“My responsibility as the Mayor of this city is to keep Spokane working.”
That’s how City of Spokane Mayor Mary Verner opened up her presentation this week for our “Conversation With…” series, as part of our BIZStreet Small Business Program.
The City of Spokane has made it a priority to help with the growth and retention of small businesses. This will keep jobs here in Spokane. The state and national economic picture may be a little blurry, but the Mayor and her staff are taking steps to help Spokane.
Do you, as a current or potential business owner, know what is needed to comply with local laws while owning a business?
The City’s “Seven in Eleven” program is its seven initiatives in 2011 and a one stop to aid small businesses in Spokane. Among the seven is assisting with the permitting process – which continues to be a focus of our Small Business Council – The Small Business Council recommended a checklist for businesses and city outreach with small businesses.
The Mayor and other city staff are reaching out to small businesses for:
- Their stories
- Concerns
- An understanding of what is needed to remain a successful business in our city and our state.
The permitting process is an issue not all small businesses fully understand – and the City is going to help. The City will create a checklist that will help new or existing businesses through the processes of starting or expanding their new business. The City will also work to guide businesses through the change of use process.
To further assist in the permitting process, one of the seven initiatives that will be adopted will be a performance measurement tool for the permitting process. This will be used to pinpoint the areas that are murky and those that are not.
So if you’re a small business, make sure you check out the Seven in Eleven. It could help your business become more efficient.
Photo from the Spokane International Airport
