The Director of the Office of Business Development shall administer the office in accordance with the policies of the commissioner and the provisions of this chapter, emphasizing a program of targeted business development designed to attract particular types of businesses that have potential for Maine and businesses that are considered to be compatible with Maine's environment and interests. The office shall actively seek and encourage firms to expand or locate in Maine. The office is responsible for the implementation of programs designed to promote Maine products in national and international markets and to develop markets for industry located in Maine. [PL 2003, c. 673, Pt. M, §6 (AMD).] The Office of Business Development shall be responsible for the implementation of a program consisting of 3 primary elements. [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17, 19 (NEW).] 1. Business investment. Business investment shall be encouraged consistent with this subsection. A. The office shall conduct an analysis of the various industrial sectors of the economy. The types of businesses to be targeted for attraction are those that have potential for development in Maine and that will contribute to a healthy climate for Maine's businesses, families and environment. [PL 1999, c. 272, §1 (AMD).] B. The office shall report its findings and recommendations to the commissioner. The commissioner, with the advice of the director shall determine the type and extent of the business investment program to be implemented. [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17, 19 (NEW).] C. The director, with the approval of the commissioner, may make grants for market development from appropriations for that purpose to any municipality or group of municipalities which have received a grant of authority from the Federal Government to establish a foreign trade zone. [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17, 19 (NEW).] D. Application for foreign trade zones shall be according to this paragraph. (1) The director, with the approval of the commissioner, on behalf of the State, may make applications to the Foreign Trade Zone Board and establish foreign trade zones that are to be located on state-owned, leased or otherwise controlled property. A municipality, group of municipalities or a public or private corporation may, with the approval of the department, make applications to the Foreign Trade Zone Board and establish foreign trade zones at other locations. Foreign trade zones shall be established in or adjacent to any ports of entry in the State, where personal property in transit shall be exempt from the stock-in-trade tax and such other taxes and customs as are normally levied in a port of entry. (2) Any development or activity with a foreign trade zone established in the State is subject to the laws which the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Department of Marine Resources and Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are responsible for administering, as well as any other law which protects the environment. (3) For the purpose of this subsection, "personal property in transit" through the areas established under this paragraph means goods, wares and merchandise either moving in interstate or international commerce through these zones or consigned to a warehouse, public or private, within these zones, whether specified when transportation begins or afterward. This property shall not be deprived of exemption because, while in the warehouse, the property is assembled, bound, joined, processed, disassembled, divided, cut, broken in bulk, relabeled or repackaged. The exemption granted shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes of this subsection. The warehouse in which these goods, wares or merchandise are stored shall not be owned, in whole or in part, by either the consignee or consignor. This paragraph does not apply to agricultural products. [PL 1989, c. 781 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §5 (REV).] [PL 1999, c. 272, §1 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §5 (REV).] 2. Business assistance. Business assistance services shall be provided consistent with this subsection. A. The office shall provide business assistance services that are convenient to businesses throughout the State. The office shall use certified local and regional economic development organizations, educational institutions or certified private sector firms to implement this subsection. (1) Business assistance services shall include managerial and technical assistance and assistance with applications for loans and the completion of applications for licenses and permits from regulatory agencies. (2) The office, in conjunction with local and regional organizations and other institutions and firms in the private sector with marketing expertise, may conduct seminars on marketing and marketing-related topics for Maine businesses. [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17, 19 (NEW).] B. In accordance with section 13063, the office shall implement a business ombudsman program. [PL 2011, c. 304, Pt. C, §1 (AMD).] [PL 2011, c. 304, Pt. C, §1 (AMD).] 3. Industry-wide assistance and market development. The director shall be responsible for a program of industry-wide assistance and market development. A. The director shall work with other state agencies which implement marketing programs and strive to coordinate the marketing activities of the department with those of other agencies whenever possible. [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17, 19 (NEW).] B. The director shall be responsible, to the maximum extent possible, for providing assistance to industry sectors and business to identify market opportunities, develop market strategies and to promote industry-wide development. [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17, 19 (NEW).] [PL 1987, c. 534, Pt. A, §§17, 19 (NEW).]
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