Any individual, group of individuals, employees, organization of employees, or local community affected by any closing or relocation of a business establishment’s operations or the proposed closing or relocation of a business establishment’s operations may request, in a manner prescribed by the director of development, assistance in efforts to study the feasibility of the establishment of an employee-owned corporation and any other assistance the director may provide pursuant to sections 122.13 to 122.136 of the Revised Code.