Colorado § 24-49.5-103 - Authority and responsibility of the director.

§ 24-49.5-103. Authority and responsibility of the director.

(1) In furtherance of the policy expressed in section 24-49.5-101, the director shall:

(a) Promote the business development of new and existing minority business enterprises in coordination with state economic development activities;

(b) Establish networks among governmental entities, the private sector, and minority business in an effort to promote joint business activities;

(c) Promote minority business participation in federal, state, and local procurement, purchasing, financing, and contracting, in accordance with existing federal and state statutes;

(d) Promote self-sufficiency and survival of minority businesses with the intent of aiding such minority businesses in their attempts to enter the mainstream of Colorado's economy;

(e) Enhance the access of information on international trade opportunities to minority businesses in conjunction with Colorado's international trade activities;

(f) Provide economic research and information on minority businesses for the use of federal and local governmental agencies, private industry, labor, and professional and other groups. The office shall make efforts to recover the costs associated with this paragraph (f) through user fees.

(2) The director may receive funds from the private sector for the purposes of conducting or implementing projects and other necessary operations of the office. All funds received shall be placed in the minority business fund created in section 24-49.5-104.

(3) The director shall develop and implement performance and accountability standards. Such standards shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(a) The fees established pursuant to paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of this section;

(b) The number of businesses by race and ethnicity including the protected groups known as African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and any other minority ethnic groups assisted by the office and the actual moneys associated therewith;

(c) The type of assistance provided to the businesses assisted;

(d) The number of new jobs created;

(e) The number of existing jobs retained;

(f) An overview of the minority business office's successes and failures;

(g) The amount of revenues added to the state's economy due to the efforts of the minority business office;

(h) The year-end annual report of the minority business office;

(i) The types of businesses assisted;

(j) The geographical location of businesses assisted;

(k) Any suggestions for greater minority participation in the state's economy; and

(l) An accounting of private and public funding and expenditures.

Source: L. 90: Entire article added, p. 1244, § 1, effective July 1. L. 96: IP(3) amended, p. 1231, § 56, effective August 7.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 1996 act amending the introductory portion to subsection (3), see section 1 of chapter 237, Session Laws of Colorado 1996.