Rep. Eileen S. Naughton (D-Dist 21, Warwick) attended the ninth annual Small Business Summit recently along with other state and business leaders to discuss the economic concerns of the small business community.

The summit, sponsored by the Rhode Island branch of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Center for Women & Enterprise, took place at Bryant University and attracted a crowd of about 280.

“These summits bring business people together with legislators to discuss the effects public policy has on small business in this state,” said Naughton. “That discussion can lead to some important legislative changes. We heard an awful lot about what we already know - that it can be extremely frustrating it can be to do business in Rhode Island because of all the red tape. The important thing is that we, as legislators, hear some of the more specific problems that can be addressed individually.”

At the top of list of concerns was the “letter of good standing” that businesses are required to get from the Division of Taxation if they want to cease doing business in Rhode Island. The way the rules stand, businesses that submit bids can be charged, even if they’ve never done any actual business in the state.

“This was one example of the process of doing business in Rhode Island that hampers small business activity,” said Naughton. “I agree with Speaker Mattiello that one legislative solution may be to require registration of out-of-state businesses only if a bid is awarded, not during the bid application process.”