By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — In such a troubled economy, it can help to have a meeting of the minds. With the realization that many local businesses have been hit hard by the current recession, Mayor James E. Doyle has scheduled a Business Summit.
The Pawtucket Business Summit will take place on Tuesday, March 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Comfort Inn, 2 George St., Pawtucket. Members of the city’s business community are invited to attend.

The intent of the summit, said Doyle, will be to explore ideas of how best the city can assist its business community and improve service. To that end, representatives from each municipal department will be available to listen to ideas and answer questions.
Doyle noted that the worst economic recession in over 80 years, coupled with record high unemployment, and a foreclosure, credit and banking crisis “has devastated everyone.” However, he also added, “I have long maintained the success of the city of Pawtucket is directly tied to our many community partners, and our partners in the business community are among our strongest allies.”
Edward Tetzner, Government Affairs Aide, said the idea of holding a business summit sprang from the neighborhood summits that the mayor has sponsored for many years. These events, which are held annually in a dozen different neighborhoods throughout the city, give residents the chance to ask questions or bring up issues with city officials and department heads. The problems or complaints are documented and then followed up by the mayor’s staff.
“Those sessions have worked very well. So the mayor thought, with local businesses in such a crunch, that it would be a good idea to set up a business summit in the same format,” said Tetzner. He noted that some issues or complaints, particularly those to do with zoning or planning, might involve ordinance changes that would require action by the city council or other legislative body.
However, he said, “We’ll work as best we can to address their concerns.”

Tetzner further stated, “We need businesses, both small and large, to thrive in this city. So we want them to look at this summit as a tool. There may be things in place that they can take advantage of that they aren’t even aware of,” he said.

Tetzner said the invitation to the summit went out to organizations such as the Pawtucket Foundation, Pawtucket Rotary Club, Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, the Pawtucket Arts Council and other local business organizations. He wants to emphasize that the summit is open to owners of businesses of all sizes, including art studios or local “mom and pop” operations as well as the larger establishments.

“We’re not looking at this as a one-shot deal,” added Tetzner. “We’re hoping that, at least, this can become an annual summit.”

For more information, call 728-0500, ext. 358.
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