Rutland City announces launch of its new business web portal
Rutland City announces launch of its new business web portal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Rutland City, Vermont – November 22, 2016
In August, 2015 it was announced that Rutland City was one of twenty-seven municipalities nationwide to receive a $50,000 award from the Small Business Administration. For the last year the City’s various departments have been working with web designer Collaboration 133 to rewrite, streamline, and automate their various permits and licenses in an effort to make Rutland City the most business friendly destination in Vermont. Rutland has now completed work on its new business web portal (http://rutlandvt.business) and the site will launch officially on November, 22, 2016.
Rutland City Mayor, Chris Louras, stated “The new business web portal will allow for convenient access for a business owner interested in reviewing, completing, and paying for required permits, licenses, and forms. This new process will greatly improve the City’s ability to serve its small business community.”
The City’s business web portal is part of the SBA’s national “Start up in a day” initiative. “ The new portal will allow 24/7 access to all City permits and forms, an electronic payment option, and helpful advice and guidance along with direct links to Federal, State, and local small business resources and programs, and connections to the City’s innovative business incentive programs” explained, Brennan Duffy, the Rutland Redevelopment Authority’s Executive Director. “This SBA funding award provided the City the impetus to review, revise, and improve our existing forms and to streamline the entire process for the betterment of the end user, the entrepreneur, developer, or small business owner looking to make investment here in Rutland” he continued.
Following a formal request for proposals for the web development work, Pawlet, VT based Collaboration 133 was selected as the project’s contractor. Nathaniel Gibson, owner of Collaboration 133, says “We very much enjoyed the opportunity to work with the RRA and the City of Rutland in building this portal as a resource for local businesses. It is designed to make it easier for Rutland businesses to operate, grow, and contribute even more to our local economy. Beyond the development work that went into the portal itself, the project involved a lot of coordination with City Departments, and we appreciate the efforts of everyone involved.”
Darcy Carter, SBA District Director, explains further “The Start up in a Day challenge was initiated to help cities provide a single online interface for America’s entrepreneurs to manage the license and permit application process when starting a new business. We are very excited that Rutland, one of the winners of this national challenge competition, is ready to launch their new web portal this month and will simplify this process for area businesses.”
With the impending launch of the web portal site there is interest and excitement within the Rutland business community. “The ability to access the City’s licenses, permits, and forms online, and make payments online, will be a huge improvement from the previous paper application process” stated local property owner and developer Mark Foley, Jr. of MKF Properties. He continued “This is going to save us considerable time and effort and we are very much looking forward to using this new service when it becomes available.”
Contact: Brennan Duffy, Rutland Redevelopment Authority, duffyrra@rutlandvtbusiness.com, 802-775-2910