Coventry Rep. Paves Way for Economic Development

As one of the chosen guest panelists for the Small Business Association Economic Summit follow-up meeting on Wednesday, March 28, Rep. Patricia A. Serpa (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Warwick, Coventry) was able to weigh in on some major legislative issues that could hold a positive influence over Rhode Island’s business climate.

 “The small business community has been extremely helpful in identifying the obstacles that interfere with their being able to expand or to create new business,” Representative Serpa said. “Some of the issues that seem to be impeding their success include tax and permitting issues, variations in the municipalities’ expectations of what they need to do in order to grow their businesses and identifying access to capital. After participating in the SBA’s January meeting, I was able to determine a clear direction for legislation that would help them.”

At the follow-up meeting, Representative Serpa provided an update on the status of legislation that she and other House members introduced at the request of the SBA participants. The panel, which included House Majority Leader Nicholas A. Mattiello (D-Dist. 15, Cranston), Sen. Erin P. Lynch (D-Dist. 31, Warwick) and Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Warwick), fielded questions about potential tax increases and changes to the income tax code.