2023 New York Laws › COM - Economic Development Law › Article 4 - General Powers of Department › 100 - General Powers of Department.

§  100.  General  powers of department. The commissioner acting by and
through the department of economic development shall have power  and  it
shall be his duty:
1. to investigate, study and undertake ways and means of promoting and
encouraging  the prosperous development and protection of the legitimate
interest and welfare of New York business, industry and commerce, within
and outside the state;
2. to serve as a clearing house for industrial problems of the state;
3. to promote and encourage the expansion and development  of  markets
for New York products;
4.  to  promote  and  encourage  the  location  and development of new
business in the state as  well  as  the  maintenance  and  expansion  of
existing business and for that purpose to cooperate with state and local
agencies and individuals both within and outside the state;
5.  to  investigate  and study conditions affecting New York business,
industry and commerce, and to collect and disseminate  information,  and
engage  in  technical studies, scientific investigations and statistical
research and educational activities necessary or useful for  the  proper
execution  of  the  powers and duties of the department in promoting and
developing New York business, industry  and  commerce  both  within  and
outside the state;
6.  to plan and develop an effective business information service both
for the  direct  assistance  of  industry  of  the  state  and  for  the
encouragement of industries outside the state to use business facilities
within the state;
7.  to  compile,  collect  and develop periodically, or otherwise make
available, scientific indices and other information relating to  current
business conditions;
8.  to  encourage  and  develop commerce with other states and foreign
countries, and to devise ways  and  means  of  removing  trade  barriers
hampering the free flow of commerce between this state and other states,
including  such  barriers  as  preferences  and similar price distorting
mechanisms and other forms of discrimination used in the procurement  of
goods  and  services  by  the  public sector or influenced by the public
sector;
9. to cooperate with interstate commissions engaged in formulating and
promoting the adoption of interstate compacts and agreements helpful  to
business, industry and commerce;
10.  to conduct or encourage research designed to further new and more
extensive uses of the natural and other  resources  of  the  state,  and
designed to develop new products and industrial processes;
11.  to  study  trends and developments in the industries of the state
and to analyze the reasons underlying such trends; to  study  costs  and
other  factors  affecting  successful operation of businesses within the
state; and to make recommendations regarding circumstances promoting  or
hampering industrial development;
12.  to  compile periodically a census of business and industry in the
state with the cooperation of other agencies; and to analyze and publish
this information in such form as to be most valuable to the business and
industry of the state;
13. to make to the governor and to the legislature, from time to time,
recommendations for the study or improvement of any conditions, and  for
the  elimination  of  any  restrictions  and  burdens imposed by law, or
otherwise existing, which adversely  affect  or  retard  the  legitimate
development and expansion of business, industry or commerce;
14.  to  publicize  the  material and economic advantages of the state
which render it a desirable place for business and residence;
15. (a) to collect, compile and distribute information and  literature
as  to  the  facilities,  advantages  and  attractions of the state, the
historical and scenic points and places of interest within the state and
the transportation and highway facilities of the state;
(b)  in the discharge of this power, the commissioner may enter into a
contract for publication of a state travel  guide  to  promote  tourism.
Such contract may provide for the sale of advertising by the contractor.
A  contract  for  publication  of  a state travel guide shall be awarded
following consideration of factors  which  shall  include,  but  not  be
limited  to,  the  most favorable financial advantage for the state, the
best representation of the state of New York and its services,  and  the
greatest  utility  to  the  traveller. The commissioner shall promulgate
regulations by the first day of November next succeeding  the  effective
date  of  this  paragraph  to  guide  the  preparation  of  bids and the
deadlines for selection of a competent contractor and publication of the
state  travel  guide.  The  regulations  shall,  at  a  minimum,   limit
advertising  content  to  no  more  than  thirty  percent  of  the space
available and establish responsibility for preparation and placement  of
appropriate editorial content and an equitable listing without charge or
other  consideration  of  attractions  and  activities  available to the
tourist in New York state. Such regulations shall provide  for  approval
of the commissioner at critical stages of state travel guide development
and advertising standards and rates. Furthermore, such regulations shall
provide  minimum  financial  terms and responsibilities of the state and
the  contractor,  the  allocation  of  any  revenues  derived  from  the
production of the travel guide and securities which shall be required of
the contractor.
16.  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;
16-a. to promote the growth of fruit growing,  fruit  processing,  and
winery  businesses  in  cooperation with the commissioner of agriculture
and markets and the urban development corporation. The  commissioner  in
promoting  such  businesses  may  also  help to promote tourist programs
specified in subdivision sixteen  of  this  section  and  encourage  the
retention of agricultural lands and preservation of open spaces.
16-b.  to  promote the expansion of animal and plant fiber production,
fiber processing, and textile manufacturing from animal or  plant  fiber
grown  or  produced  predominantly in New York state in cooperation with
the commissioner of agriculture and markets and  the  urban  development
corporation. The commissioner in promoting such businesses may also help
to  promote  tourist  programs  specified in subdivision sixteen of this
section  and  encourage  the  retention  of   agricultural   lands   and
preservation of open spaces.
18.   to  encourage  and  cooperate  with  other  public  and  private
organizations or groups in publicizing the  attractions  and  industrial
advantages of the state;
18-a.   to   establish,   in  cooperation  with  the  commissioner  of
agriculture and markets and the state liquor authority,  procedures  for
proposing  to  the governor nominations for annual awards to be known as
"New York state wine retailers awards". These non-monetary awards  shall
be  given  in recognition of unusual efforts made by restaurants, and/or
retailers  licensed  to  sell  alcoholic  beverages   for   off-premises
consumption,  to  inform consumers as to the availability, diversity and
excellence of wines made in the state from grapes grown  in  the  state,

and to feature these wines. The governor shall, at his discretion, issue
up to three awards annually.
18-b.  to  promote,  in  cooperation  with the New York wine and grape
foundation, state policies that will encourage the production  and  sale
of New York labelled wines.
18-c.   to   establish,   in  cooperation  with  the  commissioner  of
agriculture and markets, procedures for proposing nominations, including
procedures to coordinate  with  such  commissioner  to  determine  which
department  shall  make nominations for awards in categories that may be
similar to those listed in subdivision nine  of  section  three  hundred
nine of the agriculture and markets law to the governor for four annual,
non-monetary  awards  to  be  known  as:  (a) New York State Direct Farm
Marketing Award; (b) New York State Agri-Tourism  Award;  (c)  New  York
State  Specialty  Food  Product  Award; and (d) New York Animal or Plant
Fiber and Textile Award. These awards shall be given in  recognition  of
unusual  efforts  by  farmers,  food  processors,  food retailers, fiber
processors, and textile manufacturers and retailers for the marketing of
New York state grown agricultural commodities, foods processed  from  or
primarily   containing  New  York  state  agricultural  commodities,  or
textiles manufactured in New York state from animal or plant fiber grown
or produced predominantly in New York state and for promoting  New  York
state farms that are also tourist destinations.
18-d.  To  establish,  in consultation with the New York state tourism
advisory council, a New York hall of fame passport permitting  admission
to recognized halls of fame situated within the state.
18-e.   to  establish,  in  cooperation  with  the  urban  development
corporation and the commissioner of agriculture and  markets  and  other
economic  development  agencies  a  program  to  promote the agriculture
industry  and  other  related  industries  in  the  state  in  a  manner
consistent with the provisions of article five-D of this chapter.
18-f.  to  establish  procedures, guidelines or regulations related to
implementation of the "NY-USA  Proud"  employer  of  distinction  award.
These  non-monetary  awards  shall  be given in recognition of companies
that show exceptional support for military personnel including  military
reservists and national guard members. To promote and market such award,
the commissioner may design an appropriate symbol that may be registered
as  a  trademark  in  the  office  of  the  secretary of state. Any such
trademark shall be registered by the  secretary  of  state  without  the
exaction  of  any  fee  therefor.  The  commissioner  may  in his or her
discretion register any such mark with the United States government  and
any other state or foreign country.
18-g.  to  establish  procedures, guidelines or regulations related to
implementation of the  "Patriot  Support  and  Discount  Program".  This
voluntary   program  shall  recognize  those  merchants,  businesses  or
companies that provide exceptional support to their employees who  serve
in  the  military,  including  military  reservists  and  national guard
members, or agree to provide reduced price discounts for merchandise and
services  for  military  personnel  including  military  reservists  and
national   guard   members.  At  the  discretion  of  the  commissioner,
participating merchants, businesses or companies may become eligible for
inclusion in the "NY-USA Proud" program.
18-h. to include in the "NY-USA Proud"  program  those  companies  who
provide  accident  prevention  courses  approved  by the commissioner of
motor vehicles at a reduced rate to the servicemen and  women  who  have
returned from a combat theater or combat zone of operations.
18-i.  To  aid the department of agriculture and markets and office of
general services in providing a training program once per year, in  each
economic  development  region,  established  in  article  eleven of this

chapter, to encourage and  increase  participation  in  the  procurement
process,  pursuant  to article eleven of the state finance law, by small
businesses, as  defined  in  section  one  hundred  thirty-one  of  this
chapter, including farms, selling food or food products grown, produced,
harvested,  or  processed  in New York state, or selling animal or plant
fiber products grown, harvested and processed  in  New  York  state  and
textile  products  manufactured  in  New York state from animal or plant
fiber grown or produced predominantly in New York state, and assist such
businesses in identifying such food, food products, or animal  or  plant
fiber  products  and  textile  products  which  may  help  to meet state
agencies' needs.
18-j. to assist the  urban  development  corporation  to  establish  a
searchable  database  pursuant  to section fifty-eight of section one of
chapter one  hundred  seventy-four  of  the  laws  of  nineteen  hundred
sixty-eight,   constituting   the   New  York  state  urban  development
corporation act.
18-k. to promote, in cooperation with  associations  representing  New
York   growers,  fiber  processors,  and  textile  manufacturers,  state
policies that will encourage the production and sale of textile products
manufactured in New York state from  animal  or  plant  fiber  grown  or
produced predominantly in New York state.
19.  (a)  to study changes in and to suggest policies for the economic
development and conservation of  the  resources  of  the  state  and  to
develop  an  annual  statewide economic development strategic plan. Such
strategic plan, shall include but shall not be limited to,  a  statewide
inventory   of  all  industry  associations  and  clusters;  a  list  of
industries that have a competitive advantage; and a list  of  industries
that  demonstrate the potential for growth. The department shall work in
cooperation with the New York State Foundation for  Science,  Technology
and  Innovation  in  creating  the  strategic plan. The annual statewide
economic development strategic plan shall be submitted to the  temporary
president  of  the  senate  and  the  speaker of the assembly on January
first, two thousand eight and every year thereafter.
(b) to cause to be prepared program plans for the economic development
financial assistance programs of the  state,  in  cooperation  with  the
agency  or  public  benefit  corporation or public authority, consistent
with  the  legislative  intent  and  statutory  authorization  for  such
programs.  Program  plans  shall be derived from and shall be consistent
with the annual economic development strategic  plan  and,  accordingly,
may  be  updated  as  necessary.  Such plans shall be transmitted to the
agency or public authority or public benefit corporation responsible for
administering the program and to the speaker of  the  assembly  and  the
temporary  president  of  the senate within ninety days of the effective
date of any statute authorizing such program. With respect  to  existing
economic  development  financial  assistance  programs, the commissioner
shall transmit program plans on or before July first,  nineteen  hundred
eighty-eight.
Program  plans  shall describe the goals, objectives and priorities of
each financial  assistance  program,  shall  guide  the  development  of
operating  procedures and rules and regulations governing each financial
assistance program, shall set forth the manner in  which  the  financial
assistance  program shall be coordinated with other economic development
programs  and  shall  set  forth  a   description   of   the   operating
relationships  with  relevant agencies and regional and local public and
private organizations;
20. to cooperate with and  assist  other  state  departments,  boards,
commissions,   agencies,   public   benefit   corporations   and  public
authorities in the preparation of policies for the economic  development

of  the  state  and to assist in such entities' development of rules and
regulations  governing   economic   development   financial   assistance
programs, and policies for the use and conservation of its resources;
21.  to  inquire into and report to the governor when requested by the
governor, with respect to any program of public state  improvements  and
the  financing  thereof;  and to request and obtain information from the
state department  of  transportation  and  other  state  departments  or
agencies  such  information and data as may be needed properly to report
thereon;
22. to advise and cooperate with municipal, county, regional and other
local  agencies  within  the  state  for  the   purpose   of   promoting
coordination  between  the  state  and  the  localities  as  to economic
development;
23. to confer and cooperate with the authorities of the United  States
and  neighboring  states  and of the counties and municipalities of such
neighboring states, for the purpose of  bringing  about  a  coordination
between  the  economic  development of such neighboring states, counties
and municipalities and the economic development  of  the  state  of  New
York;
24. to adopt such measures as may best be calculated to promote public
interest  in  and understanding of the problems of economic development,
and to that end may publish and distribute copies of  any  plan  or  any
report  and  may  employ  such other means of publicity and education as
shall give full effect to the provisions of this chapter;
25. To act as the agent of the state and  its  political  subdivisions
for  the  purpose  of approving applicants for financial assistance from
any federal agency for industrial development or redevelopment purposes,
whenever the terms of  any  act  of  congress  heretofore  or  hereafter
enacted for such purposes require the state or any political subdivision
thereof  to  approve  applicants  for  such  assistance, and to take any
further action which may be required under the terms of such act.
26. To provide all necessary staff services, accounting, clerical  and
secretarial  assistance, and office space and equipment requested by the
New York job development authority.
27. To act as the agent of the state  to  administer,  carry  out  and
coordinate  any  federal law now or hereafter enacted by the congress to
promote economic growth by supporting  state  and  regional  centers  to
place  the  findings  of  science  usefully  in  the  hands  of American
enterprise  and,  for  such  purposes,  to  receive  federal  funds  for
technical  services  programs  and enter into any necessary contracts or
compacts in connection therewith, to take any further action  which  may
be  required  under the terms of any such federal act, including but not
limited  to  the  establishment  and  operation  of  state  or  regional
technical information centers.
28.  To provide all necessary staff services, accounting, clerical and
secretarial assistance and office space and equipment requested  by  the
New York state job incentive board.
29.  to  advise the governor, the legislature and other state agencies
with regard to research and development and the establishment  of  state
policies  relating thereto, in connection with science oriented industry
and applied research.
29-a. to advise the governor, the legislature and other state agencies
with regard to research and development and the establishment  of  state
policies relating thereto, in connection with the animal and plant fiber
and fiber textile manufacturing industries and applied research.
30.  to  cooperate  with all private persons and governmental entities
concerned with science oriented industry and applied research.
30-a. to cooperate with all private persons and governmental  entities
concerned   with   the   animal   and  plant  fiber  and  fiber  textile
manufacturing industries and applied research.
31.  to sponsor, foster and support research and to sponsor or conduct
studies relating to science oriented industry and applied research.
31-a. to sponsor, foster  and  support  research  and  to  sponsor  or
conduct studies relating to the animal and plant fiber and fiber textile
manufacturing industries and applied research.
32. to review and evaluate the status and to encourage and promote the
development  of  science oriented industry and applied research designed
to further new and more extensive use of the resources and  manpower  of
the state.
32-a.  to  review and evaluate the status and to encourage and promote
the development  of  the  animal  and  plant  fiber  and  fiber  textile
manufacturing  industries  and  applied research designed to further new
and more extensive use of the resources and manpower of the state.
33. the department shall adopt, amend or rescind, in  accordance  with
the  state  administrative  procedure  act,  such rules, regulations and
orders as may be necessary or  convenient  to  the  performance  of  its
functions,  powers  and  duties  under  this  chapter.  Such  rules  and
regulations shall be consistent  with  any  program  plans  required  by
subdivision nineteen of section one hundred of this chapter.
34.  the  department  may  enter into contracts with any person, firm,
corporation or governmental agency,  and  do  all  things  necessary  or
convenient  to  carry out the functions, powers and duties expressly set
forth in this article.
35. to promote, publish, and disseminate  the  rules  and  regulations
promulgated   by   the   industrial  commissioner  pursuant  to  article
twenty-six of the labor law.
36. (a) The commissioner shall solicit research firms to evaluate  the
promotional  effectiveness  and  economic  impact  of  the  department's
tourism  advertising  campaigns.  The  commissioner  shall  cause   said
research  firms  to  submit to the department and the legislative fiscal
committees, at  least  six  weeks  prior  to  the  conducting  of  their
research, a research design indicating the techniques planned to measure
such  promotional  effectiveness and economic impact; provided, however,
that no firm selected shall do both the  promotional  effectiveness  and
economic  impact  studies nor shall have participated in the development
of marketing the tourism campaign.
(b) The commissioner shall submit  all  preliminary  reports  of  such
firms  to  the legislative fiscal committees within two weeks of receipt
of  such  reports;  the  final  reports  shall  be  submitted   by   the
commissioner  to  the  legislative  fiscal  committees  and  the tourism
advisory council no later than December first of each year.
37. to review and evaluate the economic impact  of  the  downhill  ski
industry on the state's economy and to advise the governor, legislature,
and other state agencies of the results of such review and evaluation.
37-a. The commissioner shall make an annual report to the governor and
legislature  on  or  before  the  fifteenth day of May for the preceding
calendar year. It shall include a summary of all contacts received  from
business entities by the department, including the department's district
offices.  The report shall set forth the types of contacts, the purposes
of such contacts and include a  summary  of  the  results  of  all  such
contacts  by  business  entities.  The  report shall also indicate which
contacts were made by small business concerns as defined by section  one
hundred  thirty-five-a  of  the  state finance law. No provision of this
subdivision shall be deemed to require or authorize  the  disclosure  of
confidential information or trade secrets.
37-b. The requirements to report contained in the following provisions
of  this  chapter  shall  be satisfied, notwithstanding any inconsistent
provision appearing therein, by the commissioner who  shall  consolidate
into  one  combined  annual report all of the information required to be
submitted  in  separate  reports  by  the  following  provisions of this
chapter. This consolidated annual report of the  commissioner  shall  be
submitted to the governor and the legislature on or before October first
of  each  year  and  shall replace the requirements for separate reports
contained in the following provisions  of  this  chapter.  In  order  to
fulfill   his   or   her  responsibility  under  this  subdivision,  the
commissioner may require the submission  to  him  or  her  a  sufficient
period  of time in advance of October first of each year by any advisory
committee or other body required to submit  a  report  pursuant  to  the
following  provisions  of  this  chapter  of all information which would
otherwise be required to be included in  the  report  of  such  advisory
committee  or  other  body.  The  following  provisions  of this chapter
containing requirements to submit recurring reports shall be subject  to
the requirements of this subdivision:
(a)   Section   one   hundred   ninety-five,   on  the  operation  and
accomplishments of the industrial effectiveness program.
(b) Paragraph (a) of subdivision seven of  section  two  hundred  two,
regarding  the  current  status  of  the  skills  development assistance
program.
(c) Subdivision two of section two hundred  twelve  of  this  chapter,
submitting  the  results of the annual evaluation of the entrepreneurial
assistance programs established under article nine of this chapter.
(d) Subdivision two of section two hundred twenty-three, reporting the
results of the annual evaluation of  the  effectiveness  of  the  export
trade  development  projects  and  other  technical  assistance programs
authorized under article ten.
(e)  Paragraph  (a)  of  subdivision  three  of  section  two  hundred
forty-one,  submitting  the  annual  findings and recommendations of the
advisory council on economic information and research.
(f) Subdivision eight of section  two  hundred  fifty,  regarding  the
current status of the industrial infrastructure development program.
38.  to  contract  for  and  to accept any gifts or grants or loans of
funds or property of financial or other aid in any form from the federal
government or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from  the  state
or  any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from any other source, for
any or all of the purposes specified in this chapter, with the terms and
conditions thereof; and
39. (a) To assist the superintendent of financial services to solicit,
evaluate, develop  and  provide  information  to  banking  corporations,
principally  engaged  in  doing business within the state, about various
methods used by banking corporations to provide financing for businesses
engaged in the export of products and services to foreign countries.
(b) The  commissioner  shall  evaluate  such  information  as  may  be
available  to  the  department  and help identify local regional banking
corporations currently serving the state exporters and shall assist  the
superintendent  of financial services in determining the status of local
and regional  banking  corporations  in  export  financing  so  that  in
cooperation  with  the department of financial services, a program shall
be developed by which new banking corporations may be brought  into  the
export financing sector and potential and current state exporters may be
given a wider choice of available financing sources for medium and small
export transactions.
(c)  The  commissioner  shall  further  inform  the  superintendent of
financial services of any changes  which  the  department  projects  may

occur   in   the   international  business  community  about  which  the
commissioner may become aware so that the  superintendent  of  financial
services  may  provide  the  most timely and accurate information to the
state banking community.
(d)   The   commissioner   shall   promote,  publish  and  disseminate
information  concerning  the  current  export  trade   engaged   in   by
corporations  doing  business  in the state, in particularly identifying
those areas, fields of endeavor and under-utilized industrial  resources
which could be exported in greater volume creating an increased need for
financing by local and regional banks.
40.  to  assist the secretary of state to promote and make information
available regarding technical and financial  assistance  for  waterfront
revitalization   programs   for  economically  distressed  and  severely
economically distressed municipalities on inland waterways, as  provided
by section nine hundred fifteen-a of the executive law.
40-a.  to  develop  a  plan  to  maximize  the use of telecommuting to
conserve energy otherwise used by the personnel  of  the  department  in
commuting  to their assigned workplace. Within one year of the effective
date of this subdivision, the department shall submit a  report  to  the
governor  and the legislature on the impact of such plan to include, but
not  be  limited  to,  energy  conservation,  air   quality,   workforce
acceptance, office costs and potential cost savings.
* 41.  To investigate innovative approaches to private sector work and
employee compensation arrangements,  such  as  flexible  hours  and  job
sharing,  flexible  compensation  and  benefit  plans including employee
assistance programs, employer-supported dependent care and family leave,
which  will  benefit  both  employers   and   employees   by   improving
productivity  and  morale,  lowering rates of absenteeism, tardiness and
turnover, and enhancing a company's image.
* NB There are 2 sb 41's
* 41. to administer and operate a linked deposit program  pursuant  to
article fifteen of the state finance law.
* NB There are 2 sb 41's
42.  To  promote the advantages of such flexible work arrangements and
benefit  plans  to  business  organizations  and  associations  and   to
individual  firms  and  to  assist such groups or firms with instituting
such arrangements and benefit plans.
43. To work with the New York job development authority, the New  York
state  urban  development  corporation  and  other  economic development
agencies in promoting the inclusion of dependent care facilities as part
of business expansion, industrial park, multi-tenant building  or  other
projects assisted by the authority, the corporation or other agencies.
44.  to foster and promote, and to enlist the New York job development
authority, the New York urban development corporation and  other  public
authorities,  public  benefit  corporations and state agencies to foster
and promote, the re-use and  rehabilitation  of  existing  buildings  or
sites,  or  both,  as  part  of  business  expansion,  industrial  park,
multi-tenant building or other projects assisted by a public  authority,
a public benefit corporation and/or a state agency.
45.  to  license,  maintain  and  lease  where appropriate an official
brand, "I Love NY". Such brand shall be maintained, leased  and  applied
pursuant to section one hundred fifty-two of this chapter.
46.  to  prepare an annual summary for the small business community of
the key legislative, budgetary and regulatory  changes  impacting  small
businesses.  Agencies  shall cooperate with the department in developing
the annual summary.  The  annual  summary  shall  be  written  in  plain
language  and  shall  provide  specific  contact  information within the
appropriate  agency   for   inquiries   regarding   implementation   and

compliance. The annual summary shall be posted on the department website
on or before September first of each year.
47.  to,  with  funds  appropriated  for  this  purpose,  post  on the
department's website information related  to  New  York  state  programs
providing  assistance  to  small  businesses or minority and women-owned
business enterprises. The commissioner shall determine which programs to
feature on the department's website,  in  consultation  with  the  urban
development  corporation,  which  may  include,  but  not be limited to,
programs offered by state and federal agencies  or  other  entities,  to
provide  financial  and technical assistance to minority and women-owned
business enterprises and small businesses,  provided  that  the  website
shall  provide  information  on  any  department  or  urban  development
corporation programs relating to  obtaining  bonding  or  bridge  loans.
Posted  information  may  include,  but not necessarily be limited to, a
program  description,  the  type  of  assistance  offered,   application
information,  and  contact information or website address for the entity
offering such assistance. The  department  shall  post  the  information
described  herein so as to allow individuals to: (a) search for featured
minority and  women-owned  business  enterprises  and  small  businesses
assistance  programs  pursuant  to  article  nine  of  this chapter; (b)
complete applications for assistance in obtaining bonding,  as  well  as
applications  to  any other programs providing financial assistance that
the department deems feasible; and (c) obtain access to census data from
the most recent United States census.
48. to cooperate with and provide assistance to the  commissioners  of
environmental   conservation   and   transportation   to  implement  the
provisions of title five of  article  forty-nine  of  the  environmental
conservation law.
49.   to   exercise  all  other  powers  and  functions  necessary  or
appropriate to carry out the duties  and  purposes  set  forth  in  this
chapter.