Gov. Josh Shapiro visited the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions site now known as Bellwether District to sign an executive order to create the Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program.
The governor made his appearance in South Philadelphia on Nov. 19 with the goal of streamlining the state’s permitting process for key economic development and infrastructure projects. It also hopes to increase transparency, and accelerate timelines to ensure state government delivers results quickly and efficiently.
“When I became governor, I promised to make state government work efficiently and effectively for Pennsylvanians, breaking down barriers and creating real opportunity for the good people of our commonwealth,” Shapiro said. “By streamlining permitting processes and focusing on results, we’re not just creating jobs and driving economic growth, we’re getting stuff done for the people of Pennsylvania and putting points on the board.
“The PA Permit Fast Track Program is a game-changer that enhances coordination and communication between the project sponsor and state agencies to cut through red tape, streamline critical projects and give businesses the confidence to invest and create jobs here in Pennsylvania. We’re proving that government can move at the speed of business and we’re building a stronger, more competitive commonwealth where folks want to live, work and build their future.”
The Executive Order directs the Office of Transformation & Opportunity to lead the PA Permit Fast Track Program. OTO will be responsible for developing, managing and coordinating permitting for complex development and infrastructure projects to get project sponsors answers quicker. The office will also oversee updates to the Fast Track dashboard, a publicly accessible online tool.
“Gov. Shapiro knows that to win the competition to attract and retain companies and jobs, we need a government that moves at the speed of business,” said OTO Chief Transformation Officer Ben Kirshner. “That’s why he made responsive government a core goal of his economic development strategy. The PA Permit Fast Track program is in line with the governor’s vision and gives us a new tool to deliver coordination, accountability and transparency for permitting big, complex projects here in the commonwealth, increasing Pennsylvania’s competitiveness.”
At the Bellwether District, the 1,300-acre logistics and innovation campus development includes substantial remediation work and is projected to create 19,000 direct permanent jobs.
“Transforming a site of this scale and creating thousands of new jobs requires business, government, labor and institutions to work together, along with a little imagination and a lot of grit,” said Roberto Perez, CEO, HRP Group, developer for the Bellwether District. “I firmly believe that, together, we will show that in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we can innovate and accomplish big things.”
