LAC 19:II.507. Internal Controls and Monitoring

A. The Secretary of the Department of Economic Development, or his designee, will designate and may change from time to time, one or more persons on his staff to act as the department's project representative or as the "mentor-protégé agreement monitor" for each mentor-protégé agreement, to provide liaison between the mentor, protégé and the department, and to perform various duties which are specifically provided for in the mentor-protégé agreement. B. The mentor and protégé are responsible to inform the department of any problems, delays or adverse conditions which will materially affect their ability to attain agreement objectives, prevent the meeting of time schedules and goals, or preclude the attainment of agreement work units by established time schedules and goals. A statement of the action taken or contemplated by the mentor and protégé and any assistance which may be needed to resolve the situation shall accompany such disclosure. C. Department controls will include: 1. approving, reviewing and evaluating mentor/protégé agreements for goals and objectives; 2. reviewing quarterly progress reports submitted by mentors and protégés on protégé development to measure protégé progress against the approved agreement, and a final report within 30 days following the completion of the agreement, or by July 31 each year, whichever comes first. 3. requesting and reviewing periodic reports and any studies or surveys as may be required by the program to determine program effectiveness and impact on the growth, stability and competitive position of small and emerging businesses in the state of Louisiana; and 4. continuous improvement of the program via ongoing and systematic research and development of program features, guidelines and operations.