Governor Corbett Creates New Innovation Office to Improve Efficiency, Generate Savings for Taxpayers

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today announced the formation of a new office to focus on initiatives to reduce state spending, eliminate waste and improve service. 

"There is no shortage of ideas for how to make state government work better," said Governor Corbett. "The Governor's Innovation Office will serve as a clearinghouse for those ideas, evaluate and prioritize them, and work collaboratively with state agencies to make them happen."

The new office will review recommendations by the Governor's Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation, proposals by state agencies and suggestions submitted by the public through an online survey being conducted by the Team PA Foundation at http://teampa.com/rethinkpa/. 

Over the past few months, advisory council members have met with agencies to explore more cost-effective and efficient ways to deliver state services. The council will present its top recommendations at its next meeting in May.

The Governor's Innovation Office follows a model used by the state of Indiana and will be housed within the Office of Administration, which oversees human resources and information technology for the executive branch. The director will receive guidance from a steering committee with representation from the Governor's Policy Office, Governor's Office of Administration, Governor's Office of the Budget, and Department of General Services.

Initiatives undertaken by the office will be largely accomplished using project teams comprised of existing employees from across state agencies. The office will also report regularly to the Privatization and Innovation Advisory Council on the progress and success of various initiatives. 

"By leveraging existing expertise and resources, the Innovation Office can achieve its mission without creating new bureaucracy," said Secretary of Administration Kelly Powell Logan. "Additionally, the office will ensure that only the most worthy projects – those with the greatest potential gains in savings and efficiency – make it off the drawing board." 

To read the Executive Order that establishes the office, visit:

http://www.oa.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/executive_orders/708.

Media contact:  Dan Egan, Office of Administration, 717-772-4237

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor