S. 701 would expand and codify into law an existing pilot program that designates some consortiums of private and public sector entities that aim to improve manufacturing in a particular region as “manufacturing communities” and offers them preferential consideration for some federal assistance. Those designations expire in 2017.
Under the bill, the Department of Commerce (DOC) also would be required to develop a program to which groups of public and private sector entities could apply to be designated as a manufacturing community. Such a designation would last for two years and could be renewed for a maximum of four additional years. Manufacturing communities would be eligible for preferential consideration for financial or technical assistance or awards from participating federal agencies or programs.
Based on an analysis of information from DOC and the Small Business Administration, CBO estimates that implementing S. 701 would cost $5 million over the 2018-2022 period for the Economic Development Administration within DOC to operate the program and for increased administrative costs to federal agencies that participate in the program; such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Enacting S. 701 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. CBO estimates that enacting S. 701 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
S. 701 contains no intergovernmental or private sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
