Press Releases
04/14/2025
DEEP’s Client Concierge Service Celebrates Five Years of Excellence in Environmental Permitting Assistance
Born out of DEEP’s 20By20 Initiative, Client Concierge Provides One-Stop Facilitation for Municipalities, Businesses, and Individuals Through DEEP’s Permitting Processes
(HARTFORD)— The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently celebrated the fifth anniversary of its Client Concierge Service. Established under DEEP’s successful 20 By 20 initiative and expanded in DEEP’s current 20 By 26 initiative to enhance transparency and efficiency, the Concierge Team has become DEEP’s front door for permitting assistance. Since then, the Concierge Team has guided hundreds of businesses, municipalities, and individuals through regulatory requirements and connected them with the right resources. Concierge has provided early permitting help to projects involving a tremendous range of issues: multiple permitting requirements or cross-cutting programmatic needs; waste organics; energy generation; solar and offshore wind-related permitting, including on brownfields and agricultural lands; economic development; large-scale filling; brownfields; transit-oriented development; green technology; and more.
A Proven Resource for Connecticut’s Businesses and Communities
“DEEP’s Concierge Service has transformed the way we support businesses and municipalities navigating Connecticut’s environmental regulations,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “By providing clear guidance and streamlining the pre-application process, we’re ensuring that applicants have the tools they need for a smooth and efficient permitting experience. And because our Concierge service has been so successful, we recently launched a municipal concierge service targeted at helping our local partners with their most complex projects.”
How do I get Concierge help? The Concierge Team plays a critical role in setting projects on the path to success. The process usually works as follows: After being contacted by project proponents early in the process, the DEEP Concierge team schedules a meeting with relevant DEEP permitting staff to discuss potential permitting requirements. The Team also advises applicants on the best strategy for sequencing multiple application submittals for the most efficient and fast review. DEEP’s Concierge then serves as a touchpoint for process-related questions by coordinating permit processing across DEEP’s divisions and collaborating with other state and federal agencies and municipal government to ensure that projects advance on schedule. Learn more about DEEP’s Client Concierge Service in this short two-minute video.
How does the Concierge service benefit permit applicants? The upshot for permit applicants is saving time and money, avoiding delays down the line. Using Concierge before submitting a permit application saves projects an average of four months earlier than those who did not, due to the regulatory explanations and directions provided at the pre-application meetings. The Concierge Team reduces back and forth between different divisions and applicants, ensuring that everyone within DEEP is coordinated on projects with multiple-permitting requirements. The Concierge team also provides helpful advice and resources through industry sector permitting factsheets, email updates on permitting changes, and funding opportunities.
By the Numbers: The Concierge Service’s Impact
- Personalized Guidance: In 2024 alone, the Concierge Team assisted 129 applicants through pre-application meetings, covering topics such as large-scale infrastructure, renewable energy, dam repair/removal, and waste organics.
- Municipal Support: In 2024, specialized services were developed for municipalities, ensuring local governments receive tailored assistance for their permitting needs.
- Small Business Expansion: In 2025, DEEP is enhancing its support for small businesses, providing them with the resources they need to navigate permitting requirements efficiently.
Customer satisfaction survey results underscore the value of DEEP’s permit assistance services:
- 100% of pre-application meeting participants reported a better understanding of the DEEP permitting process.
- 85% of respondents rated their pre-application experience as good or excellent, while the remaining 15% were neutral.
These results demonstrate that Concierge and pre-application services significantly improve applicant satisfaction and project outcomes.
What People Are Saying
Industry leaders and applicants have praised the Concierge Service for its transparency, efficiency, and innovative approach:
- “The pre-application process was very informative and should be a best management tool across all different AHJs/State agencies to streamline the project permitting and development process. Certainly a best-in-class experience. Thank you!”
- "I have permitted waste handling facilities in other states, none in Connecticut, I have to compliment the way this Pre-application meeting was coordinated, managed, and the level of participation. The departments were well-prepared, and we signed-off knowing the expectations and the parameters of attaining the permits we would be seeking. Thank you to the group of professionals that were involved. It would be hard to recommend any improvements as it was very fluid."
- "This process is excellent, I have dealt with many other agencies around the tristate area, and this is the first one that provides this service. I was pleasantly surprised that the agency was truly interested in protecting the environment while helping with the progress of a project. Thank you and keep up the good work!"
Looking Ahead: Building on Five Years of Success
DEEP’s Concierge Service remains one of the only dedicated environmental and energy permitting assistance programs in the nation. As DEEP continues to evolve and expand its offerings, applicants can expect even more streamlined processes, greater clarity in regulatory pathways, and improved coordination across agencies.
To learn more about DEEP’s Concierge Service or to schedule a pre-application consultation, visit: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/permits-and-licenses/client-concierge-permit-assistance or contact DEEP.Concierge@ct.gov.
Stay tuned- latest 20 By 26 quarterly report coming soon!
DEEP will soon release its latest quarterly progress report (in a new eBook format!) on the 20 By 26 initiative, which describes the work and progress made on the 20 goals of 20By26 in Quarter 4 of 2024. Stay tuned!
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110