Chapter 148 Oregon Laws 2001

AN ACT

HB 2342

Relating to small business; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 285B.165, 285B.168 and 285B.174.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. Section 2 of this 2001 Act is added to and made a part of ORS 285B.165 to 285B.171.

SECTION 2. As used in ORS 285B.165 to 285B.171, “state university” means a state institution of higher education listed in ORS 352.002.

SECTION 3. ORS 285B.165 is amended to read:

285B.165. (1) The purpose of ORS 285B.165 to 285B.171 is to establish and sustain a statewide network of [community college-based] small business development centers.

(2) The Legislative Assembly finds that:

(a) It is in the state’s interest to help small businesses develop and improve skills in such areas as marketing, management and capital formation through a network of small business development centers [because:];

[(a)] (b) Small business employers create most of the new jobs in Oregon and are vital to Oregon’s long term economic [recovery] vitality;

[(b)] (c) Community colleges and state universities [present the possibility of a statewide network able to link] can link small business with college resources, expert resource people in the business community and [with] other training resources throughout the state; and

[(c)] (d) [While many factors affect the vitality of small business,] Information resources, business counseling and training assistance in a [form, location and time directly related to the problem to be solved is chief among them] convenient format support the vitality of small business.

SECTION 4. ORS 285B.168 is amended to read:

285B.168. (1) The Economic and Community Development Department may make grants available on a justified need basis to a community college [and] district, a community college service district or, with the concurrence of the Commissioner for Community College Services and the Chancellor of the State Board of Higher Education, a state university [districts on a justified need basis grants] to assist in the formation, [and] improvement and operation of small business development centers. The grant application shall include:

(a) Evidence of the potential demand for assistance;

(b) Plans for involving other training resources and expert resource people from the business community in the program;

(c) An outline of training options to be available, including[, but not limited to, time of day, length of training] subject, training location, electronic availability and other considerations important to the small business community;

(d) Plans for the establishment and maintenance, either in a geographically accessible location or in electronic form, of resource information critical to the success of small business;

(e) Plans for providing small business owners and managers individual counseling, to the greatest extent practicable, in subject areas critical to small business success;

[(d)] (f) A budget for the year for which a grant is requested, including [college, client and Economic and Community Development Department grant shares] cost apportionment among the Economic and Community Development Department, small business clients, the community college or state university and other sources; and

[(e)] (g) A plan for evaluating the effect of the program on small business clients served.

(2) The grants made under subsection (1) of this section are to be used by the community college district, [or] community college service district or state university to provide funds for:

(a) [Provide funds for] Small business development center staff and support staff;

(b) [Provide funds to retain] Expert resource persons from the business community;

(c) [Provide funds to retain] Other training and business resources [as necessary to enhance the training capability of the centers] in [certain] skill areas for which, or areas of the state [in instances where the] where, the community college [or] district, community college service district or state university can demonstrate it does not otherwise have the capacity or expertise to provide [such] the resources; and

(d) [Provide funds for] Other costs related to [operation of the centers and provision of] providing training, counseling and business resources to small business clients.

[(3) In no case shall the grants made under subsection (1) of this section be used for the establishment, maintenance or expansion of other public or private institutions providing similar education services or to establish, maintain or expand satellite centers or business assistance programs operated by other public or private educational institutions.]

[(4)] (3) [In order] To be eligible for grants under subsection (1) of this section, [existing] programs shall be required to provide funds, [or] in-kind contributions or some combination of funds and contributions, in accordance with rules adopted by the Economic and Community Development Department.

SECTION 5. ORS 285B.174 is amended to read:

285B.174. In cooperation with other state and public agencies, state universities as defined in section 2 of this 2001 Act and community colleges may develop programs to assist Oregon businesses with the procurement of government contracts and grants. [The] Small business development centers established under ORS 285B.165 to 285B.171 may assist with these programs.

Approved by the Governor May 21, 2001

Filed in the office of Secretary of State May 21, 2001

Effective date January 1, 2002

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