Purchases of assistance services for small businesses; grants; requirements for providers of services; waiver of federal requirements

(1)(a) The Oregon Business Development Department may purchase business assistance services from public or private organizations for delivery to small businesses in this state or may provide grants to public or private organizations to support, aid, stimulate or otherwise affect the delivery of business assistance services to small businesses in this state. (b) For the purposes of ORS 285A.340 to 285A.349, “business assistance services” includes: (A) Basic business training, including elements of accounting, personnel management, marketing and tax compliance. (B) Counseling on business needs and problems, including but not limited to specialized assistance with intellectual property rights, federal research grants, international markets, lean manufacturing and electronic commerce. (C) Assistance in securing state and federal procurement contracts. (D) Assistance in securing Oregon suppliers for goods and services. (2) An organization or association that receives state moneys for the purpose of providing business assistance services to small businesses shall comply, to the greatest extent feasible, with the state policies established under ORS 285A.340 to 285A.349. (3) To the extent that federal laws or regulations impose requirements that limit the payment of fees by recipients of business assistance services to small businesses, the department and the providers of those services shall apply for waivers of such federal requirements.