N.Y. Economic Development Law § 118: Power and duties

§ 118. Power and duties. In addition to the power and duties conferred

by section one hundred sixteen of this article, the division shall have

the additional power and duty to:

1. Coordinate with all state agencies performing functions affecting

the operations of minority business enterprises, and women-owned

business enterprises, as such terms are defined in section two hundred

ten of this chapter;

2. Receive complaints and inquiries of operators of minority and

women-owned business enterprises and refer them to the appropriate

federal, state or local agency for appropriate action on such

complaints;

3. Solicit recommendations from the operators of minority and

women-owned business enterprises for improving existing state programs

and refer such recommendations to the governor, the legislature and

appropriate state agencies or authorities;

4. Advise and make recommendations to the commissioner and the

legislature on matters affecting the minority and women-owned business

enterprises of the state and promote and encourage the protection of the

legitimate interests of minority and women-owned business enterprises

within the state;

5. Conduct investigations, research, studies and analyses of matters

affecting the interests of minority and women-owned business

enterprises;

6. Study the implementation of the laws affecting minority and

women-owned business enterprises and recommend to the commissioner new

laws and amendments of laws for the benefit of minority and women-owned

business enterprises; and review pending legislation affecting minority

and women-owned business enterprises and report its findings to the

commissioner;

7. Provide technical assistance and information to minority and

women-owned business enterprises in the state on economic development

programs administered by the department, including, but not limited to:

(a) the empire zones program, established pursuant to article eighteen-B

of the general municipal law, (b) the industrial effectiveness program,

established pursuant to article seven of this chapter, (c) the economic

development skills training program, established pursuant to article

eight of this chapter, and (d) the entrepreneurial assistance program,

established pursuant to article nine of this chapter;

8. Provide technical assistance and information to minority and

women-owned business enterprises in the state on economic development

programs administered by agencies other than the department, including,

but not limited to programs administered by the urban development

corporation, the job development authority and the science and

technology foundation;

9. Be responsible for conducting minority and women-owned business

enterprise assistance programs and for coordinating the activities of

all other state agencies acting within the scope of this section; and

10. Carry out the activities to implement the minority and women-owned

business enterprise assistance programs, to the extent practicable,

within amounts appropriated therefor by;

(a) collecting and maintaining information identifying certified

minority and women-owned business enterprises within New York state;

(b) collecting, maintaining, and providing information to potential

users identifying existing contracting and procurement opportunities

within and outside New York state;

(c) maintaining, providing and marketing a compilation of existing

programs providing assistance for minority and women-owned business

enterprises;

(d) identifying special needs and problems facing minority and

women-owned business enterprises within New York state;

(e) contacting institutions, organizations and commercial enterprises

that are potential consumers of minority and women-owned business

products and services; urging their expanded consumption of such goods

and services;

(f) facilitating the establishment of minority and women-owned

business enterprises; and

(g) providing information concerning local and regional opportunities

for minority and women-owned business enterprises.