Why Ward 3's Small Businesses Need a Champion on Council

Small businesses are the backbone of West Warwick. Kevin knows this firsthand — building Millonzi's Fine Catering from the ground up meant learning every permit, every inspection, and every piece of red tape the hard way. Ward 3 deserves a councilman who understands that experience, not just one who talks about supporting small business.

The Town Already Has a Resource — Most Residents Don't Know It

West Warwick has a designated Town Planner and Economic Development Coordinator whose job is to be a single point of contact for businesses navigating permitting, zoning, funding, and start-up support. On paper, this is exactly the kind of resource a small business owner needs.

The problem isn't that the resource doesn't exist — it's that too many entrepreneurs don't know it's there until they're already stuck. A new restaurant owner trying to figure out fire department sign-off, sewer connections, and a building permit shouldn't have to discover the Economic Development office by accident.

Why This Matters for Ward 3 Specifically

Ward 3 is home to a mix of long-standing family businesses and newer entrepreneurs trying to get a foothold. Every one of them is competing not just with each other, but with the simple question of whether it's easier to open a business in West Warwick or somewhere else nearby.

Time Is Money — Literally

Every week a new business spends waiting on a permit is a week of rent paid with no revenue coming in. A councilman who understands the permitting process from the inside can push for clearer timelines and better coordination between departments, so businesses aren't stuck guessing.

Red Tape Doesn't Feel the Same to Everyone

A councilman who has never run a business can sympathize with red tape. A councilman who has actually filled out the forms, scheduled the inspections, and waited on the sign-offs knows exactly where the friction is — and exactly what to push the town to fix.

A Practical Plan for Ward 3

Make the Economic Development Office Impossible to Miss

Kevin will push for active outreach — at council meetings, in campaign and town communications, and through partnerships with local business associations — so every prospective business owner in Ward 3 knows exactly who to call on day one.

Set Real Timelines for Multi-Department Approvals

When a permit touches fire, sewer, building, and zoning, the process can stall simply because no one owns the timeline. Kevin will advocate for clear, published expectations so business owners know what to expect and when.

Create a Standing Conversation With Existing Business Owners

The businesses already operating in Ward 3 know exactly where the friction is. Kevin will push for regular, structured opportunities — not just complaint forms, but real conversations — where business owners can flag recurring problems directly to the council.

Treat Every New Business as a Win for the Whole Ward

A storefront that stays empty isn't neutral — it's a loss of foot traffic, tax revenue, and community vibrancy. Kevin will treat every successful small business opening in Ward 3 as a shared community win worth actively supporting.

Conclusion

West Warwick has already built some of the infrastructure small businesses need. What's missing is a councilman who has actually used that infrastructure from the business owner's side of the table — who knows where the real friction is, because he's lived it. Kevin Millonzi has spent his career building something from the ground up in this town. He knows what Ward 3's entrepreneurs are up against, and he's ready to fight for them at the council level.