds: Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut,

Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,

Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Dallas, Houston,

Lubbock, San Antonio, Vermont, Virgin Islands, and West Virginia. This

notice also provides a description of the SBDC program by setting forth

a condensed version of the program announcement which has been

furnished to each of the SBDCs to be refunded. This publication is

being made to provide the State single points of contact, designated

pursuant to Executive Order 12372, and other interested State and local

entities, the opportunity to comment on the proposed refunding in

accord with the Executive Order and SBA's regulations found at 13 CFR

Part 135.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 15, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Ms. Johnnie L. Albertson,

Associate Administrator for SBDC Program, U.S. Small Business

Administration, 409 Third Street SW., Fifth Floor, Washington, DC

20416.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Same as above.

Action Subject to Intergovernmental Review

SBA is bound by the provisions of Executive Order 12372,

``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' SBA has promulgated

regulations spelling out its obligations under that Executive Order.

See 13 CFR Part 135, effective September 30, 1983.

In accord with these regulations, specifically 135.4, SBA is

publishing this notice to provide public awareness of the pending

application of twenty-two existing Small Business Development Centers

(SBDCs) for refunding. Also published herewith is an annotated program

announcement describing the SBDC program in detail.

This notice is being published three months in advance of the

expected date of refunding these SBDCs. Relevant information

identifying these SBDCs and providing their mailing address is provided

below. In addition to this publication, a copy of this notice is being

simultaneously furnished to the affected State single point of contact

which has been established under the Executive Order.

The State single points of contact and other interested State and

local entities are expected to advise the relevant SBDC of their

comments regarding the proposed refunding in writing as soon as

possible. The SBDC proposal cannot be inconsistent with any area-wide

plan providing assistance to small business, if there is one, which has

been adopted by an agency recognized by the State government as

authorized to do so. Copies of such written comments should also be

furnished to Ms. Johnnie L. Albertson, Associate Administrator for SBDC

Program, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street, SW.,

Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20416. Comments will be accepted by the

relevant SBDC and SBA for a period of 90 days from the date of

publication of this notice. The relevant SBDC will make every effort to

accommodate these comments during the 90-day period. If the comments

cannot be accommodated by the relevant SBDC, SBA will, prior to

refunding the SBDC, either attain accommodation of any comments or

furnish an explanation of why accommodation cannot be attained to the

commentor prior to refunding the SBDC.

Description of the SBDC Program

The SBDC operates under the general management and oversight of

SBA, but with recognition that a partnership exists between the Agency

and the SBDC for the delivery of assistance to the small business

community. SBDC services shall be provided pursuant to a negotiated

Cooperative Agreement with full participation of both parties.

SBDCs operate on the basis of a state plan to provide assistance

within a state or designated geographical area. The initial plan must

have the written approval of the Governor. As a condition to any

financial award made to an applicant, non-Federal funds must be

provided from sources other than the Federal Government. SBDCs operate

under the provisions of P.L. 96-302, as amended by P.L. 98-395, a

Notice of Award (Cooperative Agreement) issued by SBA, and the

provisions of this Program Announcement.

Purpose and Scope

The SBDC Program is designed to provide quality assistance to small

businesses in order to promote growth, expansion, innovation, increased

productivity and management improvement. To accomplish these

objectives, SBDCs link resources of the Federal, State, and local

governments with the resources of the educational system and the

private sector to meet the specialized and complex needs of the small

business community. SBDCs also coordinate with other SBA programs of

business development and utilize the expertise of these affiliated

resources to expand services and avoid duplication of effort.

Program Objectives

The overall objective of the SBDC Program is to leverage Federal

dollars and resources with those of the state, academic community and

private sector to:

(a) strengthen the small business community;

(b) contribute to the economic growth of the communities served;

(c) make assistance available to more small businesses than is now

possible with present Federal resources;

(d) create a broader based delivery system to the small business

community.

SBDC Program Organization

SBDCs are organized to provide maximum services to the local small

business community. The lead SBDC receives financial assistance from

the SBA to operate a statewide SBDC Program. In states where more than

one organization receives SBA financial assistance to operate an SBDC,

each lead SBDC is responsible for Program operations throughout a

specific regional area to be served by the SBDC. The lead SBDC is

responsible for establishing a network of SBDC subcenters to offer

service coverage to the small business community. The SBDC network is

managed and directed by a full-time Director. SBDCs must ensure that at

least 80 percent of Federal funds provided are used to provide services

to small businesses. To the extent possible, SBDCs provide services by

enlisting volunteer and other low cost resources on a statewide basis.

SBDC Services

The specific types of services to be offered are developed in

coordination with the SBA district office which has jurisdiction over a

given SBDC. SBDCs emphasize the provision of indepth, high-quality

assistance to small business owners or prospective small business

owners in complex areas that require specialized expertise. These areas

may include, but are not limited to: management, marketing, financing,

accounting, strategic planning, regulation and taxation, capital

formation, procurement assistance, human resource management,

production, operations, economic and business data analysis,

engineering, technology transfer, innovation and research, new product

development, product analysis, plant layout and design, agri-business,

computer application, business law information, and referral (any legal

services beyond basic legal information, and referral require the

endorsement of the State Bar Association), exporting, office

automation, site selection, or any other areas of assistance required

to promote small business growth, expansion, and productivity within

the State. The SBDC shall also ensure that a full range of business

development and technical assistance services are made available to

small businesses located in rural areas.

The degree to which SBDC resources are directed towards specific

areas of assistance is determined by local community needs, SBA

priorities and SBDC Program objectives and agreed upon by the SBA

district office and the SBDC.

The SBDC must offer quality training to improve the skills and

knowledge of existing and prospective small business owners. As a

general guideline, SBDCs should emphasize the provision of training in

specialized areas other than basic small business management subjects.

SBDCs should also emphasize training designed to reach particular

audiences such as members of SBA priority and special emphasis groups.

SBDC Program Requirements

The SBDC is responsible to the SBA for ensuring that all

programmatic and financial requirements imposed upon them by statute or

agreement are met. The SBDC must assure that quality assistance and

training in management and technical areas are provided to the State

small business community through the State SBDC network. As a condition

of this agreement, the SBDC must perform, but not be limited to, the

following activities:

(a) the SBDC ensures that services are provided as close as

possible to small business population centers. This is accomplished

through the establishment of SBDC subcenters.

(b) the SBDC ensures that lists of local and regional private

consultants are maintained at the lead SBDC and each SBDC subcenter.

The SBDC utilizes and provides compensation to qualified small business

vendors such as private management consultants, private consulting

engineers, and private testing laboratories.

(c) the SBDC is responsible for the development and expansion of

resources within the State, particularly the development of new

resources to assist small businesses that are not presently associated

with the SBA district office.

(d) the SBDC ensures that working relationships and open

communications exist within the financial and investment communities,

and with legal associations, private consultants, as well as small

business groups and associations to help address the needs of the small

business community.

(e) the SBDC ensures that assistance is provided to SBA special

emphasis groups throughout the SBDC network. This assistance shall be

provided to veterans, women, exporters, the handicapped, and minorities

as well as any other groups designated a priority by SBA. Services

provided to special emphasis groups shall be performed as part of the

Cooperative Agreement.

Advance Understandings

The Lead SBDC and all SBDC subcenters shall operate on a forty (40)

hour week basis, or during the normal business hours of the State or

Host Organization, throughout the calendar year.

The amount of time allowed the Lead SBDC and subcenters for staff

vacations and holidays shall conform to the policy of the Host

organization.

Dated: June 8, 1994.

Erskine B. Bowles,

Administrator.

Addresses of Relevant SBDC State Directors

Mr. Robert McKinley, Region Director, Univ. of Texas at San Antonio,

1222 North Main Street, San Antonio, TX 78212, (210) 558-2450

Mr. John P. O'Connor, State Director, University of Connecticut, Box U-

41, Room 422, Storrs, CT 06269-2041, (203) 486-4135

Mr. Ronald Manning, State Director, Iowa State University, 137 Lynn

Avenue, Ames, IA 50010, (515) 292-6351

Ms. Liz Klimback, Region Director, Dallas Community College, 1402

Corinth Street, Dallas, TX 75212, (214) 565-5833

Mr. John Ciccarelli, State Director, University of Massachusetts,

School of Management, Amherst, MA 01003, (413) 545-6301

Mr. Raleigh Byars, State Director, University of Mississippi, Old

Chemistry Building, University, MS 38677, (601) 232-5001

Mr. James L. King, State Director, State University of New York, SUNY

Plaza, S-523, Albany, NY 12246, (518) 443-5398

Mr. Jose Romaguera, Director, University of Puerto Rico, Box 5253--

College Station, Mayaguez, PR 00681, (809) 834-3590

Mr. Clinton Tymes, State Director, University of Delaware, Suite 005--

Purnell Hall, Newark, DE 19711, (302) 831-2747

Ms. Janet Holloway, State Director, University of Kentucky, 225

Business & Economics Bldg., Lexington, KY 40506-0034, (606) 257-7668

Mr. Woodrow McCutchen, State Director, Department of Economic and

Employment Development, 217 East Redwood St., 9th Floor, Baltimore, MD

21202, (410) 333-6995

Mr. Robert Stevens, Acting State Director, Wayne State University, 2727

Second Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201, (313) 964-1798

Mr. Max Summers, State Director, University of Missouri, Suite 300,

University Place, Columbia, MO 65211, (314) 882-0344

Ms. Holly Schick, State Director, Ohio Department of Development, 77

South High Street, Columbus, OH 43226-1001, (614) 466-2711

Dr. Elizabeth Gatewood, Region Director, University of Houston, 1100

Louisiana, Suite 500, Houston, TX 77002, (713) 752-8444

Mr. Donald L. Kelpinski, State Director, Vermont Technical College,

P.O. Box 422, Randolph Center, VT 05060, (802) 728-9101

Ms. Hazel Kroesser, State Director, Governor's Office of Community and

Industrial Development, 1115 Virginia Street, East Charleston, WV

25310, (304) 558-2960

Mr. Craig Bean, Region Director, Texas Tech University, 2579 South Loop

289, Suite 114, Lubbock, TX 79423-1637, (806) 745-3973

Mr. Chester Williams, Director, University of the Virgin Islands, 8000

Nisky Center, Suite 202, St. Thomas, US V. Islands 00802, (809) 776-

3206

[FR Doc. 94-14831 Filed 6-16-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8025-01-M