| 30 | 30 | | The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development shall [, within available appropriations,] establish and administer a program to promote the marketing of products produced in Connecticut for the purpose of encouraging the development of manufacturing and production in the state. The commissioner may, within available appropriations, provide a grant-in-aid to any person, firm, partnership or corporation engaged in the promotion and marketing of such products, provided the words "CONNECTICUT-MADE" or "CT-Made" are clearly incorporated in such promotional and marketing activities. The commissioner shall (1) provide for the design, plan and implementation of a multiyear, state-wide marketing and advertising campaign, including, but not limited to, television and radio advertisements, promoting the availability of, and advantages of purchasing, Connecticut-made products, (2) establish and continuously update a web site connected with such advertising campaign that includes, but is not limited to, a comprehensive listing of Connecticut manufacturers, Connecticut-made products and Connecticut retailers selling Connecticut-made products, (3) direct Connecticut manufacturers and producers of Connecticut-made products in need of assistance to the appropriate economic development entity or state agency, and (4) conduct efforts to promote interaction and business relationships between Connecticut manufacturers and producers of Connecticut-made products and retailers, marketers, chambers of commerce, regional tourism districts and other potential institutional purchasers of Connecticut-made products, including, but not limited to, (A) linking Connecticut manufacturers and producers of Connecticut-made products with potential purchasers through a separate feature of the web site established pursuant to this section, and (B) organizing state-wide or regional events promoting Connecticut manufacturers and producers of Connecticut-made products, where such manufacturers, producers and institutional purchasers are invited to participate. The commissioner shall use his or her best efforts to solicit cooperation and participation from Connecticut manufacturers, producers of Connecticut-made products, retailers, marketers, chambers of commerce and regional tourism districts in such advertising, Internet-related and event planning efforts, including, but not limited to, soliciting private sector matching funds. [The commissioner shall administer this program within available appropriations.] On or before January 1, 2013, and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce on issues with respect to efforts undertaken pursuant to the requirements of this section, including, but not limited to, the amount of private matching funds received and expended by the department. The commissioner may adopt such regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, as he or she deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. |
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