City Hall should be easy to navigate for business owners and I will work with our City’s leaders to instill a culture of Yes for the business owner looking to set up shop in our city, I will fight to make sure that we find ways to enable businesses to thrive, and I will work to make sure our permitting processes are streamlined for everyone.
Culture of Yes
I will advocate for and personify the culture of yes in Norfolk. When we have business owners or residents ready to invest in Norfolk, we have to make sure that every department in the City is focused on how to make it work. The attitude, perspective, and approach of our City staff should be one of “Yes.” It’s an attitude of making it work within the constraints and existing processes. It’s one part southern hospitality and one part eager energy to see Norfolk succeed.
Business Concierge
I’ve experienced first hand the maze that is City bureaucracy as a small business owner. Too often the hurdles faced by business owners in getting open lead them to never open at all. I will advocate for City Hall to have a dedicated business concierge that will help every business get the permits, approvals, and licenses they need to open. When we have businesses investing in Norfolk, the least we can do is invest the time in making sure they don’t get bogged down in bureaucracy. More importantly, I will relentlessly pursue simplification and streamlining of our processes so that over time, processes are simple of to navigate without a concierge.
Streamlined Processes
As an applicant, as a property owner, as a former member of the Architectural Review Board, and as a Planning Commissioner I’ve seen what is working in our city for business owners and what is not working. I know from my own experience that time is money and all too often I see businesses that either never make it to opening day or who are stretched so thin financially by the time they open their doors, they have to compromise the quality of their concept. As a member of City Council I will work to reduce the time it takes to open businesses in Norfolk through streamlined and transparent processes that are predictable and easy to understand.
Business Friendly Tax Environment
Creating a business-friendly tax environment is essential for attracting and retaining businesses in Norfolk. I will advocate for thoughtful tax policies that encourage business growth while maintaining the necessary revenue for city services. Additionally, I will push for targeted tax incentives to attract key industries, support startups, and encourage the redevelopment of underutilized properties, further strengthening Norfolk’s economic base. See more in my "
Thoughtful Tax Reform" section.
