BILL REQ. #:  S-0591.2 

Read first time 02/09/11.   Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Innovation.

     AN ACT Relating to economic development through the establishment of an intuitive trade assistance web portal; and amending RCW 43.330.060.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 43.330.060 and 2010 c 165 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The department shall (a) assist in expanding the state's role as an international center of trade, culture, and finance; (b) promote and market the state's products and services both nationally and internationally; (c) work in close cooperation with other private and public international trade efforts; (d) act as a centralized location for the assimilation and distribution of trade information; and (e) establish and operate foreign offices promoting overseas trade and commerce.
     (2) The department shall:
     (a) Select a private information technology and software company to develop, maintain, and update an intuitive trade assistance web site and associated application software. The company selected will not receive monetary compensation from the state but will have the right to commercialize and license the technology in accordance with the terms agreed upon by all parties;
     (b) Collaborate with state and federal agencies, trade experts, and representatives of the business community to acquire relevant trade content to include in the web site and application software;
     (c) Develop instructional features on the web site and application software to assist in-state businesses promote and trade their goods and services internationally. These features must include, but not be limited to, up-to-date regulatory information about exporting, importing, and foreign direct investment; trade leads from foreign trade representatives; and export financing;
     (d) Field test the web site with plausible end users; assess end-users' responses to the performance and value of the web site; and make any applicable modifications to improve end-user experience on the web site;
     (e) Collaborate with public and private organizations, trade experts, and representatives of the business community to promote the web site domestically and internationally;
     (f) Report to the legislature by December 31, 2011, and annually by December 31st thereafter, providing data regarding the impact the web site is having on state trade. Data must include, but not be limited to: (i) Business survey responses regarding the performance and value of the web site; (ii) the amount of traffic the web site is receiving from domestic and international businesses; (iii) the frequency of content being viewed by businesses; (iv) regions in-state businesses are seeking to access; (v) regions interested in doing business with Washington state; (vi) and any variations in trade activity that can be ascribed to the use of the web site.
     (3) The department shall identify and work with Washington businesses that can use local, state, and federal assistance to increase domestic and foreign exports of goods and services.
     (((3))) (4) The department shall work generally with small businesses and other employers to facilitate resolution of siting, regulatory, expansion, and retention problems. This assistance shall include but not be limited to assisting in workforce training and infrastructure needs, identifying and locating suitable business sites, and resolving problems with government licensing and regulatory requirements. The department shall identify gaps in needed services and develop steps to address them including private sector support and purchase of these services.
     (((4))) (5) The department shall work to increase the availability of capital to small businesses by developing new and flexible investment tools; by assisting in targeting and improving the efficiency of existing investment mechanisms; and by assisting in the procurement of managerial and technical assistance necessary to attract potential investors.
     (((5))) (6) The department shall assist women and minority-owned businesses in overcoming barriers to entrepreneurial success. The department shall contract with public and private agencies, institutions, and organizations to conduct entrepreneurial training courses for minority and women-owned businesses. The instruction shall be intensive, practical training courses in financing, marketing, managing, accounting, and recordkeeping for a small business, with an emphasis on federal, state, local, or private programs available to assist small businesses. Instruction shall be offered in major population centers throughout the state at times and locations that are convenient for minority and women small business owners.
     (((6))) (7)(a) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, by December 1, 2010, the department, in conjunction with the small business development center, must prepare and present to the governor and appropriate legislative committees a specific, actionable plan to increase access to capital and technical assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs beginning with the 2011-2013 biennium. In developing the plan, the department and the center may consult with the Washington state microenterprise association, and with other government, nonprofit, and private organizations as necessary. The plan must identify:
     (i) Existing sources of capital and technical assistance for small businesses and entrepreneurs;
     (ii) Critical gaps and barriers to availability of capital and delivery of technical assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs;
     (iii) Workable solutions to filling the gaps and removing barriers identified in (a)(ii) of this subsection; and
     (iv) The financial resources and statutory changes necessary to put the plan into effect beginning with the 2011-2013 biennium.
     (b) With respect to increasing access to capital, the plan must identify specific, feasible sources of capital and practical mechanisms for expanding access to it.
     (c) The department and the center must include, within the analysis and recommendations in (a) of this subsection, any specific gaps, barriers, and solutions related to rural and low-income communities and small manufacturers interested in exporting.