The Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy, and Trade will meet for a joint hearing titled, “Investing in Rural America.” The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, July 24, 2018 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building. 

Access to capital is one of the key ingredients for small business success. Early stage funding such as venture capital can help small businesses expand and hire more individuals in their community. However, venture capital is predominately awarded to businesses in larger cities on the coasts. Various groups, including public-private partnerships, trade associations, and university based organizations, have emerged to help identify opportunities for private investors that support growing rural small businesses across the United States. This hearing will examine venture capital’s role in helping small business to access capital, and provide success stories of organizations that provide resources to small businesses in rural America.

Attachments
1. Hearing Notice
2. Witness List
3. Hearing Memo 

Witnesses
Mr. Matthew M. McKenna
Executive in Residence, Rural Opportunity Initiative
McDonough School of Business
Georgetown University
Washington, DC
Testimony
Disclosure

Ms. Falon Donohue
Chief Executive Officer
VentureOhio
Columbus, OH
Testimony
Disclosure

Ms. Amy H. Gales
Executive Vice President, Regional Agribusiness Banking Group
CoBank
Greenwood Village, CO
Testimony
Disclosure

Mr. Ross Baird
President, Village Capital
Innovator-in-Residence, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Alexandria, VA
Testimony
Disclosure