The authority shall promote and develop the business and economic welfare of this State, encourage and assist through loans, investments, research, technical and managerial advice, studies, data compilation and dissemination, and similar means, in the location of new business enterprises in this State and in rehabilitation and assistance of existing business enterprises and in the promotion of the export of goods, services, commodities, and capital equipment produced within the State, so as to provide maximum opportunities for creation and retention of jobs and improvement of the standard of living of the citizens of the State, and act in conjunction with other persons and organizations, public or private, in the promotion and advancement of industrial, commercial, agricultural, and recreational development in this State. In the promotion, development, and advancement of these programs, the authority must give consideration to the development of and assistance to small businesses in this State as may be defined by regulation of the authority.