House File 741 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY BAILEY Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays Approved A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to a statewide microenterprise survey and making 2 an appropriation. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2731YH 82 5 tm/es/88 PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. STATEWIDE MICROENTERPRISE SURVEY == 1 2 APPROPRIATION. 1 3 1. There is appropriated from the general fund of the 1 4 state to the department of economic development for the fiscal 1 5 year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008, 1 6 twenty=five thousand dollars for purposes of contracting for a 1 7 microenterprise survey of existing programs and financing 1 8 structures to support microenterprise development in the state 1 9 and to identify opportunities for coordinating and 1 10 strengthening existing programs and financing structures to 1 11 further develop microenterprises. 1 12 2. The microenterprise survey shall include a review of 1 13 Iowa's small business development centers, entrepreneurial 1 14 centers in the state, programs and courses offered through 1 15 community colleges, community action agency programs, Iowa 1 16 state university cooperative extension service programs, 1 17 programs of the department of economic development, and 1 18 targeted small business programs and the current and potential 1 19 involvement of such programs with and in support of 1 20 microenterprises. The survey shall involve banks, utilities, 1 21 credit unions, and local chambers of commerce in identifying 1 22 opportunities for further supporting microenterprise 1 23 development. The survey shall review successful programs in 1 24 other states to support microenterprises for possible 1 25 application in Iowa. 1 26 3. The department of economic development shall seek 1 27 additional funding and technical support for conducting the 1 28 survey. 1 29 4. The survey shall be completed by September 2007. 1 30 5. For purposes of this section, "microenterprise 1 31 development" means an income generating strategy that assists 1 32 low to moderate income individuals, often in rural areas or 1 33 distressed areas of the state, in starting or expanding 1 34 microenterprises. "Microenterprise" means any business that 1 35 has fewer than five employees. Microenterprise development 2 1 activities include basic information, training, and advising 2 2 on business development, access to services and markets, and 2 3 capital availability in the form of low=cost loans in an 2 4 amount not to exceed twenty=five thousand dollars. 2 5 EXPLANATION 2 6 This bill relates to a statewide microenterprise survey. 2 7 The bill appropriates from the general fund of the state to 2 8 the department of economic development for fiscal year 2 9 2007=2008, $25,000 for purposes of contracting for a 2 10 microenterprise survey of existing programs and financing 2 11 structures to support microenterprise development in the state 2 12 and to identify opportunities for coordinating and 2 13 strengthening existing programs and financing structures to 2 14 further develop microenterprises. 2 15 The bill provides that the microenterprise survey shall 2 16 include a review of Iowa's small business development centers, 2 17 entrepreneurial centers in the state, programs and courses 2 18 offered through community colleges, community action agency 2 19 programs, Iowa state university cooperative extension service 2 20 programs, programs of the department of economic development, 2 21 and targeted small business programs and the current and 2 22 potential involvement of such programs with and in support of 2 23 microenterprises. The bill provides that the survey shall 2 24 involve banks, utilities, credit unions, and local chambers of 2 25 commerce in identifying opportunities for further supporting 2 26 microenterprise development. The bill provides that the 2 27 survey shall review successful programs in other states to 2 28 support microenterprises for possible application in Iowa. 2 29 The bill requires the department of economic development to 2 30 seek additional funding and technical support for conducting 2 31 the survey. 2 32 The bill provides that the survey shall be completed by 2 33 September 2007. 2 34 LSB 2731YH 82 2 35 tm:nh/es/88