(a) The county commission in any county is authorized without limiting any other levying authority the counties may have, to levy for and may erect, maintain and operate sheltered workshops in the county and may render financial aid to any one or more sheltered workshop facilities operating in the county.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "Sheltered workshop" means a particular type of vocational rehabilitation facility where any manufacture or handiwork is carried on and which is operated by a public agency or by a private corporation or association, no part of the net earnings of which inures or may lawfully inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, or by a cooperative, for the primary purpose of providing remunerative employment to disabled persons (a) as an interim step in the rehabilitation process for those who cannot be readily absorbed in the competitive labor market; or (b) during such time as employment opportunities for them in the competitive labor market do not exist; or (c) for providing vocational evaluation and work adjustment services for disadvantaged persons.