Sec. 20.7. Administration

In its administration of the program, the department shall:

(a) provide productivity assessments and feasibility studies to qualified industrial firms or groups of firms that have requested such assistance pursuant to procedures set forth in Parts 21 and 22 of this Title;

(b) identify public and private sources of expertise available to assess productivity problems of industrial firms and to work under contract or in cooperation with the department in assisting such firms to undertake productivity improvement activities pursuant to procedures set forth in Part 24 of this Title;

(c) identify individuals and firms with a distinctive competence in at least one area related to industrial productivity, such as industrial management, operations, production technology, marketing or labor relations and training, and a demonstrated ability to serve small- and medium-sized industrial firms;

(d) design and conduct seminars and workshops to inform industrial managers, union leaders, trade associations, and other appropriate individuals and organizations, of industrial productivity-improvement methods and approaches and to demonstrate their successful adoption in similar firms;

(e) publish a periodic newsletter to report on productivity research projects and case studies, market the program's services and provide such other information as the commissioner deems appropriate;

(f) conduct educational programs to inform industrial firms, labor organizations, banking organizations and other financial institutions, and industrial or local development agencies, of the benefits and risks associated with, and methods for effectuating, the transfer of ownership of industrial firms to employees, managers or other local investors;

(g) promote the services and assistance available under the program for industrial firms, to such firms and to municipal officials and agencies, regional and local economic development entities, technology development organizations, trade associations, business and labor organizations and other appropriate entities;

(h) provide short-term management consulting services to industrial firms, directly or through contracts, in order to assist such firms with assessing management, operations, market, or financial problems pursuant to procedures set forth in Part 22 of this Title;

(i) provide information on State-sponsored programs offering financial or technical assistance to industrial firms, and aid such firms in applying for assistance;

(j) identify industrial firms in danger of closing or substantially reducing operations; and

(k) coordinate with other State agencies and authorities in the delivery of industrial effectiveness services to individual firms and groups of firms.