AUGUSTA – A coalition of House lawmakers is unveiling a plan Thursday designed to help Maine’s small business owners.
Dubbed the Small Business Legislative Package, the plan introduces 14 bills intended to streamline regulations and promote opportunities for small business throughout the state.
“I think these bills will make a real difference,” said Rep. Nancy Smith, D-Monmouth, who is the House co-chairman of the committee on Business, Research and Economic Development. She and Rep. John Patrick, D-Rumford, were local legislators who served on the coalition.
The bills came from a series of seven public forums that the coalition sponsored over the past year. Under the direction of House Speaker John Richardson, D-Brunswick, and Rep. Stan Moody, R-Manchester, small business owners were invited to forums to express their frustrations about doing business in Maine.
More than 100 took up the invitation, including dozens of local business people who attended an Auburn forum held in September. Members of the coalition took the concerns they heard and fashioned the 14 bills they are submitting for this legislative session.
“They incorporated the feedback they got from the forums into this legislative package,” said David Connerty-Marin, spokesman for the speaker’s office. “I think that lends it credibility.”
The bills are grouped loosely around three themes: creating an environment that fosters growth for small businesses, mobilizing state resources to help small businesses, and streamlining the regulatory process. Expected to attend the kickoff Thursday are Dana Connors of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Deb Cook of the Maine Small Business Alliance, and David Clough of the Maine chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.
Smith said she is particularly interested in two bills – one that establishes an ombudsman position for business and the other that creates a business information hot line. Both can help constituents navigate available resources when they want to start a business or expand an existing one.
“It can be a little overwhelming,” Smith said. “These (bills) will help them with that process.”
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