President’s Message: What does it mean to be “business friendly?”

We often hear one town or another is not business friendly enough. When you dig down into that statement and start asking questions as to “why” or “why not,” the replies are often subjective and start with the infamous phrase, “I think” mixed with “do’s and do not’s.”

If we are to be honest with each other, there are certain municipalities where getting “stuff” approved is easier than in others. This includes starting a business, getting permits for building new structures, sign ordinances, expanding or paving parking lots, overall costs, or even building a pool. My question is: Does “easier” mean “friendly?” I think the answer is “no.”

There is a fine line, however, between having a stringent approval process that does due diligence for taxpayers and a process that alienates people and businesses because it can. Let me say it more clearly: Some folks like to make things more difficult just because they can (yes, I believe there are certain folks in public office today that forget the second word in their title, i.e., “public servant”).

The fine line I am alluding to has two sides: One is the attitudes of the people administrating the process — i.e., municipal leaders — and the second side is those enforcing the process — i.e., the inspectors.

If each of these two sides is working together with the community at large, business friendly and a whole lot of other good things happen. When one of these sides is out of sync, problems occur. When both of these sides are doing their own thing or have sub-agendas to prove, well that is when the problems start.

Early last year, chambers of commerce across Maine partnered with the governor’s office and held hundreds of public forums that became known as “Red Tape Audits.” The idea behind these forums was to find out what processes could be streamlined or eliminated to make it easier for businesses to operate, grow and hire new employees.

Amazingly, the biggest hurtles we heard over and over again were not the regulations themselves, but the way they were administered and inconsistently enforced. Contrary to popular belief, the overwhelming majority of businesses were fine with being regulated; they just wanted fair, fast and consistent interpretation of the rules. It turns out businesses want partners to succeed with, not autocrats to report to.

Earlier this month, at the rollout of the 2012 Business Friendly Community Certification Program, Gov. Paul LePage stated, “It is critical that government at all levels work with job creators — not against them. Encouraging business expansion takes a partnership between local communities and the state. We all must be working together to reduce red tape and promote job creation in Maine.”

To be certified as business friendly, municipalities are graded in five different areas and assigned point totals for each. These areas are Customer Service/Product/Capacity (30 points), Business/Local Involvement/Collaboration (30 points), Notice for Public Comments/Application Support Letters (15 points), and Licensing and Permitting (25 points). There are also questions concerning the municipalities’ economic priorities.

As I look through the application and graded components, I really believe this gets to the heart of “business friendly.” It isn’t about making environmental standards lower; it isn’t about giving tax breaks to big companies, or destroying Main Streets and neighborhoods. It is about the people who administer and enforce municipal processes becoming more, well, friendly.

I encourage each of the chamber’s towns, villages and cities to become more business friendly, be it through this certification process or other means. I firmly believe each of us wants the Mid-coast and Maine to be the best place in the state and nation to live, work and play. Being a bit more friendly to each other might just speed up the process.

For more information about this program and how you can become a Certified Business-Friendly Community, contact Andrea Smith at (207) 624-9813, tty: 1-800-437-1220; or by email at bizfriendly.DECD@maine.gov.

Upcoming Events: April’s Chamber Regional Luncheon is April 11, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Kennebec Tavern and Marina, 119 Commercial St., Bath. Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, and Laurie LaChance, president and CEO of the Maine Development Foundation, are our speakers. The program includes lunch and the fee is $14/member and $18/non-member. Reservations are required by April 6 by calling 725-8797 ext. 1 or go to www.midcoastmaine.com. The luncheon is sponsored by Border Trust.

Learn how to create innovative packages and specials that draw new customers to your business at Mid Day Chambers on April 19, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The presenter is Margaret Hoffman from the Maine Office of Tourism. The program is free and takes place at the Topsham Public Library, 25 Foreside Road.

Members in the News: SMMC welcomes Jim Foote, the local AFLAC representative.

The chamber proudly serves 660 businesses and organizations in the following communities: Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Edgecomb, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset and Woolwich.

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.