(Cedar Rapids, IA) This week, former Iowa Secretary of State and Mayor of Cedar Rapids, Paul D. Pate pledged to improve several aspects of the business services division of the Secretary of State’s office. While Pate previously served as Iowa Secretary of State he was an advocate for removing unnecessary and burdensome regulations Iowans often faced when dealing with the government. During his term he reduced a four page yearly report form to one page that is now filed every other year. Pate also promoted the office as a one stop business services advocate and worked to assist business owners with navigating through other government agencies.
Pate’s plan includes promoting job growth and cutting government red tape.
- Reestablish the Jobs Coalition for Main Street Iowa program. A program established when Pate previously served as Iowa Secretary of State, worked with small business owners and local chambers of commerce to identify burdensome bureaucratic regulations that hampered business growth and job creation. This public/private program worked to “Cut Government RED TAPE” that deterred business from adding more jobs.
- There are numerous forms on the Secretary of State’s website. Pate proposes a bipartisan review of these forms to identify which ones can be streamlined or eliminated.
- Allow businesses an option to showcase their company by including a link to their webpage under the Business Entities database on the Secretary of State’s website.
- Work with Home Base Iowa to identify and assist veterans who are interested in starting an Iowa business.
- Work with new and existing business owners to review the current business filing process and develop solutions to streamline the process and eliminate burdensome forms.
- Reinstate the Benchmark award for Iowa based businesses. As former Secretary of State, Pate developed a recognition program called the Benchmark Award. This award program recognized outstanding achievement in the growth and development of Iowa small businesses. It was given to entrepreneurs who, through their innovative spirit represented Iowa’s own unique spirit of hard work, innovation, quality services and craftsmanship.
A nationally recognized small business leader by the Small Business Administration, Pate is the owner of a paving construction firm. He is recognized as a “Patriotic Employer” by the National Committee for Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve. Pate recently served as Mayor of Cedar Rapids from 2002 -2006. While Mayor, Pate was elected President of the non-partisan Iowa League of Cities representing over 870 municipalities. Previously, he served as Iowa Secretary of State from 1995-1999 and represented NE Cedar Rapids, Marion and parts of Linn, Buchanan and Delaware Counties in the Iowa Senate from 1989-1995.
Pate is a lifelong Iowa resident, born in Ottumwa, growing up in Linn County.