a. The economy of our State is vitally dependent upon the health and stability of the small and independent businesses in the State. The Legislature finds further that the future welfare of the State depends on the continued existence and development of these same small and independent businesses. It is, therefore, the declared policy of the Legislature to assist, counsel, aid and protect small and independent business development in the furtherance of the general welfare.

b. Historically, businesses owned by minority group members and women have been small establishments offering products and services, and their participation in the nation’s business community has been disproportionate to their numbers in society as a whole.

c. The opportunity for full participation in our free enterprise system by minority group members and women is essential if social and economic justice for them is to be attained, and the functioning of our economy improved.

d. The role of government at the national and State levels in encouraging the development of small businesses, as well as businesses owned by minority group members and women, has been recognized and is developing at a rapid pace with technical and financial assistance, contract procurement, contract set-asides and other programs designed to encourage development.

e. In addition to the national and State governments’ role in providing assistance, local levels of government have a unique opportunity and responsibility in encouraging the development of such businesses within their jurisdictions, and for coordinating local assistance with assistance and certification procedures provided at the national and State levels of government.

f. The Legislature, therefore, declares that in order to aid local units of government in establishing pilot projects to provide development and coordination assistance to small, minority and women-owned businesses within their jurisdictions, the Commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Economic Development shall be authorized to make grants of financial assistance to county and municipal units of government; that the making of those grants to county and municipal governments shall be regarded as a complement to the State’s program to directly assist small, minority and women’s businesses; that the authority and powers conferred hereunder and the expenditure of public moneys as provided herein are in service of a valid public purpose; and that the enactment of the provisions hereinafter set forth is in the public interest and for the public benefit and good and is so declared as a matter of express legislative determination.

L. 1987, c. 56, s. 1.