Sec. 50.5. Evaluation; approval

(a) The appropriate regional office of the department shall review proposals for funding for export trade demonstration projects to determine whether they are complete and meet the purposes of the new Export Trade Demonstration Project Program, and shall forward its recommendations to the Export Trade Committee.

(b) The Export Trade Committee shall review proposed export trade demonstration project proposals and make recommendations to the commissioner.

(c) The department shall give preference to export trade demonstration projects which benefit businesses which:

(1) are resident in New York State;

(2) are independently owned and operated;

(3) are not dominant in their field;

(4) employ 500 employees or less; and

(5) are located in a geographic area demonstrating a need for such services.

(d) The commissioner shall approve or disapprove the proposals and so notify the applicants in writing. The department shall enter into such contractual agreements as are appropriate or necessary to facilitate the conduct of the Export Trade Demonstration Project Program.