FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2026
Contact: NJ10Press@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) introduced the Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2026. The bill will make sure entrepreneurs and small business owners have access to tools that make starting and strengthening their businesses possible. Specifically, the bill would reauthorize the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Program at up to $175 million annually through FY2029 while strengthening the program and expanding access to free business counseling and technical assistance.
This legislation is urgently needed as the Trump Administration has once again targeted the SBDC Program for elimination in its FY2027 budget. McIver’s legislation would keep the administration from gutting a program that has, for decades, helped working people, especially low-income, minority, and female entrepreneurs, build businesses, create jobs, and contribute to local economies.
“This bill is about standing up for working people. Small businesses are the bedrock of our communities, and the tools that help them thrive are being threatened by Trump. We need legislation to protect working people, and the small businesses that let them accumulate wealth, from the administration’s constant attacks,” said Rep. McIver. “The SBDC Program is a proven resource and eliminating it will disproportionately harm the most vulnerable entrepreneurs and strip our communities of the establishments that make them special.”
The SBDC Program stands as one of the most effective tools the Small Business Administration (SBA) has to level the playing field for entrepreneurs and small business owners. In New Jersey, the SBDC at Rutgers University is a critical resource for countless businesses, including those in the 10th Congressional District. The Program’s work helping people start businesses, secure capital, and create jobs, is now under threat from an administration that wants to see these resources disappear.
The Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2026 would:
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Reauthorize the SBDC Program at up to $175 million annually through FY2029.
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Allow SBDCs to use a small portion of their funding to better advertise their services so more entrepreneurs know help is available.
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Improve how the SBA measures and reports the program's impact.Reduce unnecessary administrative burdens on SBDCs.
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Strengthen privacy protections for small business owners receiving assistance.
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Increase transparency and congressional oversight of SBA entrepreneurial development programs.
The legislation builds on bipartisan efforts from previous Congresses to modernize and strengthen the SBDC network while ensuring these critical services remain available to entrepreneurs and small businesses across the country.
The full text of the Small Business Development Centers Improvement Act of 2026 can be found here.
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