Tag: #shoplocal

Duvall Chamber Q&A

amymcforduvall

Another question from the Duvall Chamber’s Candidate Town Hall focused on Small Business Vitality & Economic Growth.

Q: Duvall’s permitting and licensing processes can feel complicated for entrepreneurs. How would each of you streamline or modernize these processes while maintaining proper oversight?

A: Being a small business owner myself, I know firsthand how daunting city processes can feel. We can make them more user-friendly without cutting corners. My priorities would be:

• Clarity: We’ve already modernized by creating an online permitting portal that tracks applications, reduces paper forms and provides clear timelines. We can take this further and publish easy-to-follow “how-to” guides for small business owners and first-time applicants. We also need to shorten processing times for permits and other requests.

• Consistency: Improve coordination across departments so applicants receive consistent, proactive communication rather than being bounced between offices.

Duvall Chamber Q&A

amymcforduvall

Here is another question from the Duvall Chamber of Commerce Candidate Townhall on Small Business Vitality & Economic Growth.

Q: Small businesses are the heart of Duvall’s downtown. What are the top three specific actions you would take in your first year as mayor to support and grow our small business community?

A: Small businesses are the backbone of Duvall’s economy and the heartbeat of our community. In my first year as mayor, I would:

• Establish a Small Business Roundtable — a regular forum where local business owners, the Chamber, and City staff can identify challenges, share ideas, and collaborate on solutions directly.

• Streamline and modernize business support by building clear, accessible online resources for permits, grants, and local promotion programs—making it easier to start, grow, or expand here in Duvall. With recent leadership changes in our Community Development Department, I’ll prioritize restructuring that team to bring an economic development focus and a customer-obsessed approach.

• Launch a “Shop Duvall” initiative in partnership with the Chamber and downtown businesses to promote local shopping and draw regional visitors, especially during construction or seasonal slowdowns.