SUMMARY
The US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) National Ombudsman along with several of Rural Development's Federal Partners will be hosting a series of Lawfare and Regulatory Reform Hearings across Maine and New Hampshire. Please feel free to share this invitation with anyone in your community who you feel would like to participate. Although the event is free, space is limited, so registration is REQUIRED via the links in the event descriptions below.
Presque Isle, Maine - Monday August 31, 2026, 10am to 1pm: Geared towards members of our potato, wild blueberry, and dairy industries
As an industry crucial to the nation's food supply chain, SBA understands your businesses are forced to navigate an intricate network of federal, state, and local regulations. The interactive hearing/listening session is designed to gather input directly from you about specific hurdles you face, including wetland-conservation determinations and loss of program eligibility and PFAS as a RCRA hazardous constituent. Our goal is to understand the pain points and the economic impact regulations have on your operations, and we welcome you to attend to share your candid, real-world experiences with SBA leadership as well as our other Federal partners in attendance.
To Register and For More Information Please Visit:
Presque Isle Registration Link
Bangor, Maine - Tuesday, September 1, 2026, 10am to 1pm: Geared towards members of the home building and remodeling industry, trade contractors, small landlords, and affordable housing developers
As an industry crucial to addressing the housing crisis in this country, SBA understands your businesses are forced to navigate an intricate network of federal, state, and local regulations. The interactive hearing/listening session is designed to gather input directly from you about specific hurdles you face, lead renovation, repair, and painting, and lead-hazard reporting, as well as housing supply and permitting costs.
To Register and For More Information Please Visit:
Bangor Registration Link
Portland, Maine - Wednesday, September 2, 2026, 10am to 1pm: Geared towards members of the fishing and marine trades including lobster and ground fisherman, elver harvesters and exporters, shellfish and seaweed farmers, boatyards and marine trade people
As an industry crucial to the nation's food supply chain, SBA understands your businesses are forced to navigate an intricate network of federal, state, and local regulations. The interactive hearing/listening session is designed to gather input directly from you about specific hurdles you face, including whale gear rules, the ropeless-gear solicitation and the 2028 statutory deadline with no rule behind it. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) port clearance and elver shipments with no designated wildlife port in Maine, the lapsed finfish nationwide permit and unissued aquaculture general permit, vessel inspection user fees charged per hull, contract administration and delayed payment, and the sawmill marketing standard now before OSHA.
To Register and For More Information Please Visit:
Portland Registration Link
Portsmouth, NH - Thursday, September 3, 2026, 10am to 1pm: Geared towards members of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's New Hampshire supplier and marine trades base
The session is part of a nationwide initiative to amplify the voices of small businesses and
members of the government contracting community to revise the regulatory landscape. SBA values your input and collaboration in crafting meaningful solutions to regulatory challenges facing this industry. During this session, participants can share experiences with contract administration and delayed payment, Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) flow-down, IRS penalty assessment and levy, OSHA shipyard employment, and guidance issued with a rulemaking record.
To Register and For More Information Please Visit:
Portsmouth Registration Link
