THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 20, 1995 TAG: 9501200486
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MYLENE MANGALINDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Virginia small businesses soon may have a state commission to call their own.
State senators will vote Monday on a bill introduced by Sen. Stanley C. Walker (D-Norfolk) to establish a permanent Small Business Commission for Virginia. The Senate General Laws Committee approved the bill Wednesday, passing it on for full Senate approval.
The bill, SB 673, would make the existing small business study commission a permanent legislative agency. A similar bill also must pass a vote in the House of Delegates, where it currently is being considered by the House General Laws Committee.
``The small business community hasn't had a place to tell its story,'' Walker said. ``We want this to be the forum.''
If the bill is approved, the House speaker would appoint six members to the commission; the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections would appoint four senators; and the governor would appoint two citizens. Commission members' terms would last four years.
Concerns about Virginia's economic competitiveness, overall government downsizing and shipbuilding cutbacks prompted Walker and others to start a joint study committee on small businesses.
``Virginia seemed to suffer more than other states,'' he said.
The study committee traveled around the state and held forums with civic groups and small business leaders. The committee wanted to find out from small business owners what help they needed to succeed.
The findings were startling. Virginia spends less on small businesses than most other southeastern states, Walker said. Ninety-eight percent of all the state's companies have fewer than 100 employees. These small companies comprise 44 percent of the work force.
Walter Conrad, who owns Conrad Brothers in Chesapeake, a construction company that employs about 75 people, reiterated the need for a permanent legislative agency to address the needs of small firms.
``We thought that there should be some group that permanently assists small businesses and listens to their needs,'' said Conrad, who participated on the small business study committee. ``We thought it would be valuable.''
The study committee recommended asking for $750,000 for the Small Business Development Center and $500,000 for the Small Business Financing Authority, Walker said. Both agencies exist already but their budgets have not been increased in years. The addition of a permanent legislative agency would allow greater coordination of funds and policy, he said.
KEYWORDS: SMALL BUSINESS by CNB