                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

MENTORSHIP PROGRAM (§ 2.2-1605.1)

A. The Department shall establish and administer a pilot program whereby
established businesses, or subject matter experts in relevant industry sectors,
act as mentors for start-up women-owned and minority-owned businesses. In
establishing the program, the Department may include any of the following
elements: (i) requiring a participant who has completed the Department&#8217;s
Scaling4Growth program or any successor program to act as a mentor for a
start-up women-owned or minority-owned business; (ii) awarding grants in each
region, as defined in &#xA7; 2.2-2484, to recruit mentors and match them with
start-up women-owned and minority-owned businesses in such region; or (iii) any
other measures the Department deems appropriate for facilitating mentorship
relationships between established businesses and start-up women-owned and
minority-owned businesses. The Department shall also evaluate the feasibility of
awarding procurement preferences for businesses who agree to act as mentors in
the mentorship program.

B. In establishing the pilot program under subsection A, the Department shall by
July 1, 2023, select an initial group of established businesses, subject matter
experts in relevant industry sectors, and start-up women-owned and
minority-owned businesses. The Department shall by July 1, 2024, report on the
progress of the initial group pursuant to &#xA7; 2.2-1610, but shall not select
a second group unless directed to do so in legislation enacted by the General
Assembly.

HISTORY: 2022, c. 302.