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H.332 1
Introduced by Representatives Priestley of Bradford, Bishop of Colchester, 2
Boyden of Cambridge, Cole of Hartford, Logan of Burlington, 3
McGill of Bridport, Olson of Starksboro, and Sibilia of Dover 4
Referred to Committee on 5
Date: 6
Subject: Conservation and development; economic development 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create the 8
Small Business Technical Assistance Exchange, which would provide grants 9
and professional and technical assistance to certain businesses in Vermont. 10
An act relating to the creation of the Small Business Technical Assistance 11
Exchange 12
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 13
Sec. 1 10 V.S.A. § 2 is added to read: 14
§ 2. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE EXCHANGE 15
(a) There is created the Small Business Technical Assistance Exchange, a 16
business assistance program through which the regional development 17
corporations shall provide small- and mid-sized businesses with professional 18
and technical assistance: 19
(1) through in-house Business Navigators; 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.332
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(2) through partnerships with organizations specializing in outreach to 1
mature workers; youth; individuals with disabilities; individuals who have 2
been involved with the correction system; Black, Indigenous, and Persons of 3
Color Vermonters; New Americans; and other historically marginalized 4
populations; and 5
(3) through grants to private providers for professional services, 6
including: 7
(A) business operations, financial management, and grant writing; 8
(B) digital strategies; 9
(C) architecture and physical space design; 10
(D) reconfiguring manufacturing equipment and processes and 11
incorporating safety measures; 12
(E) technology and software consulting; 13
(F) legal and other professional services; and 14
(G) other technical assistance. 15
(b)(1) Through the Exchange, the regional development corporations shall 16
maintain a directory of, and build connections to, Vermont technical assistance 17
providers who have demonstrated the ability and expertise to assist businesses 18
with critical tools to grow and adapt their businesses to the ever-changing 19
business climate. 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.332
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(2) The Exchange shall award technical assistance grants of not more 1
than $5,000.00 per business for technical services from approved providers. 2
(3) To be eligible to receive technical assistance through the Exchange, 3
a business shall: 4
(A) be a for-profit entity located in Vermont; and 5
(B) have at least $5,000.00 in average annual revenue. 6
(4) A business whose owner’s income is higher than the federal labor 7
market area in which the business operates, as evidenced by a self-attestation 8
provided by the owner, shall provide a 50 percent match for the costs of 9
professional services funded by a grant. 10
(c) The regional development corporations shall: 11
(1) operate the Exchange to produce benefits for both the client 12
companies as well as the vendors providing the assistance; and 13
(2) conduct outreach and direct engagement to promote participation by 14
businesses in rural areas of this State and businesses owned by mature 15
workers; youth; individuals with disabilities; individuals who have been 16
involved with the correction system; Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color 17
Vermonters; New Americans; and other historically marginalized populations. 18
(d) The regional development corporations shall publish a report on the 19
activities and performance of the Exchange on or before January 15 and July 20
15 each year. 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.332
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Sec. 2. RURAL BUSINESS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE EXCHANGE; 1
APPROPRIATION 2
In fiscal year 2026, the amount of $1,250,000.00 is appropriated from the 3
General Fund to the Agency of Commerce and Community Development for a 4
subgrant to provide services and assistance through the Small Business 5
Technical Assistance Exchange created in 10 V.S.A. § 2. 6
Sec. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE 7
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 8