Small Business Development Centers in the United States

The Office of Small Business Development Centers (OSBDC) provides counseling and training to existing and prospective small-business owners at more than 950 service locations in every State, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. The Office of Small Business Development Centers develops national policies and goals, establishes standards for the selection and performance of its Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), monitors compliance with applicable Office of Management and Budget circulars and laws, and implements new approaches to improve existing centers.

The Office of Small Business Development Centers also oversees 63 lead centers and maintains
liaison with other Federal, State, and local agencies and private organizations whose activities relate to its centers. It also assesses how the program is affected by substantive developments and policies in other SBA areas, Government agencies, and the private sector.

The Small Business Development Center Program is a cooperative effort of the private sector, the educational community, and Federal, State, and local governments. The program enhances local economic development by providing small businesses with the management and technical assistance they need to succeed. It also provides services such as development of business plans, manufacturing assistance, financial packages, procurement contracts, and international trade assistance. Special areas include ecommerce; technology transfer; IRS, EPA, and OSHA regulatory compliance; research and development; defense economic transition assistance; disaster recovery assistance; and market research. Based on client need assessments, business trends, and individual business requirements, SBDCs modify their services to meet the evolving needs of the small-business community.

The Small Business Paperwork Relief Act

On June 28, 2002, the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act (SBPRA) was enacted as Public Law 107-198 (attached). This law, which amended the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), imposes certain requirements on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and on Federal agencies. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has prepared the attached question and answer document to assist agencies in understanding their obligations under the statute.

The statute requires each agency to submit an initial regulatory enforcement report to Congress by December 31, 2003, which will cover that agency’s activities in fiscal year 2003.