AUGUSTA – Small business owners, community leaders and representatives of trade associations concerned about excessive enforcement of federal rules can voice their complaints at a U.S. Small Business Administration Regulatory Fairness Board Forum from 10 a.m.-12 noon on Thursday, Aug. 16. The forum will be held at the Portland SCORE office, 100 Middle St., second floor.

SBA national ombudsman Nicholas Owens, members of the SBA’s Region I Regulatory Fairness Board, and representatives of federal regulatory agencies will hear comments and complaints about regulatory enforcement and compliance. This forum offers small business owners a chance to express their concerns about federal compliance practices. Comments and complaints presented during this forum will be directed to the appropriate federal regulatory agency. This information will also be shared with federal officials in the National Ombudsman’s Annual Report to Congress, and with leadership of federal regulatory agencies to assist them with their enforcement actions. The forum is open to the public. Those wishing to testify should contact Bonnie Erickson of the SBA Maine District Office at 622-8275, or by e-mail at [email protected] before the forum. Should small business owners or representatives be unable to attend, written testimony may be sent in advance of the forum to be included in the public record. Comments and concerns can be addressed directly to SBA’s Office of the National Ombudsman at 1-888-734-3247. For more information about the national ombudsman and the Portland forum, visit the Web site www.sba.gov/ombudsman.