My name is Veronica O. Davis. I’m a resident of Hillcrest in Ward 7 and co-owner of Nspiregreen LLC. My testimony today will be on behalf of Nspiregreen LLC.
Nspiregreen LLC is an environmental consulting firm established to shape approaches and attitudes for sustainability and community development through public involvement and outreach. With our engineering and urban planning backgrounds, we specialize in public involvement and outreach for environmental planning and compliance; environmental justice, facility planning and facility environmental program management; civil infrastructure (transportation, wastewater treatment); and master planning. We are 100% women, and minority-owned small business.
Our office is located at the HIVE (Home of Innovators Visionaries and Entrepreneurs), a business incubator, located in the business district of Historic Anacostia in Ward 8. We are located in DC because of our dedication and commitment to being part of the DC economy.
I could easily use my time to express our frustrations with being a small business in DC. However, we are here today to offer 5 recommendations to bring DC closer to being small business friendly.
Recommendation 1 – Schedule a second Roundtable Discussion with all relevant agencies
As a consulting business owner there are three main agencies that we have regular interaction, Department of Local Small Business Development (DLSBD), Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), and Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR). Each agency plays a role in the frustration of doing business in DC. We recommend that the Council committees that have oversight hold a joint roundtable to address how these three agencies can work together to reduce headaches and frustrations of small business owners.
Recommendation 2 - Create a Robust Business System
Currently businesses register in separate online systems for several agencies. For example, as a consulting business we are registered in DCRA, OTR, DDOT (DBE), OCP, and DSLBD. As a business it would be great if on the user side there was one system to log into to be able to access all the agencies that we communicate with. The system could allow uploading of documents and a messaging system to directly communicate with a specialist about a specific issues.
On the agency side, they would be allowed to edit, delete or modify information applicable to their agency’s functions only. For example, only DCRA could make changes in the business license section. However, they would be allowed to see applicable information from other agencies. For example, DCRA could see that a business has clean hands with OTR.
By housing everything in one place, it eliminates opportunities for fraud, streamlines information, and reduces the paper exercise for businesses.
Recommendation 3 – Restore the Procurement and Technical Assistance Center
As a small consulting firm we do not have the luxury of a marketing department. The PTAC was extremely helpful with providing marketing expertise that we would not have been able to afford from a private company. They assisted us with enhancing our company capability statement, developing a strategy to market to our target Federal and local agencies, and brokering relationships with Federal and local small business offices. Of all the services provided to small businesses, this was by far the most helpful in growing our company.
Recommendation 4 – Combine the CBE and DDOT DBE process
Currently businesses have to go through an arduous application process for both certifications. The CBE program administered by the Department of Small & Local Business Development is only applicable for contracting with DC government. The District Department of Transportation DBE program is a Federally recognized program administered by the District Department of Transportation. The DDOT DBE allows a company to receive reciprocity with State DOTs and serves as the DBE designation for contracting with the Federal government.
Both applications processes require an online submission with submission of a half a ream of paper worth of supporting documentation. Ideally, both processes could be housed in the same department similar to Virginia and Maryland. Therefore, eligible businesses could receive both certifications simultaneously.
Recommendation 5 – Re-establish the Small and Local Business Development Opportunity Commission
There are currently 7 vacant seats on the 9 person commission. It should be a priority to fill those seats with small business to provide guidance to DSLBD and the Council on small business issue
Thank you again for the opportunity to provide comment on this very important issue.
