The jurisdictions participating in Northeast Indiana’s Permitting Excellence Coalition were honored at a Permitting Recognition Reception Wednesday, Jan. 20 hosted by the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. Nearly 20 government officials, business leaders and economic development professionals from Northeast Indiana attended the reception.

Participating jurisdictions in the Permitting Excellence Coalition include Allen County/City of Fort Wayne, City of Angola, City of Auburn, City of Decatur, DeKalb County, Huntington County, City of Huntington, LaGrange County, City of New Haven and Whitley County/Columbia City.

Streamlining business permitting is a top priority in the region’s Vison 2020 initiative, which is spearheaded by the Regional Partnership. The priority aims to help create a business-friendly environment that will encourage greater economic growth in Northeast Indiana by making it easier for businesses to obtain appropriate permits to build and expand in the region.

“No other region in the country has shown the tenacity to pursue a streamlined permitting process in this way,” said John Sampson, president and CEO of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership. “These Northeast Indiana jurisdictions are continuing the region’s tradition of hard work and ingenuity. They are leading the way to ensure that our permitting processes support a business climate focused on increasing investment in the region.”

Representatives met throughout 2015 – the second year for the coalition – to work on core customer values of consistency, transparency and easy access. The group developed and implemented a standardized permitting template for their websites; developed and utilized a customer feedback survey and solicited feedback through a customer-oriented taskforce; and worked to streamline their current permitting processes.

“The Permitting Excellence Coalition’s determination to streamline permitting processes across the region will give Northeast Indiana a competitive advantage in attracting new businesses and encouraging growth at the region’s existing businesses. Streamlining is making a positive impact, and that’s always good for business,” said Vivian Likes, the Director of Economic Development and Planning Office for the City of Angola.

With the second year of the program complete, the Permitting Excellence Coalition now has a foundation to continue work on its three core values. The group’s efforts this year will allow it to make measureable improvements over the next several years.

For more information about the Streamlined Permitting priority, visit www.neindiana.com/vision.