A. The Department shall have the following powers and duties:

1. Coordinate as consistent with prevailing law the plans, programs, and operations of the state government that affect or may contribute to the establishment, preservation, and strengthening of small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses;

2. Promote the mobilization of activities and resources of state and local governments, businesses and trade associations, baccalaureate institutions of higher education, foundations, professional organizations, and volunteer and other groups towards the growth of small businesses and businesses owned by women and minorities, and facilitate the coordination of the efforts of these groups with those of state departments and agencies;

3. Establish a center for the development, collection, summarization, and dissemination of information that will be helpful to persons and organizations throughout the nation in undertaking or promoting procurement from small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses;

4. Consistent with prevailing law and availability of funds, and according to the Director’s discretion, provide technical and management assistance to small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses and defray all or part of the costs of pilot or demonstration projects that are designed to overcome the special problems of small, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses;

5. Advise the Small Business Financing Authority on the management and administration of the Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned Business Loan Fund created pursuant to § 2.2-2311.1;

6. Implement any remediation or enhancement measure for small, women-owned, or minority-owned businesses as may be authorized by the Governor pursuant to subsection C of § 2.2-4310 and develop regulations, consistent with prevailing law, for program implementation. Such regulations shall be developed in consultation with the state agencies with procurement responsibility and promulgated by those agencies in accordance with applicable law;

7. Receive and coordinate, with the appropriate state agency, the investigation of complaints that a business certified pursuant to this chapter has failed to comply with its subcontracting plan under subsection D of § 2.2-4310. If the Department determines that a business certified pursuant to this chapter has failed to comply with the subcontracting plan, the business shall provide a written explanation; and

8. Facilitate relationships between established businesses and start-up women-owned and minority-owned businesses by creating and administering a mentorship program under the provisions of § 2.2-1605.1.

B. In addition, the Department shall serve as the liaison between the Commonwealth’s existing businesses and state government in order to promote the development of Virginia’s economy. To that end, the Department shall:

1. Encourage the training or retraining of individuals for specific employment opportunities at new or expanding business facilities in the Commonwealth;

2. Develop and implement programs to assist small businesses in the Commonwealth in order to promote their growth and the creation and retention of jobs for Virginians;

3. Establish an industry program that is the principal point of communication between basic employers in the Commonwealth and the state government that will address issues of significance to business;

4. Make available to existing businesses, in conjunction and cooperation with localities, chambers of commerce, and other public and private groups, basic information and pertinent factors of interest and concern to such businesses;

5. Develop statistical reports on job creation and the general economic conditions in the Commonwealth; and

6. Annually review and provide feedback on SWaM plans. The review shall focus on strategies state agencies can use to improve SWaM spending, increase procurement of goods and services from SWaM businesses, and meet procurement goals outlined in SWaM plans. The Department shall encourage state agencies to integrate such strategies with all current and future procurements. The Department shall suggest strategies that may be more effective or changes to strategies that have not been effective. Upon request of a state agency, the Department shall meet with the state agency one-on-one to discuss its SWaM goals and strategies and advise it on effective strategies. The Department shall research and compile information that state agencies can use to increase SWaM spending and shall develop and publish guidance on how state agencies can implement these strategies.

C. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall assist the Department upon request and furnish such information and assistance as the Department may require in the discharge of its duties.

2013, c. 482; 2014, cc. 41, 464; 2015, cc. 696, 697, 733; 2016, c. 520; 2020, c. 1234; 2022, cc. 301, 302.