Lafayette Reporter

Senators John Kennedy of Louisiana and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire have reintroduced the Coordinated Support for Rural Small Businesses Act. The measure has advanced to the full Senate after receiving a vote of approval from the Senate Small Business Committee. The bill seeks to boost support for rural small businesses by enhancing cooperation between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The proposed legislation would establish an Assistant Administrator dedicated to rural affairs within the SBA and reinforce collaboration between the SBA and USDA. "Louisiana’s small businesses provide good paying jobs to folks throughout our state and support local economic growth. I’m thankful to my colleagues for advancing this bill to improve support for job creators, and I look forward to full Senate consideration,” said Senator Kennedy.

Senator Shaheen expressed her support for the bill, highlighting the challenges rural businesses face. “Small businesses are the backbone of rural communities but often face higher barriers to accessing federal programs and resources that would help them thrive. I’m pleased that my colleagues on the Small Business Committee cleared the way for our bipartisan bill to increase coordination between federal agencies—bringing us one step closer to delivering more support for rural small businesses across the country.”

The bill directs the SBA and USDA to form working groups aimed at enhancing federal support for rural businesses. These groups would focus on identifying potential partnerships in loan programs, improving resource delivery through lenders and partners, coordinating investment programs, and sharing best practices. The bill also aims to strengthen collaboration on technical assistance related to procurement, exports, and innovation.