Section 191. Establishment and purposes

1.  The commissioner is hereby
  authorized and directed to establish an industrial effectiveness program
  within the department for the purposes specified in  this  section.  The
  commissioner  shall appoint such employees as are necessary to carry out
  the provisions  of  this  article,  including  professional  staff  with
  demonstrated expertise in private industrial management and operations.
    2. The purposes of the industrial effectiveness program shall be:
    (a)  to  assist  industrial  firms  with  the introduction of improved
  management and labor practices and  production  processes  in  order  to
  enhance their productivity and competitiveness;
    (b)  to aid in the development of new markets and ownership structures
  in order to improve the long-term viability of industrial firms;
    (c) to identify and assist industrial firms that are, or are likely to
  be, in severe financial difficulty;
    (d) to develop strategies for mobilizing state and community resources
  to  respond  to  the  needs  of  distressed  industrial  firms  and   to
  manufacturing plant closings and partial closings; and
    (e)  to  assist  industrial firms in obtaining financing from publicly
  sponsored  financing  assistance  programs  and  from  private   lending
  institutions.