Advocacy
An important benefit of Chamber membership is our advocacy efforts as a broad-based voice for initiatives and public policies that grow business and employment opportunities, as well as overall economic prosperity. By proactively engaging with community stakeholders, sharing ideas, reporting important data points and leveraging one business success into the next, the Chamber seeks to be a respected, thoughtful and engaged public policy partner on behalf of our members.
Chamber members are welcome to provide input or raise concerns related to public policy (for example, regulatory, legislative or taxing issues) to the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee for review.
The Chamber Board of Directors, under advisement from the Public Policy Committee, has endorsed the following five focus areas for our organization’s advocacy efforts in 2025:
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.
These focus areas do not represent the entirety of the Chamber’s advocacy; they represent the areas where we believe our organization is well-positioned to make an impact. We seek broad regional cooperation among Chambers and other business advocates to advocate collectively with a common voice, both for short-term issues and longer-term plans that fit within the Chamber’s mission.
The Chamber will also support complementary efforts that may be led by others as recommended by the Public Policy Committee and the Chamber CEO.
Additionally, all of the Chamber’s legislative and advocacy efforts will be viewed through an equity lens as we strive to strengthen the business community as a whole.