AN ACT relating to the promotion of local import replacement; adding a new chapter to Title 43 RCW; making an appropriation; and providing an expiration date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of the state to strengthen the economies of local communities and to put money from Washington businesses to work within the state whenever possible. The replacement of imports in the economy of a local community with services and manufactured goods produced locally can be an important source of economic growth and can serve as the basis for future exports. The replacement of imports can be a valuable component of local revitalization strategies in distressed areas. Therefore, it is in the interest of the state to develop programs to assist firms in identifying local sources of goods and services.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter:

(1) "Department" means the department of community development.

(2) "Local nonprofit organization" means a local nonprofit organization with an economic development or community development focus.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. There is established a Washington marketplace program within the department of community development. The Washington marketplace program shall be administered in conjunction with the community revitalization team established pursuant to chapter 43.165 RCW. The program shall assist Washington businesses to competitively meet their needs for goods and services within Washington by providing information relating to the replacement of imports with local products. The program shall serve as a means of strengthening local economies in distressed areas of the state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The department shall contract with local nonprofit organizations in three locations in the state to implement the Washington marketplace program at the local level. In contracting with local nonprofit organizations, the department shall:

(a) Award contracts based on a competitive bidding process, pursuant to chapter 43.19 RCW;

(b) Give preference to nonprofit organizations representing a broad spectrum of community support; and

(2) The contracts with local development organizations shall be for the performance of the following services for the Washington marketplace program:

(a) Contacting Washington businesses to identify goods and services they are currently buying or are planning in the future to buy out of state and determine which of these goods and services could be purchased on competitive terms within the state;

(b) Identifying locally produced goods and services which are currently provided by out-of-state firms;

(c) Determining, in consultation with local business, goods and services for which the business is willing to make contract agreements;

(d) Advertising market opportunities described in (c) of this subsection;

(e) Receiving bid responses from potential suppliers, tabulating them according to criteria agreed upon in advance with a prospective purchasing business and sending them to that business for final selection;

(f) Assisting and initiating contract agreements for buyers and sellers within the state; and

(g) Charging service fees for businesses that profit as a result of participation in the program.

(3) The department shall also perform the following activities in order to promote the goals of the program:

(a) Preparing promotional materials or conducting seminars to inform communities and organizations about the Washington marketplace program;

(b) Providing technical assistance to communities and organizations interested in developing an import replacement program;

(d) Providing continuing management and technical assistance to local contractors; and

(e) Reporting by December 31 of each year to the legislature describing the activities of the Washington marketplace program.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This chapter shall expire on June 30, 1989, unless extended by law for an additional fixed period of time.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Sections 1 through 5 of this act shall constitute a new chapter in Title 43 RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1989, from the general fund to the department of community development for the purpose of carrying out this act.