Section 57-69-5 - Office of Minority Business Enterprises created; executive director; general powers and duties of office(1) There is hereby created the Office of Minority Business Enterprises of the Mississippi Development Authority under the Mississippi Development Authority. The Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority shall appoint an executive director for the office. The executive director may employ a staff subject to approval of the Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority as necessary to carry out the purposes of this office.(2) The office shall perform the following: (a) Develop, plan and implement programs to provide an opportunity for participation by qualified minority owned businesses in public works and the process by which goods and services are procured by state agencies and educational institutions from the private sector;(b) Develop a comprehensive plan encouraging that qualified minority owned businesses are provided an opportunity to participate in public contracts for public works and commodities and services;(c) Identify barriers to equal participation by qualified minority owned businesses in all state agency and educational institution contracts;(d) Develop and maintain a central minority business enterprise certification list for all state agencies and educational institutions;(e) Adopt rules for the implementation of this chapter;(f) Develop and maintain a central minority business enterprise certification program;(g) Develop and maintain a central minority business enterprise supplier certification program;(h) Submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature outlining the progress and economic impact on the public and private sectors of implementing this chapter;(i) Increase efforts to inform minority businesses of state government procurement procedures and policies;(j) Serve as the principal advocate in the state on behalf of minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers and provide advice in the consideration of administrative requirements and legislation that affect minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers;(k) Evaluate the effectiveness of efforts of state agencies and other entities to assist minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers and make appropriate recommendations to assist the development and strengthening of minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers;(l) Determine the availability of financial and other resources to minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers and recommend methods for: (i) Increasing the availability of equity capital and other forms of financial assistance to minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers;(ii) Generating markets for the goods and services of minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers;(iii) Providing more effective education, training and management and technical assistance to minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers; and(iv) Providing assistance to minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers in complying with federal, state and local laws;(m) Serve as a focal point for receiving complaints and suggestions concerning state government policies and activities that affect minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers;(n) Develop and advocate proposals for changes in state policies and activities that adversely affect minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers;(o) Provide to legislative committees and state agencies information on the effects of proposed policies or actions that affect minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers;(p) Enlist the assistance of public and private agencies, businesses and other organizations in disseminating information about state programs and services that benefit minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers and information regarding means by which minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers can use those programs and services;(q) Identify sources of financial assistance for minority business enterprises, match minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers with sources of financial assistance, and assist minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers with the preparation of applications for loans from governmental or private sources;(r) Sponsor meetings, to the extent practicable in cooperation with public and private educational institutions, to provide training and disseminate information beneficial to minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers;(s) Assist minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers in their dealings with federal, state and local governmental agencies and provide information regarding governmental requirements affecting minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers;(t) Develop and implement programs to encourage governmental agencies, public sector business associations and other organizations to provide useful services to minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers;(u) Use available resources within the state, such as minority business enterprise development centers, educational institutions and nonprofit associations, to coordinate the provision of management and technical assistance to minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers in a systematic manner;(v) Publish newsletters, brochures and other documents containing information useful to minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers;(w) Identify successful minority business enterprise assistance programs provided by other states and determine the feasibility of adapting those programs for implementation in Mississippi;(x) Establish an outreach program to make the existence of the office known to minority business enterprises, minority business enterprise suppliers and potential clients throughout the state; and(y) Identify potential business opportunities for minority business enterprises and minority business enterprise suppliers and develop programs to maximize those opportunities.Laws, 1988, ch. 518, § 98; Laws, 2002, ch. 442, § 1; Laws, 2006, ch. 580, § 2, eff. 7/1/2006.