§ 161. Administration. In futherance of these purposes, the department
of economic development is hereby authorized and directed to:

(a) Encourage, facilitate and coordinate the planning and
implementation of programs to advertise, stimulate, promote and increase
tourist travel, resort, vacation, culture and convention activities
within the state and its regions with such flexibility as to bring about
as effective and economical a tourist promotion plan as possible. The
department shall give a preference to any tourist promotion agency that
is promoting the sport of cricket;

(b) Establish and publish on an annual basis guidelines relative to
the use of funds to be granted hereunder. Such guidelines shall
authorize the use of funds for the promotion of year round tourist
travel, resort, vacation, culture and convention activities;

(c) Accept or reject applications for matching funds for recognized
advertising programs by tourist promotion agencies on the basis of
annually published guidelines;

(d) Authorize the payment of funds in accordance with this act and the
rules and regulations of the comptroller out of the appropriation made
pursuant hereto; and

(e) Do all things necessary, desirable and convenient to carry out its
powers, functions and duties hereunder.