Pawtucket Makes Verizon Business’s 50 Best Small Cities to Start a Small Business Listing

PAWTUCKET – Verizon Business ranks the City of Pawtucket #35 out of 50 small cities a recently released 2018 Best Small Cities for Small Businesses report. The ranking puts Pawtucket, birthplace of the nation’s industrial revolution, in the top 16.6% across the nation.
“It is an honor to be recognized by one of the nation’s largest multinational telecommunication companies for being one of the best small cities for small businesses,” said Mayor Donald R. Grebien. “Small businesses are the backbone of our City and we continue to work hard and focus
on helping the owners of these companies thrive in Pawtucket,” says the Mayor.

According to Verizon Business, data culled from nearly 300 small cities, as defined by the US Census, enabled Verizon Business to compile its listing of the nation’s top 50 Small Cities. The elements pulled revealed the financial climate and demographics of each city. The ranking of the
top cities was based on level of the local workforce, in-city commute times, income per capita, broadband access, availability of SBA loans, and overall tax friendliness – relevant to small business owners.

Cassie Tolhurst, of Verizon Business, says that Pawtucket, the only Rhode Island municipality to make the company’s 50 Best Small Cities to Start a Small Business report ranked highly in 4 of the major ranking factors. Specifically, in-city commute time, affordable and fair wages,
broadband access, and small business loan availability, she says.

The U.S. Small Business Administration notes that small businesses make up 99.7% of US employer firms. Recognizing this, Mayor Grebien created economic development strategy to provide the necessary assistance and resources to help small businesses to grow and thrive in the
community.

In 2015, the Mayor created a joint planning/zoning department to enhance one-stop-shopping for businesses seeking zoning and building permits. E-permitting is also available allow businesses to quickly register for permits online and to track the project. Businesses can also opt to have
weekly preconstruction meetings with city regulatory officials to get immediate feedback on their project.

“We have a customer friendly approach to working with businesses to troubleshoot fire, zoning, building code issues,” says Jeanne Boyle, Pawtucket’s Commerce Director. Flexible financing tools are also among Pawtucket’s resources available to assist businesses grow through the
Pawtucket’s Business Development Corporation,” she says.

Boyle notes that Pawtucket offers a tax stabilization treaty for projects that create employment opportunities This program phases in decreases in property taxes for new construction or rehabilitation of property,” she says.

“We even offer property searches to assist businesses seeking information about Pawtucket properties that are available for sale or lease,” Boyle says, noting that detailed information about each property can be provided detailing square footage, ceiling height, loading docks, utilities
and asking price for sale and/or lease.

Finally, Boyle says that Pawtucket works closely with the state’s Small Business Development Center that provides business counseling, business plan development, and training to the City’s businesses. “We are the first municipality in Rhode Island where SBDC has created a satellite
office at a City Hall.,” she says, noting that this makes it easier for businesses to utilize.