GA Code § 50-7-7 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 50 - State Government|Chapter 7 - Department of Economic Development|Article 1 - General Provisions|§ 50-7-7. Duties and Powers of Board Generally

 The board shall have the following duties and powers:    To investigate, study, and undertake ways and means of promoting and encouraging the prosperous development and protection of the legitimate interest and welfare of Georgia business, industry, and commerce within and outside the state;   To make and prepare plans and establish long-term policies for the promotion, establishment, development, and expansion of commerce and industry in the state;   To promote and encourage the location, establishment, and development of new businesses and industries within the state and the development and expansion of businesses and industries now or hereafter located in the state;   To promote and encourage the establishment, maintenance, development, and expansion of markets for the products of Georgia business, industry, and agriculture;   To promote and encourage the use of the commercial, industrial, and agricultural facilities and resources of the state by persons, businesses, and industries located within or outside the state; and particularly to promote and encourage the expansion and development of industries processing or using agricultural, timber, timber products, and natural resources of the state;   To establish, develop, and maintain an effective business information service, both for the direct assistance of business and industry of the state and for the encouragement of industries outside the state to use commercial, industrial, and agricultural facilities within the state;   To promote and encourage the establishment, development, and maintenance of commerce and trade between this state and other states and foreign countries; to plan for the removal of, and to devise and put into operation ways and means of removing, trade barriers of any kind which in any way hamper, burden, restrict, or interfere with the free flow of commerce and trade between this state and other states; and   To plan and conduct a program of information and publicity designed to attract tourists, visitors, and other interested persons from outside the state to this state and also to encourage and coordinate the efforts of other public and private organizations or groups of citizens to publicize the facilities and attractions of the state for the same purposes.    (Ga. L. 1949, p. 249, § 14; Ga. L. 1959, p. 262, § 15; Ga. L. 1962, p. 694, § 7; Ga. L. 1989, p. 1641, § 14.)   Cross references.   - Powers and duties of State Board of Education relating to vocational education generally, T. 20, C. 4.   Conducting of industrial research by Georgia Tech Research Institute, T. 20, C. 11.   OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL    Department is authorized to conduct labor availability study  for a city and may do so with money the department receives from the Governor's emergency fund. 1969 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 69-389.   Limits on assistance in acquisition of industrial park.   - While the Department of Community Development (now Department of Industry, Trade, and Tourism) is authorized to "coordinate, counsel and advise" with local governmental agencies as well as other public or private organizations in their promotional and planning activities, the department is unauthorized to spend state funds to assist a county development authority to acquire property for an industrial park. 1974 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 74-11.   Authorization to contract for installation of signs.   - Contract for the installation of "highway welcome signs" to be erected on the Georgia side of the state line on state road rights of way where the various highways enter the state is authorized. 1963-65 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 280.   Purchasing of gifts for representatives of industries.   - Purchase of cuff links and the decorative attachment to key rings designed in the shape of this state for controlled distribution to representatives of industries which the department is attempting to encourage to locate or expand operations in Georgia is authorized by this section and is not repugnant to Ga. Const. 1976, Art. III, Sec. VIII, Para. XII (see Ga. Const. 1983, Art. III, Sec. VI, Para. VI) since the elements of gratuity are merely incidental to their dominant function of advertising and promotion. 1963-65 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 558.