Section 2-119 - Duties of Department. - Maryland Statutes

§ 2-119. Duties of Department.
 

The Department shall: 

(1) investigate and assemble information about the economic development, industrial opportunities, and economic resources of the State, including raw materials, power and water resources, transportation facilities, markets, labor, banking and financing facilities, industrial sites, and other fields of research; 

(2) encourage location and development of new businesses in the State and the retention and expansion of present enterprises in coordination with local governments and local economic development units; 

(3) encourage formation of local and sectional development committees and cooperate with local civic groups and other local, State, and federal development units; 

(4) disseminate information in the interest of industrial development in the State, by publication, advertising, and other means; 

(5) assist businesses in the areas of technology development and commercialization, small business development, workforce development and productivity, manufacturing modernization, and defense conversion; 

(6) serve as an ombudsman for businesses affected by State policies and programs; 

(7) coordinate business assistance service delivery to individual companies; 

(8) link groups of businesses to address regional and industry specific needs; 

(9) broker information exchange and entrepreneurial services that enhance economic development through partnerships with businesses, not-for-profit organizations, professional groups, local economic development entities, and local governments; 

(10) assist in developing and conducting regional strategic planning and coordinating State investments with regional economic development entities; 

(11) collect and assemble information and data available from other State units; 

(12) monitor economic conditions, release reports, and maintain interindustry models of State regulations and local economies; 

(13) use community colleges in the State to help deliver services; 

(14) administer the programs in the Department; and 

(15) coordinate its efforts and activities with the Apprenticeship and Training Council and Apprenticeship and Training Program in the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 83A, §§ 3-201, 3-601; 2008, ch. 306, § 2.]