PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management will host a grand opening event for its new Permit Application Center (PAC) at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, October 16. The project was partially funded with a $47,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation through its Make It Happen RI economic development initiative.
The PAC was designed based on feedback from Department-wide efforts to improve customer service and efficiency in permitting programs. It serves as a single point of entry into DEM for all permit applications, whether they arrive by mail or are hand-delivered. Immediately after an application is submitted, DEM's Office of Customer and Technical Assistance staff perform an administrative review to determine the completeness of the application and follow up with applicants within one business day. File review requests, as well as pre-application assistance for businesses and individuals seeking environmental permits, are also coordinated by PAC staff.
The PAC provides a welcoming reception area for customers visiting DEM's Promenade Street Headquarters, and is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In addition to Governor Lincoln Chafee and DEM Director Janet Coit, speakers at the October 16 event will include Neil Steinberg, president & CEO, Rhode Island Foundation; JR Pagliarini, chief of staff, Commerce RI; state legislative and business leaders; Leslie Taito, senior vice president of new business development, Hope Global; and Robert Baldwin, past president of the RI Builders Association.