Lt. Governor Brown Encourages Businesses and Developers to Apply for New FastTrack Program
Addresses Salisbury Chamber of Commerce About Benefits of Initiative to Streamline Permitting Process
SALISBURY, Md. (August 18, 2011) – Today, Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown addressed a meeting of the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce and encouraged businesses and developers to apply for the recently launched FastTrack program. FastTrack, an initiative chaired by Lt. Governor Brown, is a new tool for business owners and developers to streamline and expedite the review of state permits for projects in priority development areas.
The initiative is a component of the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s Maryland Made Easy program, an effort to improve the conditions that allow businesses to grow and create jobs. Maryland Made Easy encompasses strategies to streamline procedures, simplify regulations and improve communications.
“Governor O’Malley and I understand that while government doesn’t create jobs, we can lay the foundation for job creation and economic growth in Maryland,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “We recognize how important it is for the business community to get a timely response when dealing with permitting, and FastTrack brings all parties together to expedite permitting for projects with the greatest significant economic impact, while protecting our environment and promoting smart growth.
The Governor and Lt. Governor recently launched the Maryland Made Easy website, www.easy.maryland.gov, which hosts information about the FastTrack process as well as the application. The site also features a GIS interactive map that will help users determine eligibility to apply for FastTrack. All projects in FastTrack will be monitored to ensure timeliness and adherence to specified timelines and a yearly report will be presented to the Governor on the system’s progress.
“The FastTrack application is live online and ready to go, I encourage business owners and developers to visit Easy.Maryland.Gov and apply today,” added Lt. Governor Brown.
In addition to FastTrack, the Maryland Made Easy initiative includes State Highway Administration Permits, an ongoing initiative to facilitate permitting for development projects, and will include Central Business Licensing, an online one-stop shop for completing and submitting licenses related to starting a business in Maryland.
Lt. Governor Brown leads the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s economic development portfolio. In addition to leading the FastTrack initiative, he serves as chair of the Governor’s Subcabinet on Base Realignment and Closure.
