Business Creation, Recruitment, Retention and Expansion
THE FOLLOWING ARE STANDING POSITIONS TAKEN THROUGH THE CHAMBER’S BUSINESS ADVOCACY PROCESS. ALL POSITIONS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE CHAMBER’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Transportation and Infrastructure
Support legislation that will help the region to attract quality business, industry and jobs to the area and to expand existing business and industry.
Advocate for improvements and maintenance of modern, up-to-date infrastructure for the region to effectively compete in the global marketplace. Without the ability to move goods and services to customers, businesses cannot compete and succeed.
Healthcare
Immigration Reform
Work to reduce healthcare costs for business, as rising costs directly impact operating budgets.
Support comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level to ensure a uniform approach.
Education and Workforce Development
Regulatory
Advocate the changes necessary in early childhood, K-12 and higher education to prepare all students for the careers of the future and to provide a skilled workforce to support the region’s employers.
Advocate for a business climate that is conducive to business expansion. The regulatory environment of the state must be balanced and not burdensome for business.
Regional Land Use Planning / Workforce Housing
Military and Federal Facilities Retention and Expansion
Continue to promote our Sustainable Growth Ethic which involves building on prosperity through the principles of Choice, Balance and Stewardship. Our vision is to grow in a manner that improves the quality of life for all citizens in the metro area, including those yet to be born or those who move here.
Through the Military Policy Council, continue to work closely with the entire South Carolina congressional delegation on retaining the 22,000 jobs associated with the region’s military facilities, and expanding the region’s $11 billion military/ federal presence by seeking additional missions and expansion opportunities.
Hospitality
Port Development
Work to continue the vitality of the visitor industry, which is critical to support the thousands of hospitality-based businesses operating in the region
Support the continued growth and expansion of South Carolina’s port.
Comprehensive Tax Reform
Environment and Energy
Advocate for comprehensive state-wide tax reform measures that ensure fairness, stability, predictability, accountability and compliance while equitably balancing income, property and sales tax levies based proportionally on necessary services and the ability to pay.
Work to ensure that environmental legislation regulation does not unnecessarily increase administrative burden, resulting in unnecessary regulations, project delays or cost prohibitiveness to businesses.
FEDERAL PRIORITIES
STATE PRIORITIES
Economic Development
Infrastructure
• Support restoring the U.S. Export-Import Bank’s ability to finance projects over $10 million.
• Successfully lobby the state legislature for a comprehensive long-term recurring funding source to address the $42 billion funding need for South Carolina’s infrastructure.
Military Base Retention and Expansion • Lobby the Department of Defense to re-evaluate its decision on the location of Africa Command to Joint Base Charleston.
Regulatory • Advocate against an over burdensome regulatory environment for business from such agencies and organizations as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Labor Relations Board. • Support legislation that limits overreach of the Clean Water Act.
Talent • Lobby Congress for comprehensive immigration reform.
FOR A DETAILED VERSION WITH FULL BACKGROUND, VISIT CHARLESTONCHAMBER.NET /LEGISLATIVE-AGENDA
Transportation and Infrastructure • Continue to support the funding for the Post 45 Charleston Harbor Deepening Project.
#CHSADVOCACY
Talent • Urge the General Assembly to fully fund the Education Finance Act (EFA), which is required by state law. This year an additional $547 million is needed for the EFA to be fully funded. • Support of a bond bill for South Carolina colleges and universities to make critical capital and technology improvements. • Secure $25.6 million for the renovation of Trident Technical College’s Berkeley Campus for advanced manufacturing and increasing the flexible classroom spaces, as well as $21 million for a new Dorchester County campus.
Military Base Retention and Expansion • Support the full exemption of military retirement income benefits from state income tax. • Support the statewide military retention plan being created by the South Carolina Military Base Task Force and the funding for its implementation.
Taxes and Regulation
Issues on the 2017 State and Federal Agendas are focused on legislation/action that could be addressed in the next session of the South Carolina General Assembly or at the Congressional level.
• Support expanding the state’s incentive programs to attract high-impact jobs that do not need or meet current incentive programs. Reward Tech, R&D and non-manufacturing companies. • Support the streamlining of the business license fee system and make the process more uniform between municipalities while having as little fiscal impact to municipalities as possible. • Reauthorization of the Angel Investor Tax Credit program.
LOCAL PRIORITIES
Talent
Transportation and Infrastructure • Advance the Chamber’s infrastructure priorities for our region as outlined in the Infrastructure White Paper including: – Completion of the Mark Clark Expressway – Glenn McConnell Extension • Support expansion projects for the Port of Charleston including the completion of the cruise terminal and Post 45 Harbor Deepening. • Support the development of Bus Rapid Transit for our region.
Regulatory • Work with local municipalities to streamline the development process, reducing the time and costs to the developer and consumers. • Advocate for local governments to honor their zoning and development regulations in considering and siting new residential, commercial, office and industrial development projects.
• Support the Tri-County Cradle-to-Career Initiative linking high school and college readiness. • Support the continued development and expansion of Career Academies in all area public high schools. • Increase both the number and enrollment in High School Youth Apprenticeships/Workforce Academies. • Implement a regional Career Awareness Campaign to showcase high demand occupations to build the needed talent pipeline to support future growth. • Launch a college intern portal and engage businesses with local college career offices to work to retain local college graduates in the region.
Entrepreneurs / Small Business / Innovation • Build regional seed/early stage funding sources. • Ensure the region’s regulatory environment supports business growth.