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Decatur is the first city in Alabama to take the “Startup in a Day Pledge” to help entrepreneurs

Mayor Don Kyle has taken the Startup in a Day Pledge, making Decatur the first city in Alabama to participate in the Small Business Administration (SBA) initiative to actively support entrepreneurs.

The initiative aims to make it easier for entrepreneurs to start a business by reducing the amount of time it takes to register and apply for permits and licenses on the local level. The pledge includes creating a “Startup in a Day” online tool that lets most entrepreneurs identify and apply within one day for all requirements to launch a business in the participating communities. The ultimate goal of the SBA initiative is for small business owners to be able to manage and complete most of their regulatory obligations within a single, easy-to-use online system.

In taking the pledge, Mayor Kyle noted Decatur already is actively taking steps to streamline the business licensing process. “We are in the process of implementing a new, integrated software system that will allow online capabilities we’ve never had before. We also expect to develop checklists, both online and paper, that will aid new business prospects in preparing to apply for a business license and in completing the application. Small business is an important part of the Decatur economy and we are working hard to be a place businesses can begin and succeed for the long term,” said Kyle.