* 1. The department shall establish and support, within available appropriations, entrepreneurship assistance centers at career education agencies and not-for-profit corporations including, but not limited to, local development corporations, chambers of commerce, community-based business outreach centers and other community-based organizations. The purpose of such centers shall be to train minority group members, women, individuals with a disability, dislocated workers and veterans in the principles and practice of entrepreneurship in order to prepare such persons to pursue self-employment opportunities and to pursue a minority business enterprise or a women-owned business enterprise. Such centers shall provide for training in all aspects of business development and small business management as defined by the commissioner. For purposes of this section, "career education agency" shall mean a community college or board of cooperative educational services operating within the state. * NB Effective until July 2, 2023 * 1. The department shall establish and support, within available appropriations, entrepreneurship assistance centers at career education agencies, municipal agencies, and not-for-profit corporations including, but not limited to, local development corporations, chambers of commerce, community-based business outreach centers and other community-based organizations. The purpose of such centers shall be to train minority group members, women, individuals with a disability, dislocated workers and veterans in the principles and practice of entrepreneurship in order to prepare such persons to pursue self-employment opportunities and to pursue a designation as a minority business enterprise or a women-owned business enterprise. Such centers shall provide for training in all aspects of business development and small business management as defined by the commissioner. For purposes of this section, "career education agency" shall mean a community college or board of cooperative educational services operating within the state. * NB Effective July 2, 2023 until July 2, 2025 * 1. The department shall establish and support, within available appropriations, entrepreneurship assistance centers at career education agencies and not-for-profit corporations including, but not limited to, local development corporations, chambers of commerce, community-based business outreach centers and other community-based organizations. The purpose of such centers shall be to train minority group members, women, individuals with a disability, dislocated workers and veterans in the principles and practice of entrepreneurship in order to prepare such persons to pursue self-employment opportunities and to pursue a minority business enterprise or a women-owned business enterprise. Such centers shall provide for training in all aspects of business development and small business management as defined by the commissioner. For purposes of this section, "career education agency" shall mean a community college or board of cooperative educational services operating within the state. * NB Effective July 2, 2025

1. 2. The department shall establish criteria for selection and designation of such centers which shall include, but not be limited to:

   1. (a) require that each support center program provide at least sixty hours of instruction for each participant and that each program be supplemented by ongoing technical assistance for business development for those who have completed the program;
   2. (b) the level of support for the center from local post-secondary education institutions, businesses, and government;
   3. (c) the level of financial assistance provided at the local and federal level to support the operations of the center;
   4. (d) the applicant's understanding of program goals and objectives articulated by the department;
   5. (e) the plans of the center to supplement state and local funding through fees for services which may be based on a sliding scale based on ability to pay;
   6. (f) the need for and anticipated impact of the center on the community in which it will function;
   7. (g) the quality of the proposed work plan and staff of the center; and
   8. (h) the extent of economic distress in the area to be served.

2. 3. Application for grants made pursuant to this section shall be made in the manner and on forms prescribed by the commissioner. Such application shall include, but shall not be limited to:

   1. (a) a description of the training programs available within the geographic area to be served by the center to which eligible clients may be referred;
   2. (b) designation of a program director;
   3. (c) plans for providing ongoing technical assistance to program graduates, including linkages with providers of other entrepreneurial assistance programs and with providers of small business technical assistance and services;
   4. (d) a program budget, including matching funds, in-kind and otherwise, to be provided by the applicant;
   5. (e) permit a joint application from a consortium of career education agencies and not-for-profit corporations, or any combination thereof, for establishing a cooperative program; and
   6. (f) such other requirements as deemed necessary by the department.

3. 4. Each center shall:

   1. (a) be operated by a board of directors representing community leaders in business, education, finance and government;
   2. (b) be incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation;
   3. (c) be located in an area accessible to eligible clients;
   4. (d) establish an advisory group of community business experts, at least one-half of whom shall be representative of the clientele to be served by the center, which shall constitute a support network to provide counseling and mentoring services to minority group members, women, individuals with a disability, dislocated workers and veterans from the concept stage of development through the first one to two years of existence on a regular basis and as needed thereafter; and
   5. (e) establish a referral system and linkages to existing area small business assistance programs and financing sources.

4. 5. Each entrepreneurship assistance center shall provide needed services to eligible clients, including, but not limited to:

   1. (a) orientation and screening of prospective entrepreneurs;
   2. (b) analysis of business concepts and technical feasibility;
   3. (c) market analysis;
   4. (d) management analysis and counseling;
   5. (e) business planning and financial planning assistance;
   6. (f) referrals to financial resources;
   7. (g) referral to existing educational programs for training in such areas as marketing, accounting and other such training programs as may be necessary and available; and
   8. (h) referral to business incubator facilities, where appropriate, for the purpose of entering into agreements to access shared support services.

5. 6. Grants made pursuant to this section shall be subject to the following limitations:

   1. (a) no grant shall be made to any one or any consortium of career education agencies and not-for-profit corporations in excess of one hundred seventy-five thousand dollars; and
   2. (b) each grant shall be disbursed for payment of the cost of services and expenses of the program director, the instructors of the participating career education agency or not-for-profit corporation, the faculty and support personnel thereof and any other person in the service of providing instruction and counseling in furtherance of the program.