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Civic Innovators Podcast
One Big Question. One Clear Answer.
Available on:
Civic Innovators | S1:EP03
Rewriting the Rules: Inside Merced County’s Permitting Overhaul
In this episode of Civic Innovators, we sit down with Nicole Ubbink, Assistant Director of Community and Economic Development for Merced County, California, to explore how the county achieved a 72% improvement in permits processed within just 90 days of launching a new digital platform. Merced County recently unified its entire permitting and land management operations—moving to 100% online submittals and payments, streamlining internal workflows, and breaking down departmental silos that had existed for years. This transformation didn’t just modernize operations—it reshaped how staff work, how citizens engage, and how departments collaborate.
| Ep | Title | Time | Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| E03 |
Rewriting the Rules: Inside Merced County’s Permitting Overhaul
|
33:13 |
|
| E02 |
Building Efficiency: How Tampa & Lennar Homes Cut Plan Review Times by 30%
|
24:29 |
|
| E01 |
Unified for Impact: How Clark County Modernized Government Services at Scale
|
25:54 |
|
Where Civic Challenges Meet Bold Solutions
Civic Innovators is Accela’s bold new podcast series spotlighting real-world government transformation, all through the lens of a single high-impact question. We explore how one courageous decision or innovative shift helped public agencies solve major challenges, improve operations, or better serve their communities.
Each episode features
- A powerful question that drives the conversation – focused on real outcomes, not just process
- A candid conversation between Accela CEO, Noam Reininger, e.Republic President, Dustin Haisler, and a guest government innovator
- Firsthand stories from state and local government leaders and IT innovators
- Tangible insights and takeaways to inspire action in your own agency
One question. One episode.
One real transformation.
Explore real government change on the Civic Innovators Podcast – a fresh take on civic innovation, created for and by public sector professionals.
With
Noam ReiningerChief Executive Officer, Accela
Dustin HaislerPresident, e.Republic
Be Our Guest
Are you leading change in your agency?Want to share your story on Civic Innovators?