<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gec" article_name="Economic Development" number="5-311" title_number="5" title_name="Economic Development and Financial Assistance Programs" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority and Fund">
  <text>The purposes of the Fund are to:</text>
  <level label="1">
    <text>expand employment opportunities in the State by providing financial assistance to businesses that are engaged in eligible industry sectors, including financial assistance for:</text>
    <level label="i">
      <text>aquaculture projects;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="ii">
      <text>arts and entertainment enterprises;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="iii">
      <text>arts and entertainment projects; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="iv">
      <text>creation and expansion of child care facilities;</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="2">
    <text>provide financial assistance for the redevelopment of qualified brownfields sites;</text>
  </level>
  <level label="3">
    <text>provide financial assistance to local governments and the Corporation for economic development projects; and</text>
  </level>
  <level label="4">
    <text>provide grants to local economic development funds.</text>
  </level>
</section>
