Small businesses to address federal regulations
The Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board (SBRFB) will hold a public hearing May 6 to hear comments and complaints from small business owners about regulatory enforcement and compliance.
Parkland business owners who would like to express their concerns may attend from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Center for Emerging Technologies, 4041 Forest Park Ave., St. Louis. Registration begins at 9 a.m.
The event is part of the 2008 Small Business Week of Eastern Missouri, Inc. and will consist of a joint hearing of the SBRFB and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Region VII Regulatory Fairness Board. The region encompasses the states of Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.
SBA National Ombudsman Nicholas Owens, members of the SBA’s Region VII RegFair Board, members of the state SBRFB and representatives of federal and state regulatory agencies will hear comments and complaints and will discuss the impact of federal regulations on small business.
The forum also offers small business owners a chance to learn how to more effectively deal with federal and state regulatory requirements.
Comments and complaints presented will be directed to the appropriate federal and state regulatory agency. Federal agency’s responsiveness will be shared with federal officials in the National Ombudsman’s Annual Report to Congress. Information collected at this hearing will also be shared with state officials in the SBRFB’s Annual Report to Gov. Matt Blunt, and with leadership of federal and state regulatory agencies in an effort to assist them with their enforcement actions.
Comments and concerns about federal enforcement actions can be addressed by contacting Christina Marinos of the SBA National Ombudsman’s Office at 888-734-3247 (REGFAIR) or by e-mail at Christina.marinos@sba.gov before the forum.
Small business owners or representatives who cannot attend may provide written testimony in advance of the forum to be included in the public record. For more information about the National Ombudsman and the Missouri forum, go to http://www.sba.gov/ombudsman.
Comments and concerns about state regulations can be addressed by contacting Krista Zurkamer, coordinator for the SBRFB. Registration forms for public and written testimony can be found on the board’s Web site http://www.SBRFB.ded.mo.gov. Comments also may be made by e-mail to SBRFB@ded.mo.gov or by calling 1-866-719-1401. $$
