Advocacy

WHAT WE DO The Public Policy Division of the Thurston Chamber is your leading advocate for business and the private sector across the region.

Supporting our community is at the heart of the Chamber mission. The Chamber advocates for members by addressing community issues and ensuring a positive environment for a successful, highly functioning community.

THE SHARED LEGISLATIVE PARTNERSHIP is convened every year to identify and champion regional investments with the State legislature.

These investments maintain and enhance the region’s economic vitality and generate opportunities that enhance the quality of life for residents across the region. New State resources acquired by this work during the 2022 and 2023 legislative session include:

• Direct State Investment to address Chronic Homelessness

• Craft brewing and distilling: Business startup

• Interstate 5 / Nisqually River improvements

• Port of Olympia Budd Inlet Remediation and Restoration

• North Thurston Public Schools: Young Child & Family Center

• Craft Brewing and Distilling: Local Grain Conveyance & Storage System

LOCAL ADVOCACY is the core of the public policy division’s work. We inform local policy makers on the impacts new policies and regulations will have on local businesses.

PARTNERSHIPS By forging strong partnerships with entities that share our values and mission, we’re expanding our voice and influencing change on a larger scale.

We provide support for meaningful and significant public and private sector projects that will improve the economic health of our community. In 2022 and 2023 the Thurston Chamber has led the way on:

• Affordable housing creation

• Combating opioid / fentanyl

• Addressing retail crime

• Improving public safety

• Enacting the Thurston County Habitat Conservation Program

• Approving the new district boundaries for five-member port / county commissions

• Approving the expansion of port/ county commissions to five members

• Opposing the Thurston County regional airport site

We’ve successfully joined forces with new organizations, creating a stronger and more united front in advocating for the needs of our community.

• Challenge Seattle

• Go Rail

• Olympia Downtown Association

• South Sound Military Communities Partnership

• Washington Association of Business

• Washington Retail Association

PUBLIC POLICY is made by those that show up. Government decisions and priorities, rules and regulations, and what gets developed and when, are determined by those that participate. The work of the public policy division ensures that the private sector is involved in the affairs of government. Advocating for Chamber members helps create a better environment for business. This helps to build a more resilient, equitable, and vibrant community for all.

Numbers By The 2022

10,256

5,698

48 RIBBON CUTTINGS

TOTAL NUMBER OF EVENTS

117

TOTAL NUMBER OF ATTENDEES

9,359

MEMBER RETENTION

91%