June 16, 2005
ROMNEY FILES BILL TO EXPEDITE LOCAL PERMITTING
Businesses say legislation necessary for expansion and job growth
Governor Mitt Romney, with broad bipartisan support, today filed legislation that expedites the commercial permitting process and overhauls a significant barrier for businesses looking to relocate and expand in Massachusetts.
The Governor originally offered permitting reform as part of the Economic Stimulus Bill he filed on March 3, but decided to move it ahead of consideration of the larger bill by filing it as separate legislation.
“Permitting can take up to five years to complete, making it extremely difficult for businesses here to expand and add jobs,” said Romney. “If we’re serious about encouraging business investment and expansion, we have to take a chainsaw to the red tape that ties up the process for years and years.”
The legislation allows communities to opt-in specific sites rather than the entire city or town, one of the main barriers to the original law passed last year to assist municipalities with expedited permitting. Communities that opt-in agree to complete their local permitting process in 180 days.
“These reforms would enhance Worcester’s competitiveness and ability to recruit new businesses while providing assistance to existing companies to expand and create jobs,” said City Manager Michael V. O’Brien. “I am in full support of the Romney administration’s permitting reform package.”
Technical assistance grants totaling $4.5 million would be available to help communities update local bylaws and procedures to comply with the reformed permitting process. The Office of Technical Assistance will support communities looking to update permitting regulations. An online inventory of pre-permitted sites will be developed and marketed by the state’s Business Resource Team.
“The Governor and I have personally met with companies that have committed to expanding in Massachusetts once this legislation is passed,” said Ranch C. Kimball, secretary of economic development. “Streamlining our permitting process removes a long-standing barrier to job growth in the Commonwealth.”
Business leaders from around the state applauded the Governor and the Legislature for focusing attention on the issue of permitting.
“AVANT Immunotherapeutics understands the value of having policies in place that encourage economic growth in Massachusetts, and is happy to have expanded recently within Massachusetts,” said Una Ryan, Ph.D., president and CEO of AVANT Immunotherapeutics. “A streamlined permitting process will make it easier for others to join us.”
“A predictable and clearer permitting process helps businesses plan for future growth and create jobs,” said Daniel A. Guglielmo, CEO of Trust Design, a financial advisory firm that consults with businesses that want to expand in Massachusetts. “This reformed permitting process will help many of my clients expand and add jobs in the Commonwealth.”
“I will be able to renovate our newest Lawrence facility faster and create 100 new jobs as a result of this reform,” said Sal Lupoli, the president and CEO of Sal’s Pizza, the largest manufacturer of fresh pizza in New England. Lupoli’s business has also spent more than $1 million to rehabilitate vacant Lawrence mills into residential, commercial and retail space.
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