Section 134. Powers and duties of the division for small-business

The
  division shall have the power and duty to:
    1.  coordinate  the  activities  of  all  state  agencies   performing
  functions affecting the operation of small-businesses in the state;
    2.  receive complaints of operators of small-businesses and refer them
  to the appropriate federal, state or local agency authorized by law  for
  appropriate action on such complaints;
    3.  advise  and  make  recommendations  to the commissioner on matters
  affecting the small-businesses of the state and  promote  and  encourage
  the  protection  of  the legitimate interests of small-businesses within
  the state;
    4. conduct investigations, research, studies and analyses  of  matters
  affecting the interests of small-businesses;
    5.  represent  the  interests  of small-businesses in the state before
  federal, state and local administrative and regulatory agencies;
    6. study the operation of  the  laws  affecting  small-businesses  and
  recommend  to  the  commissioner new laws and amendments of laws for the
  benefit of small-businesses;
    7. review pending legislation affecting  small-businesses  and  report
  its findings to the commissioner; and
    8. initiate and encourage small-business education programs in general
  and  to  coordinate with the functions of the office of general services
  an  information  and  outreach   program   directed   toward   informing
  small-businesses  in the state of procedures necessary for competing for
  state purchases and to coordinate with  the  functions  of  every  state
  agency,  department  or  authority  described  in  section  one  hundred
  thirty-nine-g of the state finance law, pursuant to subdivision  (b)  of
  section   one  hundred  thirty-nine-g  of  the  state  finance  law,  an
  information   and   outreach   program   directed    toward    informing
  small-businesses  in the state of procedures necessary for competing for
  state  contracts,   including   without   limitation   educating   small
  contractors  about  surety  bonding requirements on state contracts, and
  identifying resources available to such contractors in  obtaining  their
  first  bond  and in increasing their bonding capacity, including but not
  limited to the federal  small  business  administration  bond  guarantee
  program.
    9.  the  commissioner and the commissioners of agriculture and markets
  and  the  office  of  general  services  shall  initiate  and  encourage
  small-business  education  programs and coordinate with the functions of
  the office of general services, pursuant to subdivision (b)  of  section
  one  hundred  sixty-one-b  of  the state finance law, an information and
  outreach program directed toward informing eligible  businesses  in  the
  state  of  procedures  necessary  for  competing  for  purchases of food
  products pursuant to section one hundred  seventy-four-a  of  the  state
  finance  law and subdivision eight-a of section one hundred three of the
  general municipal law, and to coordinate with  the  functions  of  every
  state  agency  or department described in subdivision (b) of section one
  hundred thirty-nine-g of the  state  finance  law,  an  information  and
  outreach  program  directed  toward informing eligible businesses in the
  state of procedures  necessary  for  competing  for  contracts  for  the
  purchase of food products pursuant to section one hundred seventy-four-a
  of  the state finance law and subdivision eight-a of section one hundred
  three of the general municipal law.
    10. conduct a survey of all  business  incubators  in  the  state  and
  assess  the  need  for  additional  incubator  facilities to nurture the
  growth and development of small businesses.
    11. provide assistance to small business in the state, and  facilitate
  access   to  programs  serving  small  business,  to  ensure  that  such

  businesses benefit, as needed, from  technical,  managerial,  financial,
  and  general  business assistance; training; marketing; organization and
  personnel skill development; project management  assistance;  technology
  assistance;  bond and insurance education assistance; and other business
  development  assistance.  In  addition,  either  independently   or   in
  conjunction with other state agencies:
    (a)  develop  a  clearinghouse of information on programs and services
  provided by entities that may assist such businesses; and
    (b) seek to maximize utilization  by  small  businesses  of  available
  federal  resources  including  but not limited to federal grants, loans,
  loan guarantees, surety bonding guarantees,  technical  assistance,  and
  programs and services of the federal small business administration.