S-4083 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL NO. 6642
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 51st Legislature 1990 Regular Session
By Senators McMullen and Matson
Read first time 1/19/90 and referred to Committee on Economic Development & Labor.
AN ACT Relating to the Washington Marketplace program; amending RCW 43.31.522, 43.31.524, and 43.31.526; and amending section 1, chapter 417, Laws of 1989 (uncodified).
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. Section 1, chapter 417, Laws of 1989 (uncodified) is amended to read as follows:
The
legislature finds and declares that substantial benefits in increased
employment and business activity can be obtained by assisting businesses in
identifying opportunities to purchase the goods and services they need from ((in-state))
Washington suppliers rather than from out-of-state suppliers and in
identifying new markets for Washington firms to provide goods and services.
The replacement of out-of-state imports with services and manufactured goods
produced in-state can be an important source of economic growth in a local
community especially in rural areas. Businesses in the state are often unaware
that goods and services they purchase from out-of-state suppliers are available
from in-state firms with substantial advantages in responsiveness, service, and
price. Increasing the economic partnerships between businesses in Washington
state can build bridges between urban and rural communities and can result in
the identification of additional opportunities for successful economic
development initiatives. Providing additional information to businesses
regarding in-state sources of goods and services can be a particularly valuable
component of revitalization strategies in economically distressed areas. The
legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of the state to strengthen
the economies of local communities by increasing the economic partnerships
between in-state businesses and creating programs to assist businesses in
identifying in-state sources of goods and services, and in addition to identify
new markets for Washington firms to provide goods and services.
Sec. 2. Section 2, chapter 417, Laws of 1989 and RCW 43.31.522 are each amended to read as follows:
Unless the
context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply
throughout ((this act)) RCW 43.31.524 and 43.31.526:
(1) "Department" means the department of trade and economic development.
(2) "Center" means the business assistance center established under RCW 43.31.083.
(3) "Director" means the director of trade and economic development.
(((4)
"Local nonprofit organization" means a local nonprofit organization
organized to provide economic development or community development services,
including but not limited to associate development organizations, economic
development councils, and community development corporations.))
Sec. 3. Section 3, chapter 417, Laws of 1989 and RCW 43.31.524 are each amended to read as follows:
There is
established a Washington marketplace program within the business assistance
center established under RCW 43.31.083. 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 or
the fulfillment of new requirements with ((in-state)) Washington
products. The program shall place special emphasis on strengthening rural
economies in economically distressed areas of the state meeting the criteria
of an "eligible area" as defined in RCW 82.60.020(3). The
Washington marketplace program shall consult with the community revitalization
team established pursuant to chapter 43.165 RCW.
Sec. 4. Section 4, chapter 417, Laws of 1989 and RCW 43.31.526 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The
department shall contract with local nonprofit organizations in at least ((four))
three economically distressed areas of the state((,)) that
meet the criteria of an "eligible area" as defined in RCW
82.60.020(3)((,)) to implement the Washington marketplace program in
these areas. The department, in order to foster cooperation and linkages
between distressed and nondistressed areas and urban and rural areas, may enter
into joint contracts with multiple ((nonprofit)) organizations. ((Each
joint contract must include at least one nonprofit organization that is located
in a distressed area. No joint contract may include more than one nonprofit
organization located in an urban location. In contracting with local nonprofit
organizations, the department)) Contracts with economic development
organizations to foster coopertion and linkages between distressed and
nondistressed areas and urban and rural areas shall be structured by the department
and the distressed area marketplace programs. Contracts with economic
development organizations 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
(c) Ensure
that each location contain sufficient business activity to permit effective
program operation ((and)).
The department may require that contractors contribute at least twenty percent local funding.
(2) The contracts with local nonprofit organizations shall be for, but not limited to, 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 sold goods and services which are currently provided by out-of-state businesses;
(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; and
(e) Receiving bid responses from potential suppliers and sending them to that business for final selection.
(3) Contracts may include provisions for charging service fees of businesses that profit as a result of participation in the program.
(4) The center shall also perform the following activities in order to promote the goals of the program:
(a) Prepare promotional materials or conduct seminars to inform communities and organizations about the Washington marketplace program;
(b) Provide technical assistance to communities and organizations interested in developing an import replacement program;
(c) Develop standardized procedures for operating the local component of the Washington marketplace program;
(d) Provide continuing management and technical assistance to local contractors; and
(e) Report by December 31 of each year to the senate economic development and labor committee and to the house of representatives trade and economic development committee describing the activities of the Washington marketplace program.