(1) The board of regents of Washington State University shall establish the Washington State University small business development center.

     (2) The center shall provide management and technical assistance including but not limited to training, counseling, and research services to small businesses throughout the state. The center shall work with the *department of community, trade, and economic development, the state board for community and technical colleges, the higher education coordinating board, the workforce training and education coordinating board, the employment security department, the Washington state economic development commission, associate development organizations, and workforce development councils to:

     (a) Integrate small business development centers with other state and local economic development and workforce development programs;

     (b) Target the centers' services to small businesses;

     (c) Tailor outreach and services at each center to the needs and demographics of entrepreneurs and small businesses located within the service area;

     (d) Establish and expand small business development center satellite offices when financially feasible; and

     (e) Coordinate delivery of services to avoid duplication.

     (3) The administrator of the center may contract with other public or private entities for the provision of specialized services.

     (4) The small business development center may accept and disburse federal grants or federal matching funds or other funds or donations from any source when made, granted, or donated to carry out the center's purposes. When drawing on funds from the business assistance account created in **RCW 30.60.010, the center must first use the funds to make increased management and technical assistance available to small and start-up businesses at satellite offices. The funds may also be used to develop and expand assistance programs such as small business planning workshops and small business counseling.

     (5) The legislature directs the small business development center to request United States small business administration approval of a special emphasis initiative, as permitted under 13 C.F.R. 130.340(c) as of April 1, 2009, to target assistance to Washington state's smaller businesses. This initiative would be negotiated and included in the first cooperative agreement application process that occurs after July 26, 2009.

     (6) By December 1, 2009, and December 1, 2010, respectively, the center shall provide a written progress report and a final report to the appropriate committees of the legislature with respect to the requirements in subsections (2) and (5) of this section and the amount and use of funding received through the business assistance account. The reports must also include data on the number, location, staffing, and budget levels of satellite offices; affiliations with community colleges, associate development organizations or other local organizations; the number, size, and type of small businesses assisted; and the types of services provided. The reports must also include information on the outcomes achieved, such as jobs created or retained, private capital invested, and return on the investment of state and federal dollars.

[2009 c 486 § 1; 1984 c 77 § 1.]

NOTES:

     Reviser's note: *(1) The "department of community, trade, and economic development" was renamed the "department of commerce" by 2009 c 565.

     **(2) The reference to RCW 30.60.010 appears to be erroneous. Reference to RCW 28B.30.531 was apparently intended.

     Conflict with federal requirements -- 2009 c 486: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements, including guidelines set by the United States small business administration, that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state." [2009 c 486 § 4.]

     Intent -- 2009 c 486: See note following RCW 39.29.006.