Small Business Futures Program

Subtitle D of title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3221 et seq.) is amended— (1) by redesignating section 172 as section 174; and (2) by inserting after section 171 the following: 172. Small Business Futures Program (a) Grants Using the sum received from the Artificial Intelligence Horizon Fund and allocated by the Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council for use under this section, the Secretary shall make grants to States, through the State workforce agencies that carry out subtitle B, to assist the States in carrying out the provisions of the State plan approved under section 102 or 103 that relate to entrepreneurship, self-employment, and small business ownership. (b) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including an assurance that the agency will coordinate the activities carried out under the grant with the activities of a lead small business development center in the State. (c) Use of funds A State that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to build its capacity to provide services relating to entrepreneurship, self-employment, and small business ownership, under subtitle B, which may include establishing a small business liaison office within the State workforce agency to develop resources and connect job seekers to— (1) counseling at a small business development center, other Small Business Administration resources, private sector training programs, community development financial institutions (as defined in section 103 of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702)), nonprofit organizations providing entrepreneurial training, counseling, or technical assistance, and other entities that provide entrepreneurial training, counseling, or technical assistance; and (2) assistance in adopting digital tools and artificial intelligence to improve business operations, competitiveness, and efficiency. (d) Definitions For purposes of this section, the terms Artificial Intelligence Horizon Fund, and Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council have the meanings given such terms in section 3 of the Make AI Work for Americans Act..