Rutland City aims to be most business-friendly in Vt.

RUTLAND—The city of Rutland launched its new business web portal Tuesday, Nov. 22. Rutland City is one of 27 municipalities nationwide to receive a $50,000 award from the U.S. Small Business Administration, an independent federal agency established to assist small businesses. The city’s business web portal is part of the SBA’s national Startup in a Day initiative.
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,” he said. “This new process will greatly improve the City’s ability to serve its small business community.”
“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 for the betterment of the end user, the entrepreneur, developer, or small business owner looking to make investment here in Rutland,” said Brennan Duffy, executive director of the Rutland Redevelopment Authority.
For the last year the city’s departments have been working with web designer Collaboration 133 of Pawlet to rewrite, streamline and automate their various permits and licenses.
Nathaniel Gibson, owner of Collaboration 133, said, “We very much enjoyed the opportunity to work with the RRA and the City of Rutland … 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, said, “The Startup 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 … will simplify this process for area businesses.”