There is hereby created in the department of development a minority business development division. The division shall do all of the following:

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

(B) Provide procurement and bid packaging assistance to minority business enterprises;

(C) Provide bonding technical assistance to minority business enterprises;

(D) Participate with other state departments and agencies as appropriate in developing specific plans and specific program goals for programs to assist in the establishment and development of minority business enterprises and establish regular performance monitoring and reporting systems to ensure that those goals are being achieved;

(E) Implement state law and policy supporting minority business enterprise development, and assist in the coordination of plans, programs, and operations of state government which affect or may contribute to the establishment, preservation, and strengthening of minority business enterprises;

(F) Assist in the coordination of activities and resources of state agencies and local governments, business and trade associations, universities, foundations, professional organizations, and volunteer and other groups, to promote the growth of minority business enterprises;

(G) Establish a center for the development, collection, and dissemination of information that will be helpful to persons in establishing or expanding minority business enterprises in this state;

(H) Design, implement, and assist in experimental and demonstration projects designed to overcome the special problems of minority business enterprises;

(I) Coordinate reviews of all proposed state training and technical assistance activities in direct support of minority business enterprise programs to ensure consistency with program goals and to preclude duplication of efforts by other state agencies;

(J) Recommend appropriate legislative or executive actions to enhance minority business enterprise opportunities in the state;

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

(L) Assist minority business enterprises in contract procurement from government and commercial sources;

(M) Establish procedures to identify groups who have been disadvantaged because of racial, cultural, or ethnic circumstances without regard to the individual qualities of the members of the group;

(N) Establish procedures to identify persons who have been economically disadvantaged;

(O) Provide grant assistance to nonprofit entities that promote economic development, development corporations, community improvement corporations, and incubator business entities, if the entities or corporations focus on business, technical, and financial assistance to minority business enterprises to assist the enterprises with fixed asset financing;

(P) Do all acts and things necessary or proper to carry out the powers expressly granted and duties imposed by sections 122.92 to 122.94 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 09-05-2001.