Section 223. Promotion of program

The department, through its regional
  offices and with the assistance of  the  banking  department  and  other
  appropriate  state  agencies  and  public  benefit  corporations,  shall
  actively market and promote awareness of the program in all geographical
  areas of the state among  banks,  banking  organizations,  manufacturing
  firms,  manufacturing  organizations,  and  regional  and local economic
  development agencies.  In  soliciting  lenders  to  participate  in  the
  program,  on  or  before  April  first, nineteen hundred ninety-six, the
  commissioner  of  economic  development  shall  give  priority  to   the
  solicitation  of  lenders  seeking  to  make  linked  loans  in economic
  development regions in which fewer than ten linked loans have been  made
  on  or  before  April  first,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-five. Provided,
  however, that the granting of such priority shall in no way relieve  the
  commissioner  of  economic  development  of  the  duty and obligation to
  solicit lenders from all economic development regions of the state.