Thought Leadership
Process Improvement
Two Ways to Speed up the City Development Process
Amanda Gilliam Delayed projects often add up to lost revenue, overworked staff, and unhappy residents. But with so many steps to get a project from start to finish, it can be difficult to stay on track and on budget — especially when many cities are facing permit backlogs, staffing challenges, or cannot facilitate concurrent plan reviews. SAFEbuilt … ContinuedProcess Improvement
What You Need to Know About the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Amanda Gilliam Congress’s signing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act [IIJA]) will create both demands and opportunities for communities across the United States. Per the IIJA release in November 2021, $1.2 trillion in funding will be distributed across the United State to fund projects that focus on: Access to … ContinuedProcess Improvement
Why Cities Use a Third-Party Community Development Provider
Joe DeRosa More than 1,000 municipalities have come to SAFEbuilt with their community development challenges. But you may be wondering, what’s the advantage of bringing in a third-party provider to help with your community development projects? Why SAFEbuilt? At SAFEbuilt, we don’t just help you get the job done — we help you reach your goals through … ContinuedProcess Improvement
Reduce Backlog With National Plan Review
Amanda Gilliam Looking for ways to get permits into the hands of your community faster? Unable or not ready to hire a full-time plan reviewer? Have a backlog of development plans just waiting to be reviewed? At SAFEbuilt, we can address all of these challenges with our National Plan Review program, which provides your community with skilled … ContinuedProcess Improvement
Turning the ‘Silver Tsunami’ Into a Wave of Opportunity
Amanda Gilliam The United States’ rapidly retiring workforce, sometimes called the “silver tsunami,” has the potential to seriously disrupt building department and construction operations across the country. With about 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day, severe internal staffing shortages could make permit and inspection activity unmanageable. But using workforce challenges as a chance to reevaluate your … ContinuedProcess Improvement
Safety and the Unseen Repercussions of the Backlogs in U.S. Cities Due to Closures From the Pandemic
Joe DeRosa Recently we covered the many possible solutions for building department backlogs in municipalities across the country. While the immediate focus has been on the most efficient service delivery options as a means to help reduce budgetary impacts and keep projects moving, the risks to community health and safety also rise when those backlogs linger. Even … ContinuedProcess Improvement
Three Things Municipalities Can Implement in 30 days To Possibly Avoid Budget Cuts
Joe DeRosa Municipalities continue to struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, 74% of municipalities in the United States have already started making unavoidable cuts and adjustments in response to the projected $360 billion revenue loss for cities over the next three years, according to cititsspeak.org. Within that same article, which is based on a survey of nearly … ContinuedProcess Improvement