SELF-EMPLOYMENT ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE
When required, the counselor shall convene a SEE Committee to review and pre-approve the SEE proposal. The committee consists of the counselor, the counselor’s manager, the regional DRS SEE coordinator, an appropriate member of the business community (i.e., SBDC, SCORE), and other individuals who the counselor determines may be helpful to the review process. The counselor shall include members with knowledge of the proposed enterprise, the geographic and market areas, and small business operation. An individual involved in the development of the consumer’s business plan shall not serve on the SEE Committee
The counselor may serve as the facilitator for the committee or may appoint another member as a facilitator. When feasible, the counselor should include in the committee deliberations the agency official (regional director, chief deputy, DRS commissioner or designee) who, based on the dollar level, will need to pre-approve the SEE proposal.
The committee shall review all documentation and consider the ability of the customer to implement the business plan. The committee may choose to inspect the proposed site and to request further information or action be taken before reaching its decision. The committee’s decision is a majority recommendation for approval or disapproval. The committee provides a written response that includes the recommendation for approval or disapproval, the rationale for the recommendation, and suggestions or conditions for approval or reconsideration.
If the SEE Committee recommends disapproval, the customer and the counselor may wish to submit a modified SEE proposal to the SEE Committee, fund the SEE through sources other than DRS, abandon the enterprise, use one or more avenues of appeal. (Since the SEE Committee decision is by majority and the supervisor is a member, an administrative review by the supervisor is not an appropriate avenue of appeal.)
Once the SEE Committee recommends approval of the SEE proposal, the counselor shall submit the SEE proposal and SEE Committee written recommendation to the supervisor, regional director, chief deputy or DRS commissioner for final pre-approval according to the established policy on pre-approval dollar levels. The funding levels must reflect cumulative expenses for the self-employment enterprise. The customer and the counselor should try to anticipate all costs up-front, including any planned training.
