Sec. 7. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION

563 words·~3 min read·/statute-compilations/comps-10586/sec-7

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

## SEC. 7 DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION ###

(a)The Commission shall identify and study the economic development, infrastructure, employment, transportation, resource development, education, health care, housing, and recreation needs of the Lower Mississippi region and develop a 10-year plan that makes recommendations and establishes priorities to alleviate the needs identified. ###

(b)In developing such plan, the Commission shall— ####

(1)sponsor and conduct investigations, research, studies, and field hearings; ####

(2)study and evaluate Federal, State, and local business development and financing programs and planning in the region, including the economic development programs, minority small business and capital ownership development programs, procurement assistance programs, and management assistance programs to small business; ####

(3)develop an inventory of business resources in the region and compare the availability of such resources with those available in other regions of the Nation; ####

(4)study existing or proposed Federal, State, and local public and private programs and projects to help the promotion of regional development; ####

(5)study the role of small businesses in creating jobs in the region, and compare the numbers and types of jobs arising in small businesses within such region with those arising in large businesses therein during the 10-year period preceding such study; ####

(6)evaluate the distribution and impact of Federal spending in the region, including grant-in-aid programs, research, and Federal procurement, and compare the level of spending in these categories in the region with spending in other regions of the country; evaluate the extent to which reliance on Federal, State, and local government outlays for poverty programs can be reduced by outlays targeted for economic development; ####

(7)develop an inventory of water, mineral, energy, timber, agriculture, and other natural resources in the region; ####

(8)assess the availability and cost of power in the region and the impact of these factors on business growth; compare the availability and cost of power in the region with other regions of the Nation; ####

(9)review the existing system of limited-access highways interconnecting the region to other major transportation routes, and study the necessity for establishing a system of joint Federal and State-funded limited-access highways for such purposes; ####

(10)evaluate the proper roles of State, local, and Federal governments and the private sector in fostering economic development in the region; ####

(11)determine the feasibility of— #####

(A)targeting Federal direct loan and loan guarantee programs, whether unilaterally or in conjunction with State and local programs; #####

(B)establishing revolving loan funds, community development corporations, business investment corporations, and other forms of funding mechanisms; and #####

(C)establishing Federal, State, and local recoupment and participation; ####

(12)assess the health, educational, job training, housing, and poverty relief needs of the region; and ####

(13)analyze such other issues affecting the region which the Commission determines to be relevant to the future economic development of the region. ###

(c)In developing such plan, the Commission shall— ####

(1)provide a forum for consideration of problems of the region and proposed solutions, and establish and utilize citizens, special advisory councils, public hearings, and conferences; ####

(2)seek and encourage the participation of interested citizens, public officials, groups, agencies, economic development districts, and others; and ####

(3)make the Commission accessible to such groups, agencies, and individuals by holding at least one well publicized public hearing in every State within such region.