Global small business grants program

(a) In general The Assistant Secretary for Commercial Diplomacy may make grants to any qualified entity that submits an application in such form, and satisfying such requirements, as the Assistant Secretary for Commercial Diplomacy may require. (b) Types of grants A qualified entity may receive a grant for one or more of the following purposes: (1) To assist national and local governments of a foreign country to develop a small business development center, or multiple centers. (2) To promote economic connectivity between small business concerns in the United States and economies covered by the Global Small Business Network program. (3) To support improvements to the business environment that facilitates the growth of small businesses in foreign countries. (c) Definitions In this section— (1) the term qualified entity means an entity that is— (A) an institution of higher education (as such term is defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)), except that such term does not include institutions described in section 102(a)(1)(c) of such Act; (B) a consortium of two or more institutions of higher education described in subparagraph (A); or (C) a nonprofit entity with experience in operating or working with small business development centers in the United States; (2) the term small business concern has the meaning given the term under section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)); and (3) the term small business development center — (A) with respect to a center located in the United States— (i) has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632); and (ii) includes a women’s business center, as such term is used under section 29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656); and (B) with respect to a center located in a foreign country, means an entity that— (i) provides small business-oriented employment or natural resources development programs; (ii) promotes studies, research, and counseling concerning the managing, financing, and operation of small businesses; (iii) provides management and technical assistance regarding small business participation in international markets and international commerce, including with the United States; (iv) provides delivery or distribution of services and information described in this subparagraph; or (v) provides access to business analysts who can refer a small business to available experts.