Bill Overview
Title: SCORE for Small Business Act of 2022
Description: This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) program, outlines the duties of the SCORE Association, and requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to cooperate with the association to carry out the program. Specifically, the bill requires the association to manage nationwide chapters of the program to enable volunteers participating in the program to provide personal, cost-free business expertise and facilitate education workshops to small businesses. The association must also offer online counseling through web-based platforms to small businesses. In consultation with the association, the SBA must ensure that the program (1) recruits diverse volunteers for each chapter of the program, and (2) provides services to rural and underserved communities.
Sponsors: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Target Audience
Population: small business owners
Estimated Size: 33000000
- The SCORE program is designed to support small businesses through educational workshops and counseling.
- There are approximately 400 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) globally, which form the backbone of many economies.
- The online component of the counseling means the program has the potential to impact small businesses globally.
- While the direct support is through a U.S.-based program, the availability of online resources potentially broadens the reach internationally.
Reasoning
- The SCORE for Small Business Act of 2022 primarily targets small business owners who may benefit from additional expertise and counseling.
- Small businesses across various sectors and locations, especially those in underserved and rural areas, are likely to be the primary beneficiaries.
- Given the emphasis on online resources, tech-savvy younger business owners might also find it more accessible.
- The program's budget is modest relative to the vast number of small businesses in the U.S., suggesting a targeted impact rather than a massive transformative effect across the board.
- Many small businesses in urban areas might not see significant changes unless they actively seek out the resources offered by SCORE.
- The potential benefits might be seen in terms of improved knowledge, strategic planning, and business sustainability.
Simulated Interviews
Small Business Owner (Rural Iowa)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've struggled with growth due to lack of strategic guidance.
- The program seems promising if they can really reach out to rural areas like ours.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Owner of a landscaping business (Suburban Texas)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Usually, I don't have the time for such workshops, but if it's online, I might give it a try.
- If there's financial guidance, it could really help my business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Entrepreneur (Urban California)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm already pretty active in finding resources online, but additional guidance on specific issues could be helpful.
- Not sure how new services would differ from what I have now.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Restaurant Owner (Inner-city New York)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Post-COVID, things have been tough, and strategic help could be a lifeline.
- I'm worried that the online component might be hard to navigate for someone like me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Owner of a home-based textile business (Rural Alabama)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I often feel isolated in my challenges, so a support network would be really valuable.
- If this helps me find new markets online, it could be great.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Tech startup founder (Urban Chicago)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm pretty self-sufficient with the resources I have, but niche-specific advice might be beneficial.
- Unlikely that this would bring significant changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Owner of a small manufacturing unit (Detroit, Michigan)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think workshops could help with some process improvements I've been meaning to tackle.
- If they provide insights on new manufacturing technologies, that would be great.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Founder of a logistics company (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The SCORE program could help me streamline financial operations if they offer detailed guidance.
- I'm unsure about the access and quality of online help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Owner of an e-commerce fashion business (Boston, Massachusetts)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Fresh out of business school, I'm looking for real-world insights.
- The online counseling could supplement my current knowledge base, but not sure if it's necessary.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Small farm operator (Savannah, Georgia)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Most of the time, we're missed out by these kinds of programs.
- If they can offer specific advice for agriculture, it might make a real difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $14000000)
Year 2: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $14000000)
Year 3: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $14000000)
Year 5: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $14000000)
Year 10: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $14000000)
Year 100: $12000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $14000000)
Key Considerations
- The program requires cooperation between the SBA and the SCORE Association, which may entail additional coordination costs.
- Diverse volunteer recruitment is a key component, potentially increasing program costs for outreach and training.