AZ HB2629

Establishes the youth entrepreneurship pilot program administered by the Arizona Commerce Authority to serve individuals ages 16-23, providing community-based entrepreneurial education, mentoring from small business owners, and economic development opportunities.

Program components include educational workshops on alternative career pathways, mentoring services, skill-building in entrepreneurship, and special services targeting youths in counties with populations under 750,000 persons.

Arizona Commerce Authority must submit annual reports by October 1 to the governor, legislature, and secretary of state detailing program activities, number of youths served, and outcomes achieved.

Appropriates $1,000,000 from the Arizona Competes Fund in fiscal year 2018-2019, with $50,000 allocated for seed capital grants to program graduates in rural counties and $50,000 for seed capital grants to graduates in urban counties.

Program terminates on June 30, 2024, and the appropriation is exempt from lapsing provisions.