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The Raleigh Chamber is proud to serve as a connector for our business community. We sit at the crossroads of several critical initiatives — economic development; public policy; transportation; talent; diversity, equity, and inclusivity; support of member businesses and industries, and more.
We owe a great deal of our success to the support and leadership of our Executive Committee and Board of Directors. These volunteer business leaders are tirelessly committed to the success of our business community, and give their time and expertise to ensure our region remains one of the best places to live and work in the nation.
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Over the last year, our teams worked together to generate and maintain incredible momentum. That work resulted in remarkable and sustainable accomplishments.
 
“Collaboration is that thing that makes greater Raleigh so special, and it’s the key to our success. Working closely together with leaders from the business community is what enables us to stay ahead of the needs of our region, and we are grateful for their commitment and support.”
 – Adrienne Cole, President & CEO, Raleigh Chamber 
 
The Chamber and its staff are grateful for the dedication and commitment of its 2020/21 Executive Committee and Board of Directors, especially for its leadership through a particularly trying year. As we begin a new fiscal year on Oct. 1, we are excited to continue to lead with purpose and collaborate with successful business leaders in our region.
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The Executive Committee and Board of Directors represent a variety of industries across our membership and will work closely with the Chamber over the next year on initiatives to further our mission of building a thriving regional economy, enhancing the community’s quality of life, and strengthening member businesses.

​“I’m honored and humbled by the faith our business community has placed in me to lead our Chamber as Chair. The Chamber is a trusted pillar in our community, and this committee and board will remain laser-focused on the progress of our region.”
– Kevin Howell, Vice Chancellor for External Affairs, Partnerships and Economic Development, NC State University
 
Your Chamber depends on you! Get involved. Spread the word. Lead with purpose.

There are opportunities for organizations of every size. From development for young professionals to networking opportunities and resources for business leaders — there is always a chance to grow and connect.
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It is working together that we will keep the Greater Raleigh region great, and help us continue to lead with purpose into the year ahead.

 Join Us
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What’s happening in the North Carolina General Assembly and around state government? Here’s an update on bill activity and how your business will be impacted.
 
As discussed in previous blogs, House Bill 320: Modernize Remote Business Access is an important piece of legislation that allows for the continuance of certain business transactions to be conducted electronically, beyond the COVID-19 emergency setting.

​Specifically, the bill would:

• Authorize remote meetings of corporation shareholders, nonprofit corporation members, and mutual insurance company policy holders.
• Authorize nonprofit corporations to conduct all business electronically.

 
Since our previous update, House Bill 320 has passed the Senate and is currently waiting for House concurrence with the Senate proposed changes. The ability to conduct business in a virtual setting remains important as employers adjust to operational changes brought about by COVID-19. We will continue to update you as the bill moves forward.
 
Additionally, a PCS for House Bill 776: Remote Online Notarization saw movement in the Senate last week. The Proposed Committee Substitute would allow authorized North Carolina notaries to remotely perform notarial acts using real time online communication technology. The notary and the principal to the transaction would be required to be physically located in North Carolina at the time of the notarial act. Unfortunately, the current Senate proposal limits the scope of documents that are eligible for remote notarization and therefore we are hopeful that the final bill reflects the original proposal that passed the House in May.

Like the remote business access issue, the remote notarization process was also part of COVID-19 emergency procedures granted to employers during the pandemic. The flexibility that is offered in the House version of HB 776 has been helpful to businesses that remain under some level of internal COVID-19 restrictions. We will continue to encourage the General Assembly to provide as much flexibility as possible for employers by allowing for more remote options. HB 776 is currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Commerce and Insurance Committee, and we will keep you updated on further action.
 
Finally, The Raleigh City Council released its study group final report. The report focuses on Raleigh City Council election terms, compensation, and voter participation. Currently, Raleigh City Council has five district members, two at-large members and the mayor. Each member serves two- year terms instead of four- year terms. The study committee recommended a four-year term instead of a two-year term and adding one additional district member, increasing the Raleigh Council to nine members. This will avoid deadlocks, improve the decision-making process, and facilitate efficient policy development. The study committee also recommended council members receive a pay raise. Currently, Raleigh city Council members makes far less than their counterparts in Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem. The mayor currently makes $27,550 while council members make $19,725. If the study committee’s recommendation is approved, the mayor could make $45,911 and council members would make $37,248. Finally, the study committee recommended a voter engagement program to help voters feel more included in the election process. A few recommendations to increase voter engagement includes reallocating savings from shifting elections to even years to fund voter engagement, including voter engagement within City’s DEI and community engagement strategy and adding voter engagement to the City’s social media platforms. The study committee’s final recommendations are listed below.
 
The study group proposed six recommendations:
1. 4 -year terms
2. Staggered terms
3. Even year elections
4. Increase total compensation
5. Develop and implement voter engagement program
6.  Add 1 new district council position
 
We will keep you updated on further action as the Raleigh City Council moves forward with the recommendations of the study committee.
 
To learn more about our GA priorities, track legislative bills, or to read our blog posts, you can visit our webpage or follow us on Twitter @RcgaJ, @tierra_rcga, or @raleighchamber.  
 
 

This year’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Conference, in partnership with Bank of America, took place virtually over a two-day period.

The conference theme for this year was ‘Speak Up, Take Action’ and our speakers took this to heart in their sessions by delivering powerful strategies and insights that we can bring to our personal lives and to our organizations.
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We kicked off day one with a privilege walk led by Jackie Ferguson, co-founder of The Diversity Movement. Attendees shared their varying levels of privilege at the end of the interactive exercise, as shown in the graph below. Afterward, attendees shared how they were feeling in the chat box. Words such as “reflective”, “surprised yet grateful”, and “guilty” were common. See the word cloud below.

However, Jackie made sure to mention that no one should be feeling guilty from their privilege score, but rather understanding that privilege is a step toward empathy and helps to build a more inclusive culture. It helps us realize that there is so much more to people than the few personas they introduce to you. She summarized, “privilege is a responsibility, not something to feel guilty about.”

The next part of day one featured DEI Talks for participants to choose one of the below topics:

• Blindsided: Uncovering Bias
• Facilitating Courageous Conversations
• Understanding and Disrupting Micro-Aggressions
• Understanding the Depth of Identity

We ended the day with a powerful keynote speech from Stedman Graham, chairman & CEO of S. Graham and Associates. He shared an important lesson on Identity Leadership and figuring out who you are. “It’s not about how the world defines you, it’s about how you define yourself,” he said. The lesson we took away was it’s important to know how to define yourself, your identity, and go on a quest for self-improvement and self-actualization. This way, you will be able to create your own system for success and lead others the right way.

Day two kicked off with the session “Measuring DEI Impact: Quality vs. Quantity”. Attendees heard tips and tools for aligning qualitative and quantitative diversity, equity, and inclusivity, and enterprise goals. It’s important to create strategies and understand both sides to create an inclusive and equitable work culture.

Qualitative Tip: When hiring new talent, let’s transition the language from ‘culture fit’ to ‘culture add’. Rather than asking people to fit into an existing company culture, ask what an employee can add to our culture to help expand our viewpoints.

Quantitative Tip: If we’re not measuring our work, we don’t know how we are doing, and we can’t prioritize and adapt. This goes beyond just measuring representation, you can also measure other factors such as how many employees are going through training, and how engaged employees are.
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Next, we moved into breakout sessions which attendees had the opportunity to choose one of the below:

• The Undeniable Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility
• How to Navigate Your DEI Journey
• Becoming an Ally and Accomplice in the Workplace
• Disability & Neurodiversity Inclusion in the Workplace
• Racial Equity for Black Employees in the Workplace

Lastly, before our closing activity, we heard from our keynote speaker Bo Young Lee, the chief diversity and inclusion officer at Uber Technologies. Her keynote can be summarized by a quote from Mike Tyson, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

The lesson to take away from her keynote is that it’s important to remember that you already have people of marginalized groups working at your organization. If you haven’t heard their story, it’s critical to ask them: Do they feel included and treated with equity?

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2021 Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity Conference. We hope you enjoyed this virtual experience and are leaving with insights and goals to act on. Together, we will Speak Up, Take Action.

Thank you to our sponsors.

In Partnership With
Bank of America

Presenting Sponsors
BASF
Credit Suisse
McGuireWoods LLP

Platinum Sponsors
ABB Inc.
District C
Enact
Greene Resources
RTP Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Collective

Gold Sponsors 
City of Raleigh
The Diversity Movement
Merz Aesthetics
Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors
RTI International
Spectrum Reach

Silver Sponsors 
Citrix
ElectriCities of NC, Inc.
Marsh & McLennan Agency
WakeMed Health & Hospitals

Bronze Sponsors
321 Coffee
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Clark Nexsen
First Citizens Bank
GoTriangle
Grace Federal Solutions, LLC
Rodgers Builders, Inc.
Univision 40
Wake Technical Community College
Williams Mullen

Breakout Session Sponsors
AT&T North Carolina
Clancy & Theys Construction Company

Learn more about the Triangle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity Alliance here.

What’s happening in the North Carolina General Assembly and around state government? Here’s a recap of activity and how your business will be impacted.
 
Last week, Senate Bill 462: CON/Threshold Amds. & Certificate Expirations passed both the House and the Senate and is currently awaiting the Governor’s consideration. Senate Bill 462 would increase the dollar threshold on diagnostic center equipment, major medical equipment, and capital expenditures for new institutional health services must exceed before they are subject to certificate of need review. It would also require projects subject to a certificate of need to initiate construction within a specified timeframe. This bill has three sections, and more information can be found below.
 
Section 1 of the bill would increase the dollar threshold various types of healthcare equipment and facilities must exceed before becoming subject to Certificate of Need review:

• For diagnostic centers, the aggregate dollar value of equipment with an individual value over $10,000 would be increased to $1,500,000. The current threshold is $500,000.
• For major medical equipment, the threshold would be increased to $2,000,000. The current threshold is $750,000.
• For capital expenditures for new institutional health services, the threshold would be increased to $4,000,000. The current threshold is $2,000,000.

 
Section 2 of the bill would require certificate of need holders to initiate construction on projects withing a specified timeframe. If the project is not initiated by the deadline, the certificate of need would expire. These projects include the following:

• Projects costing over $50,000,000 would have to initiate construction within 4 years of the certificate of need becoming final.
• Projects costing $50,000,000 would have to initiate construction within 4 years of the certificate of need becoming final.
• Projects that already have a certificate and a deadline for completion would have to be completed by that deadline.

 
Section 3 of the bill is a severability clause. We will keep you updated on further action from the Governor.
 
Additionally, House Bill 320: Modernize Remote Business Access moved forward last week and received approval from the Senate Commerce Committee. House Bill 320 would: authorize remote meetings of corporation shareholders, nonprofit corporation members, and mutual insurance company policy holders; authorize nonprofit corporations to conduct all business electronically; and make technical and conforming changes. House Bill 320 has been re-referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for further review. We will keep you updated on further action as this bill continues to make its way through the General Assembly.
 
To learn more about our GA priorities, track legislative bills, or to read our blog posts, you can visit our webpage or follow us on Twitter @RcgaJ, @tierra_rcga, or @raleighchamber.  

What’s happening in the North Carolina General Assembly and around state government? Here’s a recap of activity and how your business will be impacted.
 
The NC House began discussing an important piece of legislation that aims to lower health care costs by providing small businesses with additional health insurance options. Senate Bill 228: Allow Employers to Offer EPO Benefit Plans allows insurers to offer Exclusive Provider Benefit Plans where out-of-network services would not be covered.  The bill also establishes continuity of care provisions for EPOs. This transitional coverage would be available to individuals who are newly insured by the EPO and to individuals whose healthcare providers left the EPO's network.
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1. In general, the insurer would have to continue paying the provider for treatment received within 90 days of the provider leaving the network.
2. If the care is related to surgery, organ transplantation, or inpatient care, coverage must be continued for 90 days after discharge.
3. If the care is related to pregnancy, and the insured was in her second trimester when the provider left the network, coverage must continue through 60 days of postpartum care.
4. Coverage for terminal illness must be extended for the duration of the insured's life.

 
Insurers may condition coverage for continuing care on the following:

1. The provider agreeing to accept reimbursement from the insurer and not charge the patient a greater cost-share.
2. The provider agreeing to comply with the insurer's quality assurance programs and policies for in network providers.

 
The bill received a unanimous vote from the NC Senate in June, and we are pleased to see the NC House begin to move it forward. It passed the House Insurance Committee last week and has been re-referred to the House Health Committee. Healthcare costs are a critical factor in an employer’s business model and particularly for small businesses that are often forced to make tough decisions on whether health care coverage is an option they can afford to provide. SB 228 is a great tool for businesses looking to add health care coverage to their employee benefit schedule. We will keep you posted on its progress.
 
Also, a PCS for House Bill 353: Winston-Salem/Forsyth and Wake Boards of Education passed the NC House last week. The PCS to House Bill 353 would do the following:

• Create staggered terms for members of the Wake County Board of Education, beginning with the election in 2022.
• Move the Wake County Board of Education election cycle to odd-numbered years, beginning in 2023
• Establish four-year terms for members of the Wake County Board of Education, beginning in 2023.

 
This bill passed the House on second and third readings and has been sent to the Senate for further consideration. We will keep you posted as the bill moves forward.
 
Finally, Gov. Cooper signed Senate Bill 507: Modify Business Corporation Act into law. We have reported on SB 507 in several blog posts as it progressed through the General Assembly, and we thank members of the House, the Senate, and Governor Cooper for their support. Please see the Raleigh Chamber Bill Tracking Chart for more information on the legislative history of SB 507.
 
To learn more about our GA priorities, track legislative bills, or to read our blog posts, you can visit our webpage or follow us on Twitter @RcgaJ, @tierra_rcga, or @raleighchamber.  

What’s happening around state government? Here’s a recap of activity and how your business will be impacted.
 
Last week, the North Carolina House passed its version of the state budget. As previously discussed, the NC Senate passed its version of the state budget and was awaiting the House to do the same. Both Chambers have laid out their plans to spend $25.7 billion in taxpayer money through the state budget. Both budgets focus on the same topics such as pay raises, education funding, emergency powers, etc. but there are many differences between the two budgets.
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Some of the differences are listed below:
 

1. Raises for teachers and state employees
   1. The Senate plan includes a 3% raise for almost all state employees including teachers
   2. The House plan has a variety of raises which includes a 5.5% raise for teachers, a 5% raise for state employees, and a 2% bonus for retirees.
2. Tax Cuts
   1. The Senate wants bigger tax cuts now and the House wants lower tax cuts.
   2. The House wants to reduce the individual income tax from 5.25% to 4.99% compared to the Senate budget which proposes the rate go down 3.99%.
   3. In regards to the corporate income tax, the Senate plans to phase it out completely as opposed to the House which plans to lower the tax rate from 2.5% to 1.99%. This will help North Carolina compete regionally for businesses.
3. African American Monument Funding
   1. The Senate budget allocated zero dollars towards the African-American monument on the State Capitol grounds. Funding for the monument was not included in the House budget either but $650,000 was allocated in non-recurring funds for the Freedom Park project. The Freedom Park will commemorate the African-American struggle and experiences in this state. 
4. Emergency Powers
   1. Both the State Senate and House included provisions in their budgets that change the emergency powers of the governor.  The Senate budget includes a provision that would change state law to require agreement from the Council of State within 10 days of the governor issuing an executive order. If approved, the order would then expire 45 days later unless the General Assembly takes action to extend it longer. However, in the House budget, though there is a provision about emergency management, as the House proposal would require documentation of Council of State concurrence on issues that require it, and within 48 hours. These provisions have come about due to the governors powers used during the pandemic.

 
This week the Senate will vote to not concur with the House budget proposal and both chambers will move into a negotiating process. Once a final budget has been approved, it will move over to the Governor’s desk for consideration. We will keep you updated on further action as the budget moves forward.

To learn more about our GA priorities, track legislative bills, or to read our blog posts, you can visit our webpage or follow us on Twitter @RcgaJ, @tierra_rcga, or @raleighchamber.  

What’s happening around state government? Here’s a recap of activity and how your business will be impacted.
 
Last week, The North Carolina House began discussing portions of their proposed budget, which is expected to see action this week in various House Committees and on the House floor. Like the proposed Senate budget, the House budget will focus on priorities that affect your business around transportation, workforce development, broadband access, education, health care, tax reductions, and unemployment. Once the House finalizes their proposed budged, they will work with the Senate to reach an agreement on the differences between the two proposals and send a final budget to Governor Cooper for his consideration. We will update you as soon as things move forward.
 
Additionally, Senate Bill 507: Modify Business Corporation Act which makes various changes to the NC Business Corporation Act, as recommended by the NC Bar Association, passed out of the General Assembly last week. The bill has six sections which include the following:

• Section 1 extends existing provisions relating to voting of shares held by a subsidiary to situations in which the subsidiary entity is not a corporation.
• Section 2 clarifies the authority of the board of directors to fix the compensation of directors for services in any capacity as director, codifying a decision of the North Carolina Business Court interpreting this statutory provision.
• Section 3 provides that, except as otherwise fixed in the articles of incorporation or bylaws, a majority of a board of directors constitutes a quorum.
• Section 4 allows the board of directors of a corporation with a single class of shares outstanding to change the corporate name without shareholder approval.
• Section 5 provides that in a proceeding brought in superior court by a shareholder seeking an appraisal, the court must determine whether the shareholder is entitled to appraisal rights, on which issue the shareholder would bear the burden of proof. If the court determines that the shareholder is not entitled to appraisal rights, the court would be required to dismiss the proceeding as to the shareholder.
• Section 6 makes several changes to the law governing corporate records and shareholder inspection rights, includes some of the following:
  • Eliminating the current requirement that particular records be maintained at the corporation's principal office.
  • Requiring all relevant records to be maintained in a manner permitting them to be made available for inspection within a reasonable time.

Senate Bill 507 has been presented to Governor Cooper for his consideration. We will keep you updated on further action from the Governor.
 
To learn more about our GA priorities, track legislative bills, or to read our blog posts, you can visit our webpage or follow us on Twitter @RcgaJ, @tierra_rcga, or @raleighchamber.  

What’s happening around state government? Here’s a recap of activity and how your business will be impacted.
 
Last week during a COVID-19 press conference, Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 224: Implementing Measures to Address Covid-19 and Related Variants. This executive order came about due to the increase in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the Delta variant. During his press conference, Gov. Cooper directed state government cabinet agencies to verify if their employees are vaccinated. State employees are now required to provide their employer with their vaccination status. Under the executive order, unvaccinated employees will be tested at least once a week and required to wear a mask. Gov. Cooper also urged private businesses to do the same. Executive Order 224 became effective July 29 at 5p.m. and will remain effective through August 31 at 5 p.m.
 
As COVID-19 cases continue to surge in NC, masks are now required indoors at all Wake County facilities for employees and the public, regardless of vaccination status. The mask requirement went into effect on Monday at all Wake County facilities. As previously stated, Wake County continues to be a leader among areas within the state that have successfully worked with the community to ensure everyone has access to a vaccine of their choosing. County Commission Chair, Matt Calabria recently announced that 70 percent of the eligible population has received at least one dose, leading the state. The effort to reach the remaining 30 percent is underway. Wake County Public Health announced it’s expanding the COVID-19 vaccine outreach strategy to include bringing vaccinations directly to homes. This allows Public Health staff, community workers, and vaccinators the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with residents, provide education, and answer any questions they have prior to making the decision to get vaccinated.
 
To learn more about our GA priorities, track legislative bills, or to read our blog posts, you can visit our webpage or follow us on Twitter @RcgaJ, @tierra_rcga, or @raleighchamber.  

What’s happening in the North Carolina General Assembly and around state government? Here’s a recap of activity and how your business will be impacted.
 
Last week during a COVID-19 press conference, Governor Roy Cooper announced that Executive Order 220: Extension of COVID-19 Measures to Reflect Public Health Safety Recommendations would expire. Executive Order 220 was an extension of EO 215 that lifted mask requirements in certain sectors of the private sector. During his press conference, Gov. Cooper and Dr. Cohen also announced an updated public school toolkit with guidance for masking which goes into effect July 30 at 5 p.m. Under their guidance

1. All schools should require that all children and staff in schools K-8th grade wear face coverings consistently when indoors.
2. Schools with K-8th grade should make mask use universally required regardless of vaccination status.
3. In high schools, face coverings should also be worn indoors by all individuals who are not fully vaccinated, including students grades 9-12, workers, teachers, guests, other adults, and children age two (2) or older, unless an exception applies.

 
Wake County continues to be a leader among areas within the state that have successfully worked with the community to ensure everyone has access to a vaccine of their choosing. County Commission Chair Matt Calabria recently announced that 70 percent of the eligible population has received at least one dose, leading the state. And the effort to reach the remaining 30 percent is underway. Wake County Public Health announced last week that it is expanding its COVID-19 vaccine outreach strategy to include brining vaccinations directly to homes. This allows Public Health staff, community workers and vaccinators the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with residents, provide education and answer any questions they have prior to making the decision to get vaccinated.
 
As for legislative action last week, House Bill 366: Regulatory Act of 2021 passed the Senate and has been returned to the House for concurrence in the Senate Committee Substitute. The bill would amend state laws related to State and local government, agriculture, energy, environment, natural resources, and other various regulations. Specifically, the Senate PCS makes the following regulatory changes to NC law that may affect your business:

• Requires Pre-K operators to provide parents with information pertaining to public and private school options within the county they are located.
• Requires the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to examine the needs associated with expanding the express permitting program to include additional types of permits typically required for job creating and real estate development or redevelopment activities.
• Requires the Division of Water Infrastructure within DEQ to prioritize projects that improve designated impaired waters of the state and that serve as a public water supply for a large public water system (over 175,000 service connections).
• Clarifies that proof of mailing is sufficient proof of notice for certain insurance policy or renewal cancellations by the insurer.

 
 Regulatory Reform has been an annual priority of the General Assembly since 2011. The overall goal is to reassess the burden that was placed on businesses over decades of agency oversight of the private sector. That level of oversight had grown to a level that far outpaced our neighboring states and placed additional cost burdens on North Carolina businesses. The balance between appropriate oversight and burdensome regulations is one that we will continue to monitor and provide you with updates.
 
To learn more about our GA priorities, track legislative bills, or to read our blog posts, you can visit our webpage or follow us on Twitter @RcgaJ, @tierra_rcga, or @raleighchamber.  

​On July 22, the Raleigh Chamber Government Affairs Department hosted its first in-person event. State of the City, County, & Schools, presented by Delta Dental, included remarks from Mary-Ann Baldwin, Mayor of Raleigh, Matt Calabria, Wake County Commissioners Chair, and Keith Sutton, Wake County Board of Education.
 
During the event, Mayor Baldwin’s remarks focused on the state of Raleigh and where we are as a business community. She addressed the changes surrounding the upcoming municipal election, the importance of greenway spaces during the pandemic, and the need for a commuter rail as big businesses are making their way to the Raleigh-Durham area.
 
Chair Calabria acknowledged the work Wake County is doing surrounding affordable housing, food security, employment, small business assistance programs, economic development, and its COVID-19 response. During his presentation, Chair Calabria expressed his gratitude to all of Wake County’s leaders as they worked diligently during the COVID-19 pandemic creating education initiatives such as Wake ThreeSchool and universal pre-K for low-income four-year-olds. Chair Calabria, along with the other Wake County Commissioners, is continuing to work towards a creating a greater way for residents to live, work, and learn.
 
Chair Sutton addressed the state of Wake County’s School System. During his remarks, he thanked the Wake County Public School System faculty and staff for their persistence in educating our students during the pandemic. In his presentation, Chair Sutton announced Wake County is working to onboard more bus drivers for the upcoming school year, new learning initiatives, and overcoming setbacks that many students and teachers experienced during remote learning.
 
The event was followed up by a moderated Q&A session, where Mayor Baldwin, Chair Calabria, and Chair Sutton had the opportunity to answer questions from the audience.
 
Make sure to register now for the Raleigh Chamber/CPI Security First Responders Appreciation Breakfast on Sept. 24. We will celebrate and show appreciation for our first responders, who risk their lives to save others.