(a) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission by and through the Rural Services Division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission shall have the following functions, powers, and duties:
(1) To serve as a clearinghouse and provide comprehensive information relating to rural development and revitalization upon request to any agency, individual, or corporation;
(2) To advise and assist agencies, individuals, and corporations in answering particular rural revitalization and development needs, including cooperative efforts among such agencies, individuals, and corporations to solve common problems or provide services in these areas;
(3) (A) To receive notification from all state and federal agencies, individuals, or corporations engaged in rural development and revitalization of program descriptions, appropriation data, and application procedures.
(B) The division shall maintain a listing of existing programs and advise local agencies, individuals, or corporations of their existence;
(4) To assist, upon request, applicant local agencies, individuals, or corporations located in rural areas in obtaining timely and efficient responses from state and federal agencies, to assist such applicants in consideration of alternative program grant strategies, to assist state and federal agencies in cooperative approaches to address the needs of such applicants, and to provide technical assistance to agencies in formulating and implementing rural development and revitalization programs;
(5) To assist the Governor and the General Assembly in the integration and formulation of state rural development and revitalization policy and long-range plans for rural areas and in answering needs related thereto;
(6) To analyze and make recommendations concerning proposed new state legislation or programs that may affect rural areas;
(7) To apply for and receive grants or financial assistance from the federal government or other agencies, individuals, or corporations;
(8) To assist the Governor in coordinating the activities and services of those departments and agencies of the state having relationships with local rural agencies, individuals, and corporations in order to provide more effective service to them and to simplify state procedures relating thereto;
(9) To keep the Governor informed about the problems and needs of agencies, individuals, and corporations that are involved with rural development and revitalization and to assist in formulating policies with respect thereto and utilizing the resources of state government for the benefit of rural areas;
(10) To promote and encourage the establishment of a nonprofit foundation, a Center for Rural Arkansas, and to cooperate and coordinate with and assist the center in accessing state and federal government and private nonprofit and corporate foundation grant funds to aid in rural development and revitalization for rural Arkansas; and
(11) To administer the conservation education programs established under § 6-16-1101 for the benefit of all school districts and conservation districts in the state, regardless of population.
(b) The executive director may prescribe and issue, pursuant to the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq., such reasonable rules as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
(c) The division shall prepare and submit biennially on January 1 a comprehensive report concerning the assistance activities undertaken by the division, any recommendations for legislative proposals, data concerning program activities in rural areas, and other pertinent information which will indicate the activities conducted by the division in the previous biennium.
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