1. (1) There is created within the Cabinet for Economic Development the Department for Business and Community Development, which shall be headed by a commissioner appointed by the Governor. The department shall work with each Kentucky county and community in:

   1. (a) Providing customer service and project management with new and existing industries;
   2. (b) Overseeing programs and initiatives designed to support new investment, job creation, and retention across the state;
   3. (c) Providing sufficient technical resources to create and maintain a database to facilitate sales transactions between Kentucky businesses;
   4. (d) Administering activities related to business site selection; and
   5. (e) Collaborating with community partners and other agencies on workforce and economic development opportunities.

2. (2) The department shall include the following divisions, each of which shall be headed by a director appointed by the secretary pursuant to KRS 12.050:

   1. (a) The Development and Retention Division – West Kentucky;
   2. (b) The Development, Retention, and Administrative Division – Central and East Kentucky; and
   3. (c) The Community and Workforce Development Division.

Effective: June 29, 2023

History: Amended 2023 Ky. Acts ch. 75, sec. 9, effective June 29, 2023. -- Amended 2018 Ky. Acts ch. 37, sec. 3, effective July 14, 2018. -- Amended 2014 Ky. Acts ch. 89, sec. 4, effective July 15, 2014. -- Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 181, sec. 6, effective June 20, 2005; and ch. 158, sec. 4, effective June 20, 2005. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 133, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1998. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 113, sec. 4, effective July 15, 1996; ch. 209, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1996; and ch. 262, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1996. -- Created 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 499, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1994. Legislative Research Commission Note (6/20/2005). The Reviser of Statutes has renumbered the subparagraphs of subsection (2)(a) of this statute under the authority of KRS 7.136(1)(a).