§ 15-4-306 - Duties. - Arkansas Statutes

15-4-306. Duties.

The Division of Minority Business Enterprise of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission shall:

(1) Provide technical, managerial, and counseling services and assistance to minority business enterprises;

(2) With the participation of other state departments and agencies as appropriate:

(A) Develop comprehensive plans and specific program goals for a minority business enterprise program;

(B) Establish regular performance monitoring and reporting systems to assure that goals are being achieved; and

(C) Evaluate the impact of federal and state support in achieving the objectives established by the commission;

(3) Implement state policy in support of minority business enterprise development and coordinate the plans, programs, and operations of state government that affect or may contribute to the establishment, preservation, and strengthening of minority business enterprises;

(4) Coordinate, make application for, and administer federal funding grants from the Minority Business Development Agency of the United States Department of Commerce and other federal agencies where applicable;

(5) Promote the mobilization of activities and resources of state agencies and local governments, business and trade associations, universities, foundations, professional organizations, and volunteer and other groups toward the growth of minority business enterprises, and facilitate the coordination of the efforts of these groups with those of other state departments and agencies;

(6) Establish a center for the development, collection, and dissemination of information that will be helpful to persons and organizations throughout the state in undertaking or promoting the establishment and successful operation of minority business enterprises;

(7) Conduct coordinated reviews of all proposed state training and technical assistance activities in direct support of the minority business enterprise program to ensure consistency with program goals and to preclude duplication of effort of other state agencies with overlapping jurisdictions;

(8) Recommend appropriate legislative or executive actions to enhance minority business opportunities in this state;

(9) Assist minority businesses in obtaining governmental or commercial financing for business expansion, establishment of new businesses, or industrial development projects;

(10) Provide services to promote the organization of local development corporations for rural development and assist minority business persons in agrarian endeavors;

(11) Assist minority businesses to promote reciprocal foreign trade and investment;

(12) Assist minority business persons in business contract procurement from governmental and private commercial sources; and

(13) Provide a program effort to ensure participation of veterans in Arkansas minority business enterprise activities.