90-1-105. Functions of department of commerce -- economic development. The department of commerce shall:

(1) provide coordinating services to aid state and local groups and Indian tribal governments in the promotion of new economic enterprises and conduct publicity and promotional activities within the state, nationally, and internationally in connection with new economic enterprises;

(2) collect and disseminate information regarding the advantages of developing agricultural, recreational, commercial, and industrial enterprises within this state;

(3) serve as an official state liaison between persons interested in locating new economic enterprises in Montana and state and local groups and Indian tribal governments seeking new enterprises;

(4) aid communities and Indian tribal governments interested in obtaining new business or expanding existing business;

(5) (a) study and promote means of expanding markets for Montana products within the state, nationally, and globally; and

(b) provide training and assistance for Montana small businesses and entrepreneurs to expand markets for made-in-Montana products;

(6) encourage and coordinate public and private agencies or bodies in publicizing the facilities and attractions of the state;

(7) starting in 2020, publish a decennial report, to be authored by the bureau of business and economic research at the university of Montana, on the economic contributions and impacts of Indian reservations in Montana based on federal, state, local, tribal, and private inputs. Copies of the report must be provided to the governor, each tribal government in Montana, the state-tribal economic development commission, and the state-tribal relations committee, and the report must be published on the department's website.

(8) explore the use of cooperative agreements, as provided in Title 18, chapter 11, part 1, for the promotion and enhancement of economic opportunities on the Indian reservations in Montana; and

(9) assist the state-tribal economic development commission established in 90-1-131 in:

(a) identifying federal government and private sector funding sources for economic development on Indian reservations in Montana; and

(b) fostering and providing assistance to prepare, develop, and implement cooperative agreements, in accordance with Title 18, chapter 11, part 1, with each of the tribal governments in Montana.

History: En. 82-3705.3 by Sec. 86, Ch. 348, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 47, Ch. 213, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 82-3705.3; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 274, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 301, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 512, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 248, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 363, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 474, L. 2019.