It is further the legislative intent that the Industrial Revenue Bond Act authorize municipalities to refinance hospital or 501(c)(3) corporation projects and projects of any independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian four-year college or university accredited by the north central association of colleges and schools, to acquire, own, lease or sell projects for the purpose of promoting the local economy and improving local health and the general welfare by inducing private institutions of higher education, nonprofit corporations engaged in health care services, including nursing homes, 501(c)(3) corporations and, for any small municipality only, office facilities for physicians, to provide more adequate facilities of higher education and to provide more adequate health care services in this state and by inducing mass transit or other transportation activities, industrial parks, office headquarters and research and development activities to locate or expand in this state. It is not intended to authorize any municipality to own or lease projects for retail business or by itself to operate any private institution of higher education; nonprofit corporation engaged in health care services, including nursing homes; 501(c)(3) corporation; industrial parks; office headquarters; or research and development facilities.