Rural Small Business Resilience Act

The Rural Small Business Resilience Act (S 1703) requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure rural individuals affected by federally declared disasters have full access to disaster aid. It directs the SBA’s disaster recovery office to implement targeted outreach and marketing materials within one year of the law’s passage, specifically for those in rural areas as defined by the Small Business Act. This bill directly affects small business owners and residents in rural communities who qualify for disaster assistance under Section 7(b) of the Small Business Act. The key change is mandating proactive, accessible communication to overcome barriers rural residents face in accessing existing disaster relief programs.