Startup Act Update
“As a small business owner, I am proud today’s legislation includes commonsense provisions from my Startup Act to support American entrepreneurs by expanding access to programs that offer training and resources to individuals seeking to start their own business.”
Congressman Rick Allen
It is with tremendous enthusiasm that we share progress with you today on the Startup Act! Those who have followed this effort know that we have worked for several years with Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12) to identify barriers that entrepreneurs face in our workforce development system. Under the 2014 version of the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act, Entrepreneurship is listed as an eligible service that local workforce boards could use their funds to support, however much of the legislative language created confusion and bias towards using those funds for new business owners in favor of support of upskilling for existing industry. While that upskilling is critical, we created Make Startups specifically to tackle the issue of giving entrepreneurs equal access by pioneering industry credentialing in entrepreneurship and launching America’s only approved and funded Startup Certification program.
In 2022, Congressman Allen first introduced the bipartisan Startup Act to clarify legislative intent and remove barriers that all of our communities face when attempting to fund programs. The bill was reintroduced in the 2023 session and co-sponsored by Congressman DeSaulnier (D-CA-11). Today, we can share the following from Congressman Allen:
"I am pleased the committee today advanced the bipartisan Stronger Workforce for America Act, which makes needed improvements to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). To strengthen America’s resilient and evolving workforce, we must ensure these federal dollars are dedicated to upskilling and making the shift to skills-based hiring, and H.R. 6655 does just that," said Congressman Allen. "As a small business owner, I am proud today’s legislation includes commonsense provisions from my Startup Act to support American entrepreneurs by expanding access to programs that offer training and resources to individuals seeking to start their own business. By bridging the gap between the education and business communities, H.R. 6655 will equip our workforce with the tools needed to spark innovation and achieve the American Dream."
What is Included?
Provisions from the Startup Act, as endorsed by 26 organizations from across the nation, have been incorporated into the Stronger Workforce for America Act.
This includes specifically Section 2, which explicitly makes Entrepreneurial Skills Training Programs eligible to receive funds; and the majority of Section 3, which provides specific options to include entrepreneurship within career service offerings.
We will continue to work with founders, funders and facilitators from around the country to remove barriers and open opportunities so that Anyone, Anywhere can Make Startups.
In January, thanks to the support of EBLN and the Kauffman Foundation, we will be launching the Make Startups Executive Fellowship program to help organizations advocate for program approval from their State and Local Workforce Board.
