Sec. 481.167. TEXAS BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CLEARINGHOUSE. (a) The office shall establish the Texas Business and Community Economic Development Clearinghouse to provide information and assistance to businesses and communities in the state through the use of a statewide toll-free telephone service.

(b) The clearinghouse shall collect and disseminate information on federal, state, local, and private:

(1) business development programs, including financial assistance and business incentive programs;

(2) business development services, including technical assistance, workshops, business incubators, training, and useful publications;

(3) rural and urban community economic development programs, including loans, grants, and other funding sources;

(4) rural and urban community economic development services, including technical assistance, workshops, training, and useful publications;

(5) small business programs and services and useful publications;

(6) defense economic adjustment programs and services and useful publications; and

(7) international trade programs, services, and useful publications.

(c) The clearinghouse shall provide access to the information compiled under this subchapter in a user-friendly format through the use of the Internet.

(d) The office shall obtain from other state agencies appropriate information needed by the office to carry out its duties under this subchapter.

(e) The comptroller shall assist the office in furthering the purposes of this subchapter by allowing the office to use the field offices and personnel of the comptroller to disseminate brochures, documents, and other information useful to businesses in the state.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1041, Sec. 44, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 814, Sec. 1.40, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.