§ 10. Department of economic development; commissioner. There shall be in the state government a department of economic development. The head of the department shall be the commissioner of economic development who shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, and hold office until the end of the term of the governor by whom he was appointed and until his successor is appointed and has qualified. The principal office of the department shall be in the city of Albany. Regional offices may be established and maintained by the department in such places as the commissioner may determine and for which appropriations are made by the legislature. The commissioner may, with the commissioners of general services, transportation and labor, develop and institute a procedure for the uniform collection of employment and economic data within the state for use in connection with the scheduling of public works projects.