WASHINGTON – The U.S. House Committee on Small Business recently approved four bills that would expand the role of the SBA's 1,100 Small Business Development Centers. Collectively, the bills would allow the SBDCs to provide regulatory assistance to small businesses to help them comply with federal regulatory and statutory mandates; provide grants for entrepreneurial education to schools; provide assistance to Native American start-up businesses and expansions; and create a four-year pilot program to identify and assist second-stage small businesses. An amendment was also approved that would allow minority institutions such as historically Black colleges and Hispanic-serving institutions to find matching funds from other sources to equal 50% of the federal grant, not the 100% match in the case of most other SBDCs. "Small Business Development Centers are located in every state, many associated with the higher education system, and provide invaluable advice to America's entrepreneurs – the job creators of our economy," said Small Business Committee Chairman Don Manzullo (R-Ill.).