Council working group urges faster review, clearer business guidance and more transit advertising to support small businesses

A County Council small‑business working group presented findings and recommendations at the Aug. 19 work session after months of stakeholder interviews, site visits and comparison research.

The working group’s observations and near‑term suggestions included: - Faster, more transparent review timelines for LEDA/LIDA and MRA (economic incentive and redevelopment) applications. The group recommended the county consider publishing or otherwise making available all applications — not only staff‑recommended items — to increase transparency. - Clear “how to start a business” guidance and a single point of contact that lists roles and contacts for county economic‑development functions and permitting, so startups know where to turn. - Low‑cost local promotion: add interior transit‑bus ads or printed notice inserts on Bandelier shuttle buses and local routes to reach visitors and nearby markets (the group said this is low‑cost and has been effective in past local pilots). - Trackable market data: the group recommended the county regularly publish vacancy and developable land inventories; the working group reported a net reduction of roughly 200,000 square feet of commercial space over several years in county assessor records, and about 13 acres of commercially zoned vacant land. - Procurement engagement: hold supplier “meet‑and‑greet” events and expand local outreach to increase the pool of local vendors participating in county procurement. - Review building‑inspection and permitting workflows and consider whether local plumbing and electrical inspection capacity could reduce delays for businesses seeking occupancy permits. - Coordinate further with private developers who have expressed interest; the working group noted a Columbus Capital representative said their project concept could seek a grant or incentive package in the tens of millions of dollars and include an extended‑stay/hotel component (representatives discussed a potential request figure of about $55,000,000).

Public comment: Residents and local stakeholders in the meeting supported the group’s transparency suggestion. Elizabeth Burr of White Rock urged the council to permit visibility of all business applications for public review; Maura O’Neil praised the group’s outreach and urged stronger public information materials from the county PIO on large projects.

Next steps the group proposed: a review meeting between the working group and the Local Business Coalition to provide joint feedback on the coalition’s draft report, and a follow‑up county council agenda item proposed for late September so staff can report progress. The working group did not ask the council to approve funding at the Aug. 19 meeting.