(a) Implement programs and adopt rules in accordance with applicable provisions of ORS chapter 183 that are consistent and necessary to carry out the policies established by the Oregon Business Development Commission and the duties, functions and powers vested by law in the department.

(b) Act as the official state liaison agency for persons interested in locating industrial or business firms in the state and for state and local groups seeking new industry or business, and maintain the confidentiality of negotiations conducted pursuant to this paragraph, if requested.

(c) Coordinate state and federal economic and community development programs.

(d) Actively recruit domestic and international business firms to those communities desiring business recruitment.

(e) Work with existing Oregon companies to assist in their expansion or help them retain jobs in the state.

(f) Consult with local governments to establish regions for the purpose of job development to facilitate economic activities in the region. Regions established for this purpose need not be of the same size in geographic area or population.

(g) Establish and operate foreign trade offices in foreign countries in which the department considers a foreign trade office necessary. The department shall use department employees, contracts with public or private persons or a combination of employees and contractors to establish and operate foreign trade offices. Department employees, including managers, who are assigned to work in a foreign trade office shall be in the unclassified service, and the director shall set the salaries of such employees. ORS 276.428, 279A.120, 279A.140, 279A.155, 279A.275, 279B.025, 279B.235, 279B.270, 279B.280, 279C.370, 279C.500 to 279C.530, 279C.540, 279C.545, 279C.800 to 279C.870, 282.020, 282.050, 282.210, 282.220, 282.230, 283.140, 459A.475, 459A.490, 653.268 and 653.269 do not apply to the department’s operation of foreign trade offices outside the state.

(h) Consult with other state agencies and with local agencies and officials prior to defining or designating distressed areas for purposes of ORS 285A.020.

(i) Budget moneys for travel and various other expenses of industrial or commercial site location agents, film or video production location agents, business journal writers, elected state officials or other state personnel to accomplish the purposes of ORS 284.101 to 284.148 and ORS chapters 285A, 285B and 285C. The department may expend moneys duly budgeted to pay the travel and other expenses of such persons if the director determines the expense may promote the purposes of this subsection.

(j) Promulgate rules to govern contracts.

(k) Develop strategies to address issues that are necessary and appropriate to Oregon’s future and adopt goals that include measurable indicators of success (Oregon benchmarks) that show the extent to which each goal is being achieved.

(L) Use practices and procedures that the department determines are the best practices for carrying out the duties of the department.

(2) The department shall have no regulatory power over the activities of private persons. Its functions shall be solely advisory, coordinative and promotional.

(3) Notwithstanding ORS 279A.140, the department may award grants or enter into contracts as necessary or appropriate to carry out the duties, functions and powers vested in the department by law. [Formerly 285.035; 2001 c.883 §3; 2003 c.794 §235; 2007 c.804 §89; 2007 c.858 §28; 2009 c.830 §16]