Virginia Governor Kaine Marks Milestone for Business One Stop

15,000 entrepreneurs helped by the online business formation process, reflecting 8,587 new businesses formed

November 09, 2009 -- ROANOKE -- Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced today that Virginia's Business One Stop, an online tool for entrepreneurs, has been utilized by more than 15,000 entrepreneurs to aid their business operations and create jobs. The Business One Stop is an on-going project through the Virginia Department of Business Assistance and began in May 2008 to consolidate business licensing, registration and permitting into one a single user-friendly online system.

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"The thousands of entrepreneurs who have used our One Stop, including 8,587 new businesses, know first-hand why Virginia is the best state for business in the country," Governor Kaine said. "This online tool and the efforts of the Department of Business Assistance allows businesses to take care of business, rather than spend days visiting different offices to fill out paperwork."

"This program is an excellent example of smart government working with entrepreneurs and businesses to create new economic opportunities," said Joyce Waugh, President & CEO of the Roanoke Regional Chamber. "Small businesses represent 98% of all employers in Virginia."

Enhancements added by the new "Business Wizard" in December will make the One Stop even more interactive and simplify the step-by-step process of launching a new business in Virginia.

"We have listened to the feedback from Business One Stop users and included new features that will increase the confidence of entrepreneurs that they have completed all start-up requirements," added Lynda Sharp Anderson, Director of the Virginia Department of Business Assistance.

During Governor Kaine's administration, Virginia has been recognized eight times as the best state by business by Forbes.com, CNBC, and Pollina Corporate Real Estate. Virginia was recently recognized as one of the top 5 states to start a business by US News and World Report in July 2009; the top-performing state government in America by Governing Magazine in 2008.

The Business One Stop is accessible on the web via the Commonwealth of Virginia home page, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance website, and the websites of numerous state agencies offering business resources or requiring business permitting. Development of the original Business One Stop and the Phase II enhancement were funded by a grant from the Productivity Investment Fund.

For more information, please visit http://www.dba.state.va.us/

Source: Virginia Governor