Raleigh Chamber Government Affairs Priorities to Foster Economic Prosperity
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION
EDUCATION AND TALENT SUPPLY
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
QUALITY OF LIFE AND WORKPLACE ISSUES
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
WELLNESS AND HEALTHCARE
- Preserve, expand and promote flexible, targeted incentive tools at the local, county and state level that support continued job growth and investment.
- Increase inclusive prosperity through equitable economic development and economic mobility strategies and policies.
- Expand site development readiness throughout Wake County and the region.
- Support policies that expand trade and investment opportunities.
EDUCATION AND TALENT SUPPLY
- Increase access to Pre-K programs, targeting all eligible children in Wake County and support State Funding Model changes.
- Focus on STEM careers and pathways that infuse real world technologies; as well as the recruitment and retention of teachers that are critical in helping students identify and pursue those careers and pathways.
- Expand work ready opportunities that include technical training and apprenticeships.
- Support strategies that align universities, community colleges and schools with existing/future industry needs, including innovation and entrepreneurship in the education sector.
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
- Support policies that improve access to talent, capital and opportunities for early and growth stage companies.
- Support policies to develop a robust and sustainable talent pipeline of highly trained individuals, with critical thinking and problem solving skills.
- Support policies to ensure that North Carolina is a leader in emerging industry clusters, including Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Life Sciences, AgTech, CleanTech, EdTech, FinTech and BioTech.
- Support policies to develop ample and reliable capital sources for entrepreneurs to boost the number of new business starts and to fuel business growth in North Carolina.
QUALITY OF LIFE AND WORKPLACE ISSUES
- Strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.
- Promote quality of life policies that include affordability, housing, sustainable communities, living wages, open space and entertainment.
- Invest in technology, fiber and digital information.
- Advance tax policies that promote competitiveness, equity, efficiency, simplicity and certainty.
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
- Identify sustainable funding for essential growth at RDU airport.
- Prioritize Regional Transportation Alliance initiatives that include but are not limited to City of Raleigh/Wake Transit bus rapid transit corridors and Strategic Transportation Investments (STI) for congestion and mobility.
- Identify and address critical water & wastewater infrastructure needs.
- Support the modernization of the region’s energy grid, renewable assets and natural gas connections.
WELLNESS AND HEALTHCARE
- Support proven methods of coordinated and quality-driven care that achieve efficiencies in the delivery of services across the care continuum.
- Maintain the ability of healthcare providers to meet the healthcare needs of the community by managing the availability of services.
- Encourage public-private activation to achieve goals identified in local Community Health Needs Assessments/Live Well Wake initiative.
- Increase access to affordable health insurance options/Association Health Care Plans.
