Sec. 481.0295. IDENTIFICATION OF INDUSTRY CLUSTERS. (a) The office shall work with industry associations and organizations and key state agencies to identify regional and statewide industry clusters.

(b) The activities of the office in identifying industry clusters may include:

(1) conducting focus group discussions, facilitating meetings, and conducting studies to identify:

(A) members of an industry cluster;

(B) the general economic state of the industry cluster; and

(C) issues of common concern in the industry cluster;

(2) supporting the formation of industry cluster associations, publishing industry cluster association directories, and encouraging the entry of new members into the industry cluster; and

(3) providing methods for electronic communication and information dissemination among members of the industry clusters.

(c) The office shall identify an industry cluster as a targeted sector if the office determines that the development of the industry cluster is a high priority.

(d) The office shall work with targeted sectors, private sector organizations, key state agencies, local governments, local economic development organizations, and higher education and training institutions to develop strategies to strengthen the competitiveness of industry clusters. The strategies shall be designed to:

(1) diversify the economy;

(2) facilitate technology transfer; and

(3) increase value-added production.

(e) The activities of the office to assist the development of a targeted sector may include:

(1) conducting focus group discussions, facilitating meetings, and conducting studies to identify:

(A) members of a targeted sector;

(B) the general economic state of the sector; and

(C) issues of common concern in the sector;

(2) supporting the formation of industry associations, publishing industry association directories, and creating or expanding the activities of the industry associations;

(3) assisting in the formation of flexible networks between persons interested in the development of the targeted sector by providing:

(A) employees of the office or private sector consultants trained to organize and implement flexible networks; and

(B) funding for potential flexible network participants to organize and implement a flexible network;

(4) helping to establish research consortia;

(5) facilitating training and education programs conducted jointly by sector members;

(6) promoting cooperative market development activities;

(7) analyzing the need for, feasibility of, and cost of establishing product certification and testing facilities and services; and

(8) providing for methods of electronic communication and information dissemination among sector members to facilitate network or industry cluster activity.

(f) The office shall, on a continuing basis as determined by the office, evaluate:

(1) the effectiveness of the services provided to industry clusters, using information gathered at regional and statewide levels; and

(2) the potential return to the state from devoting additional resources to the economic development of a targeted sector and devoting resources to additional targeted sectors.

(g) The office shall use information gathered in each region for which the office identifies industry clusters to:

(1) formulate strategies to promote the economic development of targeted sectors; and

(2) designate new targeted sectors.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 814, Sec. 1.25, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.