There is hereby created a unit within the consortium to be known as the Small Business Clearinghouse which shall provide a single contact point for the state’s small businesses seeking assistance, make them aware of programs available to them, and direct them to the appropriate delivering organization.
The Small Business Clearinghouse shall be part of the Mississippi Department of Economic Development, and the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Economic Development shall be authorized to employ a full-time staff member and to expend such funds as necessary to effectively implement the duties assigned this unit.
In order to ensure that the general small business public is informed of this single contact point for gaining access to state-supported services, the Small Business Clearinghouse shall establish and maintain an outreach program.