Effective 28 Aug 1973

625.021. Functions and duties of division — overseas offices authorized. — The division shall foster and encourage industrial, commercial, agricultural, recreational and resource development programs designed to broaden and strengthen the economy of the state and shall provide specific leadership in the following instances, among others, and shall:

(1) Encourage the location of new industrial and commercial enterprises in the state and the expansion of industries now existing within the state by appropriate legitimate methods;

(2) Support and assist the efforts of the state, regional and local development corporations, industrial committees, chambers of commerce, labor organizations and other similar public and private agencies to obtain new, and foster the expansion of existing, industrial, commercial, agricultural and recreational facilities or enterprises;

(3) Investigate, assemble, develop and study, or cause to have investigated, assembled, developed and studied, all pertinent information regarding the industrial opportunities and possibilities of the state of Missouri and its economic resources and the particular sections thereof, including raw materials and products that may be produced therefrom, power and water resources, transportation facilities and rates available, markets and the marketing limitations of the state, the availability of labor, the availability of industrial sites, the advantages of the state as a whole, and the particular sections thereof, as industrial locations, and such other fields of research and study as the director may deem necessary;

(4) Formulate and maintain coordinated plans for the state's economic and resource development in order to promote the economic welfare of the people of the state. The plans shall include description of the development objectives and a statement of recommended means for achieving such objectives. The plans, insofar as practical and desirable, shall be coordinated with city, county or regional planning programs, with national planning and with the planning of other states;

(5) Investigate, study and undertake ways and means to promote and develop markets for industrial products and to promote the industrial use of agricultural and mineral forest products;

(6) Encourage the development of recreational areas in the state and encourage the traveling public to visit Missouri;

(7) Encourage the formation of local and sectional development committees throughout the state and make available to such committees and to municipalities, communities, other political subdivisions of the state, private groups, organizations, associations and agencies such facts, data and information as may be useful and desirable in their efforts to encourage the location of industries and commercial enterprises within this state, and in other ways to cooperate with the division in carrying out the purposes of this chapter;

(8) Assist in the formulation and development of a more intensive program to aid and expand the mining industry in Missouri;

(9) Provide advice and assistance to Missouri business and labor and bring to the attention of the governor such significant problems as may be relieved by state action;

(10) Perform such other related acts as shall be, in the judgment of the director, necessary and proper to carry out the objectives of the division; and

(11) Establish offices overseas for the promotion and export of Missouri agricultural and manufactured products, for the promotion of commerce through the ports and international airports of Missouri, to encourage economic development, and to promote tourism into Missouri and encourage the use by tourists of Missouri's recreational facilities.

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(L. 1961 p. 240 § 7, A.L. 1973 H.B. 865)

CROSS REFERENCE:

Foreign market development, department of agriculture, 261.095