One of the biggest challenges facing the State of Minnesota in attracting business is its permitting process. Minnesota Chamber Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Byers said the permitting bottleneck impacts many sectors, including agriculture and food processing. “We continue to hear from companies and site selectors who advise companies on investments that Minnesota’s permitting process was extraordinarily long,” said Byers. “We support high environmental standards and we are not debating standards at all. We are just seeing if we could make recommendations to streamline the process.” The Minnesota Chamber Foundation is funding a competitive comparison with ten other states. That would include Minnesota’s four neighboring states and others with a similar political makeup. Byers said more certainty is needed for the permitting process. “If you’re building a facility or expanding a facility, a year long delay or two-year delay increases construction costs. Again, we think we can meet some of these timelines and deadlines in a more efficient manner.” The latest economic analysis, which includes an evaluation of Minnesota’s permitting process, will be available by the end of the year.
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