Lakeland officials have launched a streamlined way for new and expanding businesses to work with city officials. It’s called the Business Resource Office, and it opened on the ground floor of City Hall on Tuesday.
How it helps: City officials called it a one-stop shop to help Lakeland’s entrepreneurs navigate the planning, paperwork and permitting processes. Business owners will be assigned a specific team member as a single point of contact.
“The services the Business Resource Office will deliver aren’t necessarily new, but the way services will be delivered out of one office with dedicated staff and resources is new for the City of Lakeland,” Director of Community & Economic Development Brian Rewis said.
No signage yet: For now, the office is an organizational change more than a physical space. City Hall visitors will check in and be escorted to the Permit Center, which has service windows. Someone will greet them and get them started. Signage will come later.
“We are continuing to strategically adjust how we interact with our customers, and this new Business Resource Office furthers the City’s efforts in serving the community,” City Manager Shawn Sherrouse said in a news release.
The team: The Business Resource Office is staffed by seven employees who already worked in Lakeland’s Community & Economic Development Department.
Rewis said the seven team members have a combined 84 years of service to the city, all in Community & Economic Development. Kevin Lovelace, an economic development specialist, will be spearheading the office.
“With this move, some are being asked to take on new responsibilities associated with development review and project management,” Rewis said. However, he said all of the staffers have fully embraced the opportunity to expand their skills.
Services: The team will guide business owners through processes including:
- Site evaluation and selection.
- Development and site plan review.
- Building permitting.
- Certificates of occupancy.
- Business tax receipt issuance.
The office can also connect businesses with mentoring and advocacy programs offered by other organizations in Lakeland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Those organizations include the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Lakeland Economic Development Council, SCORE, Catapult, Bridge Local, The Well, Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corp. and Prospera.
Past complaints: Some Lakeland business community members have complained that the city’s permitting process has been slow and cumbersome. Rewis said the new team should alleviate some of those issues.
“But the Business Resource Office is more about advocacy on behalf of business owners and entrepreneurs, and facilitation between them and the city’s development reviewing departments,” Rewis said.
New or expanding businesses often interact with departments including Community & Economic Development, Public Works, Water Utilities, Fire, Lakeland Electric and Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts.
“The staff in the Business Resource Office will not solve every problem, but they will be exceedingly accessible and responsive, will listen and learn, collaborate, coordinate and communicate, all in service to Lakeland’s business community,” Rewis said.
Possible outreach: Rewis said his office is also considering offering some limited off-site office hours to take the new Business Resource Office services “directly to those who could benefit from them.”
Where to get help:
The Business Resource Office is located at Lakeland City Hall — 228 S. Massachusetts Avenue — and is now open during regular business hours.
To learn more or to get started, visit the Business Resource Office website at www.lakelandgov.net/lbro. You can also contact the team at 863-834-LBRO (5276) or [email protected].
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