WASHINGTON — Coming around the same time a nationally-known business lending CUSO opened its first regional office and NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood's praise of a credit union's program here, Hawaii is poised to make it easier for small businesses to have a say.

Earlier this month, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle signed into law Senate Bill 188 that will require state agencies to consider their impact on small business earlier in the regulatory process and it expands the duties of Hawaii's Small Business Regulatory Review Board. It also strengthens the current statute by requiring agencies every other year to review all existing rules that affect small business to ensure that they continue to serve their public purpose.

Small businesses are a key part of Hawaii's economy, according to the Small Business Administration. In 2005, according to the agency's Office of Advocacy research, 98.6% of Hawaii's employer firms were small businesses, and they employed 263,673 workers or 57.4% of the state's private work force. There are 112,000 small businesses in the state.

Mountain America, Utah-based Member Business Lending, LLC recently opened up its first regional office in Hawaii. The CUSO is the nation's top credit union SBA lender. NCUA Vice Chairman Rodney Hood met with Karl Yoneshige, president/CEO of HawaiiUSA FCU, last week praising the financial institution's member business lending program.