The Treasurer of State may deposit an amount not to exceed $4,000,000 in each calendar year with responsible financial institutions authorized to do business in the State at a rate of return not more than 2% per year below the rate of return otherwise obtainable had the funds been invested with such financial institutions for a similar term, as determined by the treasurer, for periods not to exceed one year, provided that each such financial institution covenants with the treasurer as a condition of the deposit to loan an amount at least equal to the amount so deposited with the financial institution by the treasurer under this paragraph to commercial enterprises approved by the treasurer pursuant to this paragraph. All the loans shall must be at interest rates which that are below the interest rates the loans would have borne under existing market conditions and loan standards of the financial institution but for the deposit by the treasurer under this paragraph, and the interest rates shall must fully reflect the savings to the financial institution due to the reduced interest rate paid on the deposit. Notwithstanding any provisions of this section to the contrary, the treasurer shall is not be obligated to seek competitive bids for investments or deposits pursuant to this paragraph. The Finance Authority of Maine shall provide assistance to the treasurer in implementing this paragraph. For purposes of this paragraph, eligible commercial enterprises are for-profit businesses with 20 or fewer employees or annual sales of less than $2,500,000, whose sales of services or products are primarily out of state or which that are manufacturers, which that are primarily owned and operated by Maine residents or by