Section 400.2 - Legislative findings and policy(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds as follows: (1) A growing base of successful, small-to-medium-sized Commonwealth manufacturing companies is essential to the economic strength and vitality of this Commonwealth.(2) The existence and growth of small-to-medium-sized Commonwealth manufacturing companies depends on the ability of these companies to:(i) Reorient management practices toward modern manufacturing techniques and technologies.(ii) Successfully compete in both domestic and foreign markets.(iii) Identify, bench mark and adopt the best and most efficient practices and technologies.(iv) Locate and hire a trained work force.(3) There is a need to inform the body politic, the press, the academic and business communities and the population at large about the significance of a successful, competitive United States manufacturing industry to the quality of life, security and economic strength.(4) There is a continuing need to promote, stimulate and encourage within this Commonwealth basic and applied scientific research and development and scientific and technological education.(5) University-based consortia between business, universities and government provide these entities with the advanced technology research and development, training and education necessary to diversify this Commonwealth's economy and thereby stimulate this Commonwealth's economic growth.(6) The industrial resource centers were created to support the modernization efforts of this Commonwealth's small-to-medium-sized manufacturing companies through collaborative initiatives and individual projects that apply and deploy advanced manufacturing management and production philosophies and techniques in such areas as:(i) Production, planning and inventory control.(ii) Quality improvement.(iv) Factory and office automation.(v) Technology improvements.(vi) Work force development and other training programs.(vii) Manufacturing strategies.(7) The Ben Franklin technology centers were created to build partnerships and provide direct assistance to help firms develop and creatively apply techniques and related practices to such activities as:(i) Help companies to form and grow through the development and commercialization of innovative products and services.(ii) Help manufacturers to develop and innovatively apply new technologies and practices that make them more competitive in the global market economy.(iii) Facilitate and support consortia of private companies, academic institutions and government agencies to collaboratively advance the state of knowledge and practices.(iv) Facilitate and support the availability of services and collaborative activities throughout this Commonwealth to provide business and technical assistance.(v) Select firms with potential for growth and facilitate and support collaborative activities and individual initiatives designed to address the needs of manufacturing and technology-oriented companies for a well-trained work force.(b) Policy.--(1) It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Commonwealth to promote the health, safety and general welfare of its inhabitants through its Department of Commerce by: (i) The creation of the Ben Franklin/IRC Partnership, which shall exist for the purpose of promoting competitiveness of Commonwealth companies through interaction of technology development, modernization and training programs.(ii) The certification of industrial resource centers, which shall exist for the purpose of strengthening the competitive position of small-to-medium-sized Commonwealth manufacturing companies through the promotion, demonstration and transmission of modern manufacturing techniques and technologies.(iii) The certification of Ben Franklin technology centers, which shall exist for the purpose of identifying, generating, developing and refining technology innovation opportunities for Commonwealth businesses. These purposes are hereby declared to be public purposes for which public money may be spent.
(2) It is also the policy of the Commonwealth not to duplicate or to mandate the delivery of technical and professional economic development services currently being provided or those which may be provided in the future by other economic development organizations throughout this Commonwealth.1993, July 2, P.L. 439, No. 64, § 2, effective in 120 days.