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Streamlining Pennsylvania’s Permitting Process with Michelle Tarquino Veronica Martin
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O’Brien and Chris Martin welcome Michelle Tarquino from the Office of Transformation and Opportunity (OTO) to discuss the ongoing efforts to streamline the permitting process in Pennsylvania and make the state more business-friendly.
The episode kicks off with a light-hearted exchange about the recent travels of the hosts and their guest, setting a friendly tone for the conversation. Michelle shares her background, including her previous experience with PennDOT, and explains the mission of OTO, which was established by an executive order from Governor Shapiro in January 2023. The office aims to position Pennsylvania among the top 10 business-friendly states by addressing key challenges in the permitting process.
Michelle highlights the importance of understanding the hurdles faced by businesses, from large developers to individual homeowners, when navigating permits. She discusses the launch of the PA Payback Program, which aims to address delays in permit approvals by offering refunds to applicants who experience significant wait times. However, she emphasizes that the ultimate goal is not just to provide refunds but to ensure timely permit approvals.
The conversation delves into the need for transparency in the permitting process, with Michelle outlining the development of a Permit License Certification Tracker and dashboards to provide real-time updates on permit statuses. She also discusses the upcoming Commonwealth’s first-ever permit summit, which aims to gather industry feedback and identify further challenges.
Jon and Chris engage Michelle in a discussion about the importance of communication between businesses and government agencies. Michelle encourages businesses to voice their concerns and share their experiences, as this feedback is crucial for improving processes and fostering collaboration among agencies.
The episode also introduces the PA Fast Track Program, designed to expedite high-impact projects by facilitating collaboration between various agencies. Michelle explains how this program helps streamline the permitting process, ensuring that projects move forward efficiently.
Throughout the episode, Michelle emphasizes the positive reception of OTO’s initiatives among both the business community and government agencies. She shares insights into how success is measured within OTO, including tracking customer support inquiries and project outcomes.
As the episode wraps up, Jon and Chris express their appreciation for Michelle’s insights and the work being done by OTO. They highlight the importance of making Pennsylvania a more business-friendly environment and encourage listeners to stay engaged with the ongoing efforts to improve the permitting process.
Listeners are invited to follow the Building PA Podcast on LinkedIn and Facebook and to visit the website for updates on future episodes.
In this episode of the Building PA Podcast, co-hosts Jon O’Brien and Chris Martin welcome Tom Scott, the Director of Safety at McClure Company. With over 20 years of experience […]
