Connecting Small Businesses with Career and Technical Education Graduates Act of 2025

This legislation aims to strengthen the ties between small businesses and career and technical education (CTE) programs by amending the Small Business Act. It includes specific requirements for Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and Women's Business Centers (WBCs) to facilitate these connections.

The bill defines "career and technical education" and directs SBDCs to provide educational information to small businesses on hiring graduates from CTE programs and understanding relevant CTE offerings. Furthermore, SBDCs must inform CTE programs about how their students and graduates can access SBDC resources to start or expand a small business, and connect small businesses directly with CTE programs to help students and graduates identify career opportunities.

Similarly, Women's Business Centers are mandated to offer comparable services, focusing on women-owned small business concerns. This includes educating them on hiring CTE graduates and utilizing CTE programs to meet staffing needs, informing CTE programs about their services for aspiring women entrepreneurs, and facilitating connections between women-owned businesses and CTE programs to support career pathways.