Breaking Through Barriers to Doing Business
Building on the state’s efforts to streamline the permitting process and make it easier to business in the state, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) today launched a new web page to highlight the best practices of business groups and state and local permitting agencies that are making their programs more user friendly for businesses.
“GO-Biz and our partners are working to improve California’s business climate by streamlining permitting and incorporating efficiency measures developed by the private sector,” said GO-Biz director Kish Rajan. “The Breaking Barriers to Doing Business web page captures those efforts and encourages more state and local agencies to follow our lead and improve their process.”
Those highlighted in the program are recognized as B³ Champions. “B³ Champions” are recognized for their hard work and innovative efforts to help the business community start up, grow and expand in California while at the same time upholding state standards.
Over a dozen cities, counties and state agencies have been recognized including City of Elk Grove, City of Turlock, City of Anaheim, City of Rancho Cordova, CA Department of Industrial Relations, CA Department of Fish and Wildlife, CA Department of Business Oversight, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, CA Department of Toxic Substances Control, Department of Resources, Recovery and Recycling, Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, State Water Board. The Los Angeles Building & Safety Department has implemented to a program to help businesses navigate through the building and construction permitting processes quicker and improve customer service relations. Applicants have given high praise to this improved process.
“It saves a great deal of time over the standard, non-expedited, plan check process,” said Christian Kienapfel from Architekt Germany. “On scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, my experience with the program has been a 10.”
See the compete highlight of the Los Angeles program and more on the Breaking Barriers to Doing Business webpage here.
“Through our new B³ program, GO-Biz is able to shine light on the good work that is done within California state and local agencies that improves the permitting and regulatory climate for businesses,” said GO-Biz permitting specialist Poonum Patel. “The program will not only give our team the opportunity to share improvement plans with government agencies but will also encourage those interested in making changes to lead by example.”
GO-Biz is actively working to improve permitting at all levels of government. Earlier this year, GO-Biz partnered with the Government Operations Agency to offer Lean 6-Sigma Training to state agencies to specifically address process-based issues within state departments that were causing delays in services to both internal and external stakeholders. Over a 6 month period, participants received training on complex analytical and statistical tools that identify waste and inefficiencies in processes. In July, GO-Biz announced that 26 state officials across various agencies and departments completed the Lean 6-Sigma training program.
Contact a Permit Specialist to make a nomination or apply to be the next GO-Biz B³ Champion!
GO-Biz serves as California’s office for economic development and offers a range of services to business owners. Those services include attraction, retention and expansion services, site selection, permit streamlining, clearing of regulatory hurdles, small business assistance, international trade development, assistance with state government, important informational briefings and much more. For more information visit: www.business.ca.gov.
