§ 215. Come home to New York program. 1. There is hereby established in the department a "come home to New York" program to encourage the return of native New Yorkers to the state by establishing a local network of outlets designed to assist native New Yorkers in returning, relocating or starting a small business in New York state. 2. The department shall:(a) develop and enter into agreements with not-for-profit organizations in geographic areas throughout New York state which will serve as local coordinators for the program;
(b) develop a "come home to New York" website and promotional materials that can be tailored to particular jurisdictions;
(c) encourage not-for-profit organizations in every part of the state to participate in the come home to New York network;
(d) create a statewide public awareness campaign for the program;
(e) maintain a data base of investment-opportunities profiles submitted by relocating entrepreneurs and investment-interest profiles submitted by investors; and
(f) distribute investor and relocating entrepreneur applications in paper form and through electronic resources. 3. The department, through its regional offices, shall work with local coordinators to:
(a) originate a local name for the program and integrate it into the template website and related promotional materials to highlight regional quality of life, economic and cultural opportunities and include links to related websites;
(b) recruit volunteers in various occupational areas to provide the necessary networking opportunities that returning New Yorkers need, in fields such as law, finance, microbusiness start-up, high technology, construction, health care, manufacturing and retail operations;
(c) conduct outreach to local schools, colleges, universities and other organizations to develop a manner of contacting former residents who have left the state;
(d) develop a local public awareness campaign for the program;
(e) compile and report program statistics to the coordinator's office;
(f) serve as a screening mechanism through which introductions may be made between returning or newly established businesses and potential investors;
(g) aid prospective returning and newly established small businesses in presenting their ventures to investors; and
(h) encourage the formation of a venture capital funding network at the local level with the assistance of the department.
