Chamber Endorses 2025 Focus Areas for Advocacy
In advance of its fourth annual State of the Community event on February 21, the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce today announced five focus areas for its public policy advocacy in 2025.
The Chamber Board of Directors, under advisement from the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee, endorsed the following focus areas as defined below:
1. Economic Vitality
We advocate for expanding business and economic opportunities to improve the quality of life for current and future residents.
2. Education and Workforce Training
We support attracting, building, and retaining a well-prepared workforce to maximize the effectiveness of our business community and retain businesses.
a. We support quality early childcare education initiatives to attract and retain a local workforce. Quality childcare enables parents to fully participate in the economy and fosters the development of future generations with the skills necessary to sustain a thriving workforce.
3. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We support policies and programs that break down barriers, provide fair and equitable access to economic opportunities and resources, and encourage community collaboration and inclusiveness.
4. Infrastructure
We support consistent maintenance and ongoing improvements of critical infrastructure to enable business success. We also welcome new and advanced infrastructure that supports regional growth.
5. Housing
We support improvements to both the supply and affordability of quality housing options across our region. We also support programs that increase equitable housing opportunities and encourage removing regulatory roadblocks to housing availability.
The Public Policy Committee annually recommends focus areas where the Chamber is well-positioned to make an impact. The Chamber seeks broad regional cooperation among business advocates and intends to support complementary advocacy efforts that may be led by others, both for short-term issues and longer-term plans that fit within the Chamber’s mission.
The following individuals serve on the Public Policy Steering Committee:
- Chair: Dr. Mariane Asad Doyle, Center for Nonprofit Excellence
- Courtney Cacatian, Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Chris Engel, City of Charlottesville Office of Economic Development
- Ned Gallaway, Albemarle County
- Nicole Hawker, Heart and Soul Fitness
- Rebecca Ivins, Hourigan
- Emily Kilroy, Albemarle County Economic Development
- Diantha McKeel, Albemarle County
- Brian Pinkston, City of Charlottesville
- Jennifer Siciliano, UVA Health
- John Spilman, LUMOS
- Juandiego Wade, City of Charlottesville
- Neil Williamson, Free Enterprise Forum