Chamber Legislative Agenda

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Economic Development

• Support incentives, proven to encourage businesses to invest and expand their operations in Bulloch County.
• Support extension of job tax credits for businesses creating rural remote positions.
• Support local and state government providing appropriate funding mechanisms, such as Tax Allocation Districts.
• Encourage companies receiving public dollars to utilize local vendors/contractors/subcontractors.
• Support legislation that waives certain fees for start-up businesses to expand our entrepreneurial footprint.
• Support and encourage business incubator developments.
• Advocate for local and state government to adopt business-friendly zoning and ordinances.
• Position Chamber to be convener of community and regional stakeholders for purposes of strategic planning.

Education & Workforce

• Support expansion of early learning access and affordability of quality rated child care and Georgia PreK.
• Support early (Birth-toddler) literacy efforts of school district and other organizations.
• Support curriculum modification to ensure students are prepared at an early age with skills they will need to be competitive in the workforce. Those skills include computer science, data fluency, coding and cybersecurity, partnering with local business and industry to identify future job requirements and emerging skill sets.
• Support programs that address learning loss, encouraging regular, formative assessments.
• Support increased student services such as counselors, school social workers, psychologists and health technicians.
• Support funding for school-based instructional technology infrastructure and resources to increase education and graduation outcomes.
• Encourage CTAE pathway alignment and equitable access to meet talent demands, working with business and industry partners.
• Support expansion of CTAE pathways in cybersecurity and entrepreneurship.
• Support options in the school system that address the different needs of students, such as career academies, work-based learning, apprenticeships and internships.
• Promote policies that increase awareness and access to higher ed options, as well as the return on investment of a degree program based on anticipated income.
• Support partnership among families, schools, and the business community to promote and prepare local students and graduates to fill the demand for a highly skilled, competitive workforce.
• Promote programs such as Department of Labor services, QuickStart and Worksource, using the current labor market to meet local talent demands.
• Support state-level incentives in higher ed that enhance the mission of Ogeechee Technical College, East Georgia State College and Georgia Southern University. 

Infrastructure

• Support advancement of city and county transportation infrastructure, using TSPLOST funds.
• Support development of local public transportation.
• Support continued strategic investment of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to Georgia’s transportation network.
• Support the expansion of fiberoptics throughout the county.
• Support state initiatives to bring broadband internet access to underserved areas of Bulloch County.

Water, Energy & Environment

• Support effective stormwater management systems, policies and local ordinances that improve water quality and mitigate negative environmental impacts.
• Monitor the statewide water planning process, so the plan protects water resources for economic development.
• Support the continuation of improvements in the permitting process so permits are issued at the speed of business.
• Ensure EPD is responsive, providing timely guidance, facilitation and coordination of permit review and issuance to businesses.
• Advocate for a clean, safe, reliable, affordable and diverse energy portfolio in Georgia.

Healthcare

• Encourage investment in the advancement of secure health information technology for efficient delivery of services and patient safety.
• Support wellness initiatives and disease prevention to control healthcare costs.
• Support local hospitals and emergency medical providers by requesting improved reimbursement levels for Medicaid providers.
• Support policies and incentives that promote the development of a talented and qualified workforce across the healthcare field.
• Support the utilization of association health plans to decrease costs and increase access for small businesses.

Agriculture

• Support legislative policies that support the prosperity of rural agriculture business and industry.
• Support comprehensive strategies to promote and market agriculture as our number 1 industry.
• Support federal visa and immigration reform to access global talent for the agriculture field.
• Support refugee hiring to fill critical demands of agriculture related job vacancies.

Housing

• Support incentives for investments to revitalize neighborhoods with distressed properties.
• Support local housing rehabilitation initiatives to renovate and construct affordable housing.
• Support the Georgia Chamber and Hub Chamber Council to conduct housing studies that will review and recommend local housing policies.

Public Safety

• Support funding for the mental health crisis in Georgia.
• Support the BCSD and Statesboro Police to place resource officers in each local school.
• Encourage programs in local schools to connect students with county-wide safety resources.