1. Apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public or private sources to enable the Extension Partnership to carry out its objectives;

2. Fix, alter, charge, and collect rates, fees, and other charges for the sale of products of, or services rendered by the Extension Partnership at rates to be determined by it to pay the expenses of the Extension Partnership;

3. Make and enter into all contracts or agreements which are necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and to the execution of powers granted by this chapter, including agreements with any federal agency, person, private firm, or other organization that can provide technical or other business assistance to the Extension Partnership’s industrial clients;

4. Employ, at its discretion, consultants, researchers, architects, engineers, accountants, financial experts, investment bankers, superintendents, managers, and such other employees and agents as may be necessary, and to fix their compensation to be payable from funds made available to the Extension Partnership;

5. Render advice and assistance and provide services to state and federal agencies, local and regional economic development entities, private firms, and other persons or organizations providing services or facilities for small and medium-sized manufacturers and industrial firms in Virginia;

6. Develop and provide programs or projects, at its discretion, alone or in cooperation with any person; state or federal agency; state, local, or regional economic development entity; private firm; or other organization for economic development through improvements in industrial competitiveness in Virginia; and

7. Do all acts and things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers granted to it by this chapter or any other acts.