(a) The Department shall support industry–led regional technology councils that help private enterprises attempting to establish or expand manufacturing and technology–based businesses.
(b) The Department may:
(1) select an entity as the regional technology council for a particular region; and
(2) determine the geographic areas that constitute a region for purposes of this section.
(c) The Department may support a regional technology council through grants, loans, in–kind assistance, advice, or other assistance.