Business & Tech

Clean Post Road, Cut Regulations – Business Owners Talk To Gov. Chafee

More than 30 NK business owners turn out for a session with Chafee and members of his economic team.


"We're from the government and we're here to help." That was the message Wednesday when Gov. Lincoln Chafee and members of his economic development team met with small business owners at Beechwood House Wednesday morning.

Leslie Taito, Chafee's director of regulatory reform, spoke forcefully about her desire to help businesses navigate what she acknowledged was a huge number of regulations – 1,600 was the figure she mentioned.

She encouraged business owners to reach out if they get stymied by government red tape. (Here's how: (401) 574-8421 or leslie.taito@omb.ri.gov)

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Small Business Administration's Mark Hayward also sounded business-friendly notes, talking about legislation before the General Assembly now that would enable businesses to pay employees every two weeks instead of the weekly schedule now mandated by law.

There was also a presentation on how to get small business loans.

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When it came time for questions, however, frustration was palable. 

"We want to grow the busines, we want to be more than a small business, but we manage at 49 [employees] because of the ramifications of some of the regulations that would impact us," said one man from Ultra Scientific. "Rules, regulations, fees – we've got to do something about them. We look at expanding in North Kingstown. We look at expanding our facility and we sit and discuss every month, should we do it now? The answer's no, it's still not a good place to do business. Not necessarily North Kingstown, but in Rhode Island because of the fees, laws and regulations." 

Lawyer David Meegan asked the governor if he could get Post Road swept between Quonset and the State Police Barracks. Chafee said he could get that done.

The governor was less eager to cede ground on the subject of E-verify, the program that allows employeers to find out if their employees (or prospective employees) are in the country legally.

Chafee said such immigration issues were best left to the national government. 

"I think it's a positive first step," furniture store owner Kerry McKay of the governor's plan. "There's a lot to be done." 

McKay told Chafee there's a perception that "business doesn't have a clear path in Rhode Island."

For Town Council President Elizabeth Dolan, the session was welcome. 

"It was so informative for me to find out how local people can take advantage of what the state has to offer," she said.

To read the results of the governor's latest survey of small business owners, click here.


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