§ 1974-d. Contracts. In connection with development, construction, operations and maintenance contracts for projects of the authority, minority and women-owned business enterprises and minority group members and women shall be given the opportunity for meaningful participation. The authority shall establish measures and procedures to secure meaningful participation by minority and women-owned business enterprises on contracts for projects of the authority. Such measures and procedures shall also promote the employment of minority group members and women on such contracts. For the purposes thereof, "minority business enterprise" shall mean any business enterprise which is at least fifty-one per centum owned by, or in the case of a publicly owned business, at least fifty-one per centum of the stock of which is owned by citizens or permanent resident aliens who are Black, Hispanic, Asian or American Indian, and such ownership interest is real, substantial and continuing and "women-owned business enterprise" shall mean any business enterprise which is at least fifty-one per centum owned by, or in the case of a publicly owned business, at least fifty-one percent of the stock of which is owned by citizens or permanent resident aliens who are women and such ownership interest is real, substantial and continuing. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit the ability of any minority or women-owned business enterprise to bid on any contract. In order to implement the requirements and objectives of this section in connection with such projects, the authority shall be responsible for monitoring compliance with the provisions hereof, providing advice on the availability of competitive qualified minority and women-owned business enterprises to perform contracts proposed to be awarded, and making recommendations to improve the access of minority and women-owned business enterprises to these contracts.