Main Street BRIDGE Act

This legislation aims to foster greater cooperation between key small business support networks by directing the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the National Director of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) to ensure that Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) and MBDA Business Centers collaborate effectively. The primary goal of this mandated partnership is to enhance the services provided to small business concerns across the nation. Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, the respective agencies must implement directives for this collaboration. Furthermore, the bill requires a comprehensive joint report to be submitted to Congress within two years, detailing the outcomes of the collaboration. This report will include a summary of results, challenges encountered, quantitative data on consultations and outreach, the number of small businesses served, new businesses started, jobs created or supported, and the financial assistance provided, concluding with recommendations for future improvements in inter-agency cooperation.