#Hartford CT–Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed a bill (H.B. 5584) into law establishing a small business hotline to serve as a one-stop-shop for interactions between entrepreneurs and the state.

In response to today’s bill signing, Brett Broesder, co-founder and vice president of Campaign for Tomorrow’s Jobs

, noted that, on average, small business owners spend 200 hours a year dealing with government rules and regulations, according to a Babson College study

. The small business hotline will help cut down on that time by serving as a one-stop-shop for find answers to questions surrounding government red tape.

“This small business hotline, serving as a one-stop-shop, will save entrepreneurs both time and money,” said Broesder. “When small businesses succeed, it’s not just our economy that gets stronger; it’s our families and communities. It’s a win-win for Connecticut.”

The new law requires the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) commissioner to establish and operate a hotline that provides individualized information and guidance to entrepreneurs and small business owners across the state on how to start and develop a business, identify networking resources, and access technical and financial assistance from state and quasi-public agencies. The commissioner may establish, manage, and staff the hotline in collaboration with a nonprofit organization, according to Connecticut’s Office of Legislative Research

.

Also, the DECD commissioner must submit a report on the hotline’s operation to the Commerce Committee by January 1, 2019. The report must describe the hotline’s services and how it is advertised, summarize the most common types of assistance entrepreneurs and small businesses request, and provide statistics on the hotline’s call volume.

“Thanks to Gov. Malloy for signing this bill into law,” said Broesder. “And, thanks to the General Assembly – especially Commerce Committee Co-Chairs State Representative Caroline Simmons , State Senator Joan Hartley , State Senator Scott Frantz  and Ranking Member State Representative David Yaccarino – for leading the charge on this pro-business measure.”

The new law will go into effect on October 1, 2017.

To read more about the new law, click here: http://bit.ly/2m2mIvt

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To watch a video ad that ran in support of the bill, click here: http://bit.ly/2r7dYoA

This press release is made possible by: