KRS 154.12-310: Kentucky Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub Program hubs --

Organization powers and duties of executive director of Office of

Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

(1) The program hubs are private-public partnerships, operating as a cohesive statewide

infrastructure to support the implementation of key Kentucky Innovation Act

initiatives.

(2) The organization of the hubs shall be a statewide network, with the location and

services provided for each hub determined by the executive director i n accordance

with the following:

(a) The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation shall be the central

headquarters for the program hubs and has primary responsibility for the

following:

1. Managing and administering the program;

2. Establishing uniform p rogram application, protocol, and operating

guidelines when appropriate;

3. Supporting the protocol by creating and funding centralized services to

be distributed throughout the network; and

4. Identifying those issues, opportunities, and challenges that h ave

statewide implications;

(b) The hubs are responsible for fulfilling the duties as set forth in KRS 154.12 -

305 relating to the implementation of the region's innovation strategic plan

and supporting the implementation of the Kentucky Innovation Act init iatives

in the region or subregion; and

(c) The hubs are responsible for generating technology business development in

their assigned geographic area, acting as a bridge between individuals and

companies needing critical early state concept and development work and the

hubs that can provide this support.

The hubs provide a valuable assurance for equal access to the Kentucky Innovation

Act initiatives and funding, and provide an opportunity for full participation in rural

and remote, as well as metropolitan, areas of the state.

(3) The executive dire ctor shall have all the powers and authority, not explicitly

prohibited by statute, necessary and convenient to carry out and effectuate the

purposes of KRS 154.12-300 to 154.12-310.

(4) The executive director may, in effectuating the provisions of KRS 154 .12-300 to

154.12-310, contract with a science and technology organization as defined in KRS

164.6011 to administer and manage the program.