ยง 223. Promotion of program. The department, through its regional
offices and with the assistance of the department of financial services
and other appropriate state agencies and public benefit corporations,
shall actively market and promote awareness of the program in all
geographical areas of the state among banks, banking organizations,
manufacturing firms, manufacturing organizations, and regional and local
economic development agencies. In soliciting lenders to participate in
the program, on or before April first, nineteen hundred ninety-six, the
commissioner of economic development shall give priority to the
solicitation of lenders seeking to make linked loans in economic
development regions in which fewer than ten linked loans have been made
on or before April first, nineteen hundred ninety-five. Provided,
however, that the granting of such priority shall in no way relieve the
commissioner of economic development of the duty and obligation to
solicit lenders from all economic development regions of the state.