OFFICE OF BUSINESS ADVOCATE (OBA) (CGS § 32-275)

• OBA is located within the Office of Policy and Management for administrative purposes and is headed by the Business Advocate (BA), who is appointed by the governor with the legislature's approval to a four-year term.

• The BA must be knowledgeable about the characteristics and needs of businesses and the public and private organizations that exist to address those needs.

• The BA must:

1. serve as an information clearinghouse for public and private business assistance programs and

2. identify and contact very small businesses engaged in research and development, identify their needs, and arrange to have those needs addressed.

QUESTIONS

• Identify the different types of businesses you have worked with over the years and describe their needs and concerns. Are those needs and concerns being addressed by government and private agencies? Can you identify any needs that are not being addressed?

• The Connecticut Economic Resource Center's online database, Program Finder, suggests that there are many public and private programs providing technical and financial assistance to most types of businesses. Program Finder includes links to most of these programs, suggesting that businesses can readily access their services.

1. Can you think of more effective ways to inform businesses about these programs? Is the Internet a good tool for providing information to businesses about the programs that can help them?

2. As an information clearinghouse, how would you get information out to businesses? Would you use the Internet at all, improve the existing systems and networks, or design a new one?

• The law requires the BA to help micro businesses engaged in research and development access programs that can address their needs.

1. Why should the state target these businesses for special attention?

2. How will you identify and contact these businesses and assess their needs?

3. How will you arrange for programs to address those needs?

4. How will you balance the time needed to provide this service against the need to establish and maintain the clearinghouse?

• Four year from now, how will you know if the Office of Business Advocate made a difference?

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