Navigating bureaucratic bottlenecks

Navigating bureaucratic bottlenecks

Time is money, so knowing how it’s being wasted will improve your bottom line.

people walking down the stairsBusinesses have the best of intentions when embarking on new construction or expansions. After engaging engineers and architects, filing planning approvals and building permits, everyone hopes the project will proceed as planned.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. For lots of reasons, bottlenecks materialize. Someone fails to communicate. Paperwork goes missing. A policy hasn’t been followed, or someone gets sick. Maybe someone over-promised and under-delivered.

Every agency and business involved in your project has a vested interest in saving face, so people sometimes point fingers of blame in all directions. An objective perspective is important.

Open the lid on stalled projects

Business owners and managers are busy, and don’t have the time to open the lid on a stalled project. Getting things back on track is crucial for success.

Consulting services are available to review the status of a project within the local government approval process, be it building permits, planning permission or other issues. Think about hiring someone to assist you.

Farm-to-bistro college program

Farm-to-bistro college program

Tompkins Cortland Community College or “TC3” has a Farm to Bistro program that gives students hands-on experience in every aspect of the food-production system.

screen-shot-2016-10-31-at-10-32-45-pmIn Ithaca (pop. 30,000), the College owns and operates TC3 Farm which supplies fresh produce to Coltivare Restaurant, a 17,000 square-foot culinary center including a full- service restaurant, amphitheater, wine cellar and event space.

Coltivare is located on the ground level of a parking garage in downtown Ithaca.

A group of Canadians learned about this innovative initiative in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, while gathering ideas and insights to consider using in their similar region of Southwest Ontario, Norfolk County.

TC3 Curriculum includes Culinary Arts, Sustainable Farming and Food Systems, Wine Marketing and Hotel and Restaurant Management. In the near future, the farm will be run using only renewable energy.

Read the full story on page 27 of the Finger Lakes Study Tour 2016 Report.