Southeast Michigan Chamber Joins National Push for Permitting Reform

The Southeast Michigan Chamber of Commerce is proud to stand alongside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and countless chambers nationwide in signing a coalition letter to Congress urging the passage of comprehensive, bipartisan permitting reform. As members of our thriving business community, we have witnessed firsthand the critical need for modernizing our nation’s broken and outdated permitting systems.

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Why Permitting Reform Matters

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Every day, businesses and communities across Michigan—and America—are ready to invest in transformational projects. These projects span from expanding broadband access and upgrading local transportation networks to building next-generation energy facilities and modernizing drinking water systems. Yet, too often, outdated and inefficient permitting processes stand as roadblocks, delaying these essential investments and inflating costs due to rising material and labor expenses.

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These delays impact more than just projects—they postpone the vital benefits new infrastructure brings:

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• Safer roads and bridges

• Enhanced public transit

• Cleaner drinking water

• More affordable energy

• Reliable high-speed internet

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Such improvements drive economic growth, support public health, and uplift quality of life for families, workers, and entrepreneurs across our region.

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Our Unwavering Support for Reform

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At the Southeast Michigan Chamber, we see these challenges far too often. Local businesses—both large and small—encounter permitting hurdles that stall growth, inhibit innovation, and impede opportunities for all. By joining this coalition, we reaffirm our commitment to predictability, efficiency, transparency, and stakeholder input in the permitting process. We believe firmly that reforming these systems will empower our business community to invest in the future, create good-paying jobs, and modernize the infrastructure that underpins our daily lives.

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Statement from John Long, Southeast Michigan Chamber

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As our President & CEO, John Long, asserts: “This is one of the most crucial pieces of legislation to go in front of Congress impacting the business community in a long time. Permitting reform will affect our community in multiple ways—making business easier and more accessible for all—and create tangible, lasting differences in how we build, innovate, and grow here in Southeast Michigan.”

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The Path Forward

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Now is the time for Congress to move forward, working together to pass durable, bipartisan permitting legislation this fall. Our coalition is united in the belief that a modern permitting system will help us build smarter, faster, and more sustainably. We urge our elected representatives to seize this opportunity and deliver real change for our region, our state, and our nation.