Vermont H 257: An act relating to creating the Office of Entrepreneurship

Bill Text

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VT LEG #380210 v.1
H.257 1
Introduced by Representatives Priestley of Bradford, Boyden of Cambridge, 2
Chapin of East Montpelier, Micklus of Milton, and Sibilia of 3
Dover 4
Referred to Committee on 5
Date: 6
Subject: Executive; commerce and community development; entrepreneurship 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create the 8
Office of Entrepreneurship to develop policies and programs pertaining to 9
entrepreneurs. 10
An act relating to creating the Office of Entrepreneurship 11
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 12
Sec. 1. 3 V.S.A. § 2478 is added to read: 13
§ 2478. OFFICE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP 14
(a) The Office of Entrepreneurship is created within the Agency of 15
Commerce and Community Development to promote the needs of 16
entrepreneurs in the State by: 17
(1) working to strengthen policies and programs supporting the growth 18
of entrepreneurship in the State across demographic segments and geographic 19
areas; 20

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VT LEG #380210 v.1
(2) working with stakeholders and organizations supporting 1
entrepreneurship to enhance the learning and skills of, provide technical 2
support to, and expand access to resources for entrepreneurs across the State; 3
(3) serving as a point of contact to assist businesses that have been in 4
operation for not more than five years in interactions with State agencies and, 5
where appropriate, referring businesses to other State or local agencies that 6
provide assistance to businesses; and 7
(4) encouraging the award of at least five percent of the total number of 8
State contracts to businesses that have been in operation for not more than five 9
years and whose principal place of business is in this State. 10
(b) Beginning on March 1, 2027 and each year thereafter, the Office of 11
Entrepreneurship shall submit to the General Assembly a report that includes 12
the following information for the previous calendar year: 13
(1) the number and total dollar amount of State contracts awarded to 14
businesses that have been in operation for not more than five years, including a 15
breakdown by demographic segments and geographical areas throughout the 16
State; 17
(2) the percentage of State contracts awarded to businesses that have 18
been in operation for not more than five years compared to the total number of 19
contracts awarded; 20

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VT LEG #380210 v.1
(3) the number of businesses owned by women, minorities, or veterans 1
that have been in operation for not more than five years and have been 2
awarded a State contract; 3
(4) the percentage of the total dollar amount of State contracts awarded 4
to businesses that have been in operation for not more than five years 5
compared to the total dollar amount of contracts awarded; 6
(5) recommendations on improving access to State contracts for 7
businesses that have been in operation for not more than five years, including 8
businesses in statistically underrepresented demographic segments and 9
geographic areas of Vermont; 10
(6) recommendations on improving overall entrepreneurship in this 11
State, including identifying regional challenges to entrepreneurship; and 12
(7) any additional information deemed necessary by the Agency of 13
Commerce and Community Development to provide an accurate depiction of 14
the conditions of entrepreneurship in Vermont. 15
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 16
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 17