---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 6901"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "6901"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/6901"
units:
  - "Chapter 95 — Microenterprise Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Program"
---

# §6901. Definitions


For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

- (1) **Administration—** The term “Administration” means the Small Business Administration.
- (2) **Administrator—** The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Small Business [Administration](#1).
- (3) **Capacity building services—** The term “capacity building services” means services provided to an organization that is, or that is in the process of becoming, a [microenterprise development organization or program](#11), for the purpose of enhancing its ability to provide training and services to [disadvantaged entrepreneurs](#5).
- (4) **Collaborative—** The term “collaborative” means 2 or more nonprofit entities that agree to act jointly as a qualified organization under this chapter.
- (5) **Disadvantaged entrepreneur—** The term “disadvantaged entrepreneur” means a [microentrepreneur](#9) that is—
  - (A) a [low-income person](#8);
  - (B) a [very low-income person](#13); or
  - (C) an entrepreneur that lacks adequate access to capital or other resources essential for business success, or is economically disadvantaged, as determined by the [Administrator](#2).
- (6) **Indian tribe—** The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given the term in [section 4702 of title 12](/usc/12/4702.md).
- (7) **Intermediary—** The term “intermediary” means a private, nonprofit entity that seeks to serve [microenterprise](#10) development organizations and programs as authorized under [section 6904 of this title](/usc/15/6904.md).
- (8) **Low-income person—** The term “low-income person” has the meaning given the term in [section 4702 of title 12](/usc/12/4702.md).
- (9) **Microentrepreneur—** The term “microentrepreneur” means the owner or developer of a [microenterprise](#10).
- (10) **Microenterprise—** The term “microenterprise” means a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation that—
  - (A) has fewer than 5 employees; and
  - (B) generally lacks access to conventional loans, equity, or other banking services.
- (11) **Microenterprise development organization or program—** The term “microenterprise development organization or program” means a nonprofit entity, or a program administered by such an entity, including community development corporations or other nonprofit development organizations and social service organizations, that provides services to [disadvantaged entrepreneurs](#5).
- (12) **Training and technical assistance—** The term “training and technical assistance” means services and support provided to [disadvantaged entrepreneurs](#5), such as assistance for the purpose of enhancing business planning, marketing, management, financial management skills, and assistance for the purpose of accessing financial services.
- (13) **Very low-income person—** The term “very low-income person” means having an income, adjusted for family size, of not more than 150 percent of the poverty line (as defined in [section 9902(2) of title 42](/usc/42/9902.md?p=2), including any revision required by that section).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–325, title I, § 172, as added Pub. L. 106–102, title VII, § 725, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1472.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title

Pub. L. 103–325, title I, § 171, as added by Pub. L. 106–102, title VII, § 725, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1471, provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle C (§§ 171–181) of title I of Pub. L. 103–325, as added by Pub. L. 106–102, enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs Act of 1999’, also referred to as the ‘PRIME Act’.”