City Seeks Input From Small Businesses At Annual Outreach Meeting

SAN DIEGO - The City of San Diego is reaching out to small businesses to better understand key business issues and concerns by holding an annual public outreach meeting of the City's Small Business Advisory board on Wednesday, February 23rd. Businesses are encouraged to address concerns that affect their ability to do business, from fees and regulations to permits and availability of assistance programs. Feedback from small businesses at this annual event may help to refine City policies and programs.

The public outreach meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the first floor Community Meeting Room at the Metro Career Center located at the corner of 39th Street and University Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105. Many of the issues brought before the board will be addressed throughout the next year in the Board's work plan and at regular monthly board meetings.

"Small businesses make up the majority of companies in the city of San Diego," said Mayor Dick Murphy. "It's vitally important that we have open communication with them in order to help them succeed and better serve our citizens."

In addition to public testimony from small businesses, the outreach meeting will feature presentations by the City's Chief Economist, Special Incentives Program Manager and a welcome from Third District Councilmember Toni Atkins' office.

"The annual Small Business Advisory Board meeting has served both the private and public sector well," Councilmember Toni Atkins said. "It gives small business owners the opportunity to have their voices heard regarding issues they are having as well as gives the City the chance to not only hear the business community's concerns, but provides a forum through which the City can offer its toolbox of pro-business programs and initiatives."

Advocating regulatory relief and policy reform are key roles of the Small Business Advisory Board. The board works with the City to reduce regulations, streamline the permit process and increase opportunities for small businesses. Recent successes for the small business community, facilitated by the Board, include the establishment of relaxed sign code enforcement during major construction projects and the development of an equitable ordinance to deal with the City's staggering number of false alarms.

Board members appointed by the Mayor include leaders in the business community and representatives of key small business organizations, such as the U.S. Small Business Administration and the CDC Small Business Finance Corporation.

The City's Community and Economic Development Department provides staff support to the Board through its Office of Small Business.

For more information, contact the City of San Diego's Community and Economic Development Department at 619-533-4256 or visit the City's Web site at www.sandiego.gov/ced.

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