ORS 285B.168 Grants; application; required provisions; authorized uses; eligibility; subcontracts; report

The Oregon Business Development Department may make grants available to a community college district, a community college service district or, with the concurrence of the executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, a public university listed in ORS 352.002 to assist in the formation, improvement and operation of small business development centers. If a community college district, a community college service district or a public university is unable to adequately provide services in a specific geographic area, the department may make grants available to other service providers as determined by the department. The grant application shall include:

Plans for providing small business owners and managers individual counseling, to the greatest extent practicable, in subject areas critical to small business success;

A budget for the year for which a grant is requested, including cost apportionment among the department, small business clients, the community college, the public university or other service providers and other sources;

A plan for evaluating the effect of the program on small business clients served; and

A plan for providing collaboration with state agencies, state-supported organizations and private sector entities that provide services to small businesses.

The grants made under subsection (1) of this section are to be used by the grant recipient to provide:

Small business development center staff and support staff;

Expert resource persons from the business community;

Outreach and marketing for small business development centers;

Training and business resources as approved by the department in skill areas for which, or areas of the state where, the grant recipient can demonstrate it does not otherwise have the capacity or expertise to provide the resources; and

Costs related to providing training, counseling and business resources to small business clients.

To be eligible for a grant under subsection (1) of this section, the recipient shall be required to provide funds, in-kind contributions or some combination of funds and contributions, in accordance with rules adopted by the department.

Subject to the approval of the department, a grant recipient may subcontract funds received under this section to any other entity that is eligible to receive funding under this section.

The grant recipient shall submit a final report to the department after the distribution of grant funds and the delivery of services to the proposed business clients. The report shall state whether the plan and related budget have met the applicable criteria as described in the recipient’s application for the grant period.