---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 3704a"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "3704a"
heading: "Clearinghouse for State and Local Initiatives on Productivity, Technology, and Innovation"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/3704a"
units:
  - "Chapter 63 — Technology Innovation"
---

# §3704a. Clearinghouse for State and Local Initiatives on Productivity, Technology, and Innovation

- (a) **Establishment—** There is established within the Office of Productivity, Technology, and Innovation a [Clearinghouse](/usc/15/3703.md?p=11) for [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) and Local Initiatives on Productivity, Technology, and Innovation. The [Clearinghouse](/usc/15/3703.md?p=11) shall serve as a central repository of information on initiatives by [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) and [local governments](/usc/15/34.md?p=1) to enhance the competitiveness of American business through the stimulation of productivity, technology, and innovation and Federal efforts to assist [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) and [local governments](/usc/15/34.md?p=1) to enhance competitiveness.
- (b) **Responsibilities—** The [Clearinghouse](/usc/15/3703.md?p=11) may—
  - (1) establish relationships with [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) and [local governments](/usc/15/34.md?p=1), and regional and multistate organizations of such governments, which carry out such initiatives;
  - (2) collect information on the nature, extent, and effects of such initiatives, particularly information useful to the Congress, [Federal agencies](/usc/15/3703.md?p=6), [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) and [local governments](/usc/15/34.md?p=1), regional and multistate organizations of such governments, businesses, and the public throughout the United States;
  - (3) disseminate information collected under [paragraph (2)](#b-2) through reports, directories, handbooks, conferences, and seminars;
  - (4) provide technical assistance and advice to such governments with respect to such initiatives, including assistance in determining sources of assistance from [Federal agencies](/usc/15/3703.md?p=6) which may be available to support such initiatives;
  - (5) study ways in which [Federal agencies](/usc/15/3703.md?p=6), including [Federal laboratories](/usc/15/3703.md?p=4), are able to use their existing policies and programs to assist [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) and [local governments](/usc/15/34.md?p=1), and regional and multistate organizations of such governments, to enhance the competitiveness of American business;
  - (6) make periodic recommendations to the [Secretary](/usc/15/3703.md?p=1), and to other [Federal agencies](/usc/15/3703.md?p=6) upon their request, concerning modifications in Federal policies and programs which would improve Federal assistance to [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) and local technology and business assistance programs;
  - (7) develop methodologies to evaluate [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) and local programs, and, when requested, advise [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) and [local governments](/usc/15/34.md?p=1), and regional and multistate organizations of such governments, as to which programs are most effective in enhancing the competitiveness of American business through the stimulation of productivity, technology, and innovation; and
  - (8) make use of, and disseminate, the nationwide study of [State](/usc/15/15g.md?p=2) industrial extension programs conducted by the [Secretary](/usc/15/3703.md?p=1).
- (c) **Contracts—** In carrying out [subsection (b)](#b), the [Secretary](/usc/15/3703.md?p=1) may enter into contracts for the purpose of collecting information on the nature, extent, and effects of initiatives.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–480, § 6, as added Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5122(a)(2), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1438.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Subsec. (d) of this section, which required the Secretary to prepare and transmit a triennial report to Congress, including recommendations to the President, Congress, and Federal agencies, on initiatives by State and local governments to enhance the competitiveness of American businesses through the stimulation of productivity, technology, and innovation, terminated, effective May 15, 2000, pursuant to section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance. See, also, page 50 of House Document No. 103–7.