Local Business Support Amendment Act of 2019
Introduced: November 19, 2019
Co-introducers: Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie
BILL TEXT | PRESS RELEASE
Summary: To amend the District of Columbia Code to create a local business ombudsman; establish roles and responsibilities of the Ombudsman’s office and to designate agency-wide Officers for Small and Local Business Inclusion
Councilmember Grosso's Introduction Statement:
Thank you, Chairman Mendelson. Today, along with Councilmember McDuffie, I am introducing the “Local Business Support Amendment Act of 2019.”
During my first term in office, I served as an active member of the Committee on Business, Consumer, and Regulatory Affairs and was an active member of the Workforce Investment Council. During that time, I became deeply familiar with the agencies that govern business operations in District of Columbia.
I consistently heard from local businesses of all sizes that D.C. government regulations are not business-friendly and there are very few incentives for businesses to locate here.
After meeting with businesses and associations of all sizes, we devised a few relatively simple ways the D.C. Council can act to alleviate the government imposed burdens on our city’s businesses.
One way is to create a Local Business Ombudsman who will act as an independent business navigator and will work on behalf of businesses to trouble shoot and act as the point of contact during permitting, licensing and taxation process.
I believe this bill can be the catalyst for a necessary conversation about how we can pass responsible laws and regulations that do not hinder the greatest drivers of our local economy.
I yield the remainder of my time to Councilmember McDuffie for any remarks and we welcome any co-sponsors. Thank you.