4. a. There is created, in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority , a “New Jersey Micro-Business Assistance Program,” hereinafter, “the program.” The program shall be established by the authority in collaboration with the department. The program shall consist of loans, loan guarantees, or both, and training and technical assistance which shall be provided to qualified micro-businesses through a network of regional micro-business development corporations.

b. To implement the program, the authority shall, to the greatest extent feasible, cooperate with micro-business development corporations in no less than three service regions of the State consisting of one or more counties in seeking to involve the resources of local banks and financial institutions in order to leverage dollars available for the program. The service regions shall be determined by the authority on the basis of: comparative unemployment or underemployment; an economic environment conducive to the establishment or expansion of businesses built around qualified micro-businesses; the need for assistance in maintaining, rehabilitating or refurbishing micro-businesses where such activity will protect or enhance a small-business economy; and the level of anticipated financial and other participation of county economic development agencies, municipal economic development agencies or business organizations, and county or municipal educational and nonprofit organizations.

c. In designing and implementing the program, the authority is authorized to enter into agreements with county and municipal agencies, and local business, educational and nonprofit organizations, in order to leverage its development loans with funds from such entities. Such agreements may also require participation from the county and municipal level where training and technical assistance, and other self-employment services are concerned. The terms and conditions of all loans and loan guarantees provided by the authority shall be determined by the authority.

L.1995,c.206,s.4.