                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

POWERS AND DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT (§ 2.2-1605)

A. The Department shall have the following powers and duties:

   1. Coordinate as consistent with prevailing law the plans, programs, and
   operations of the state government that affect or may contribute to the
   establishment, preservation, and strengthening of small, women-owned, and
   minority-owned businesses;

   2. Promote the mobilization of activities and resources of state and local
   governments, businesses and trade associations, baccalaureate institutions of
   higher education, foundations, professional organizations, and volunteer and
   other groups towards the growth of small businesses and businesses owned by
   women and minorities, and facilitate the coordination of the efforts of these
   groups with those of state departments and agencies;

   3. Establish a center for the development, collection, summarization, and
   dissemination of information that will be helpful to persons and organizations
   throughout the nation in undertaking or promoting procurement from small,
   women-owned, and minority-owned businesses;

   4. Consistent with prevailing law and availability of funds, and according to
   the Director&#8217;s discretion, provide technical and management assistance
   to small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses and defray all or part of
   the costs of pilot or demonstration projects that are designed to overcome the
   special problems of small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses;

   5. Advise the Small Business Financing Authority on the management and
   administration of the Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned Business Loan
   Fund created pursuant to &#xA7; 2.2-2311.1;

   6. Implement any remediation or enhancement measure for small, women-owned, or
   minority-owned businesses as may be authorized by the Governor pursuant to
   subsection C of &#xA7; 2.2-4310 and develop regulations, consistent with
   prevailing law, for program implementation. Such regulations shall be
   developed in consultation with the state agencies with procurement
   responsibility and promulgated by those agencies in accordance with applicable
   law;

   7. Receive and coordinate, with the appropriate state agency, the
   investigation of complaints that a business certified pursuant to this chapter
   has failed to comply with its subcontracting plan under subsection D of &#xA7;
   2.2-4310. If the Department determines that a business certified pursuant to
   this chapter has failed to comply with the subcontracting plan, the business
   shall provide a written explanation; and

   8. Facilitate relationships between established businesses and start-up
   women-owned and minority-owned businesses by creating and administering a
   mentorship program under the provisions of &#xA7; 2.2-1605.1.

B. In addition, the Department shall serve as the liaison between the
Commonwealth&#8217;s existing businesses and state government in order to
promote the development of Virginia&#8217;s economy. To that end, the Department
shall:

   1. Encourage the training or retraining of individuals for specific employment
   opportunities at new or expanding business facilities in the Commonwealth;

   2. Develop and implement programs to assist small businesses in the
   Commonwealth in order to promote their growth and the creation and retention
   of jobs for Virginians;

   3. Establish an industry program that is the principal point of communication
   between basic employers in the Commonwealth and the state government that will
   address issues of significance to business;

   4. Make available to existing businesses, in conjunction and cooperation with
   localities, chambers of commerce, and other public and private groups, basic
   information and pertinent factors of interest and concern to such businesses;

   5. Develop statistical reports on job creation and the general economic
   conditions in the Commonwealth; and

   6. Annually review and provide feedback on SWaM plans. The review shall focus
   on strategies state agencies can use to improve SWaM spending, increase
   procurement of goods and services from SWaM businesses, and meet procurement
   goals outlined in SWaM plans. The Department shall encourage state agencies to
   integrate such strategies with all current and future procurements. The
   Department shall suggest strategies that may be more effective or changes to
   strategies that have not been effective. Upon request of a state agency, the
   Department shall meet with the state agency one-on-one to discuss its SWaM
   goals and strategies and advise it on effective strategies. The Department
   shall research and compile information that state agencies can use to increase
   SWaM spending and shall develop and publish guidance on how state agencies can
   implement these strategies.

C. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall assist the Department upon request and
furnish such information and assistance as the Department may require in the
discharge of its duties.

HISTORY: 2013, c. 482; 2014, cc. 41, 464; 2015, cc. 696, 697, 733; 2016, c. 520;
2020, c. 1234; 2022, cc. 301, 302.