Governor Lincoln D. Chafee, RIEDC and Municipalities Business Community Outreach Forum “Year of Cities and Towns” City of Warwick Town of East Greenwich April 2012

Agenda Introduction – Keith Stokes, RIEDC Executive Director (emcee), , Welcome Remarks – Governor Lincoln D. Chafee Welcome Remarks – Mayor Scott Avedisian, City of Warwick, , Welcome Remarks – Town Manager William Sequino, Jr., Town of East Greenwich, , Welcome to New England Institute of Technology – Seth Kurn, Executive Vice President Welcome Remarks – Charles J. Fogarty, Director, Dept. of Labor and Training, , Improving Access to Capital: Financing Programs for Small Businesses Earl Queenan, RIEDC, Managing Director of Financial Programs, , Renewable Energy Fund Program Julian Dash, RIEDC, Director Renewable Energy Fund, , Making it Easier to do Business: Regulatory Assistance Leslie Taito, RIEDC, Director of Regulatory and Quality Management, , Small Business Partners U.S. Small Business Administration – Mark S. Hayward, District Director, , Ocean State Business Development Authority – Henry A. “Bud” Violet, President, , Small Business Development Center – Ardena Lee-Fleming, ,

Improving Access to Capital – Financing for Small Business Small Business Loan Fund (SBLF) For smaller businesses looking for a direct, fully-secured loan, the Small Business Loan Fund provides from $50,000 to $250,000 in financing. The program loan funds an average 25% of the total project cost and can be used for acquisition and improvements of land, buildings and equipment, new construction and working capital. Interest rates are fixed. The repayment terms are flexible, with up to 10-year terms. Job Creation Guaranty Program The Job Creation Guaranty Program provides greater access to capital and credit for growth- oriented businesses looking to expand or relocate to Rhode Island. Under the program, the RIEDC is authorized to guarantee loans by private lenders or guarantee certain bond obligations for the benefit of businesses in, primarily, technology and innovation-driven industries that can create permanent, high-paying, full-time jobs in the state and continue to expand Rhode Island’s knowledge economy.

Improving Access to Capital – Financing for Small Business Industrial Revenue Bonds (RIIFC) RIIFC is empowered to issue both Tax Exempt and Taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds, which may be used to finance qualified commercial and industrial projects. Financing can include land, building, machinery & equipment, as well as related soft costs and can cover the entire project cost. Industrial - Recreational Building Authority Bond / Mortgage Insurance (IRBA) RIEDC offers mortgage insurance through IRBA. The maximum amount a business can borrow through this program is $5 million. The loan covers up to 90% on real estate, 80% of machinery and equipment, and 75% of tourist-travel recreation projects. Funds can be used for new building acquisitions, additions and rehabilitation of existing buildings and for new or used machinery and equipment. This program offers borrowers debt insurance on tax-exempt bonds, taxable bonds and conventional mortgages. Who To Contact: Earl Queenan, Managing Director of Finance, , Christopher Cannata, Financial Services Client Relations Manager, ,

Renewable Energy Fund Renewable Energy Fund (REF) The REF is dedicated to promoting the state’s renewable energy economy. The fund provides grants, loans and other financing for renewable energy companies, projects and initiatives that support the production of power in a cleaner, more sustainable manner and stimulate job growth in Rhode Island’s economy. The REF provides incentives for the following activities: – Affordable housing developments – Municipal renewable energy projects – Technical and feasibility studies – Business, commercial and institutional investments Who to Contact: Julian Dash, Director Renewable Energy Fund, ,

Making it Easier to Do Business – Regulatory Assistance ORR Purpose: The purpose of the Rhode Island Regulatory Reform Act was to create within the RIEDC the Office of Regulatory Reform (ORR) to facilitate the regular review of and report on Rhode Island’s regulatory processes and permitting procedures in an effort to improve them and assist and facilitate economic development opportunities in Rhode Island and within its cities and towns. Mission: ORR aims to improve Rhode Island’s business climate by making it easier for businesses to successfully navigate state and municipal permitting and regulatory affairs. Vision: ORR facilitates the creation and refinement of a clear, predictable and reliable state and local regulatory system to advance the competitiveness of Rhode Island business while protecting the health, safety and quality of life of our citizens.

Making it Easier to Do Business – Regulatory Assistance How Can ORR Help? Provide Rhode Island businesses with on-demand service and assistance for navigating regulatory and permitting issues. What we can do: Define a project Define application process Identify potential/current issue(s) Facilitate pre-application meeting Manage expectations Present timeline Ensure efficient information exchange Assist with conflict resolution Who to Contact: Leslie Taito, Director Regulatory and Quality Management, , Sherri Lynn Carrera, Small Business Ombudsman, , Michael Walker, Senior Project Manager, , Nora Eshkhanian, Research Assistant, ,

Additional Resources Additional Resources: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Mark S. Hayward, RI District Director Ocean State Business Development Authority (OSBDA) Henry A. “Bud” Violet, President Department of Labor & Training (DLT) Charles J. Fogarty, Director RI Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Ardena Lee-Fleming, Regional Director East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce Stephen Lombardi, President Central RI Chamber of Commerce Lauren Slocum, President/CEO