The Chamber’s 2009 public policy agenda is guided by four primary goals—strengthening Greater Boston’s workforce, business climate, critical industries and infrastructure. The goals are outlined below, together with the issues and initiatives that are key to achieving each of them:
1) Strengthening Greater Boston’s Workforce—So that members can hire, and retain, the talented workers so important to success:
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Talent Development & Retention – Expanding the skilled worker pipeline via talent retention efforts with the Boston Federal Reserve Bank, science-math education initiatives, and strengthened business-academia relations.
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Minority Professional Development – Expanding opportunities for minority-owned businesses in the region via the Chamber’s partnership with the Initiative for a New Economy.
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Housing – Spurring workforce housing production by securing long-term funding and incentives in Chapters 40R and 40S, while preserving affordable housing statutes such as Chapter 40B.
2) Making Greater Boston’s Business Climate More Competitive—So that members can compete successfully against firms located in other regions, states and countries:
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Health Care Costs–Curbing health care inflation via payment reform, electronic medical records, and administrative simplification measures, developed in partnership with business and health care leaders.
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Energy Costs–Ensuring pro-competitive implementation of laws promoting energy alternatives and regulating greenhouse emissions, while working to increase the regional energy supply.
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Corporate Taxation – Extending net-operating loss (NOL) and other tax reforms to all industries to drive growth in both traditional and entrepreneurial sectors.
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Unemployment Insurance – Targeting inequities and lowering unemployment insurance costs via systemic reform of the experience rating.
3) Strengthening Critical Industries—To promote the growth of the region’s economic engines, expanding opportunity for Greater Boston companies and workers:
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Life Sciences – Furthering development of the critical life sciences cluster through targeted tax credits, pro-research reporting guidelines, expanded federal research funding, and H-1B visa reform.
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Financial Services – Strengthening the financial services industry – one of the region’s largest – via enactment of reasonable data privacy and industry oversight regulations, and skilled workforce training.
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Federal Research Funding – Driving federal research funding growth – particularly in key accounts such as DOD, NIH, NSF, DOE, NASA, and DHS – with a national, Chamber-led coalition.
4) Fixing Greater Boston’s Infrastructure—So that the region’s roads, bridges and public transportation facilities are on a par with our strongest competitors:
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Transportation Finance – Advancing funding mechanisms and structural cost reforms across transportation agencies, while prioritizing and promoting infrastructure improvements.
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Development – Promoting the development of districts and land uses that are important to the growth of Greater Boston’s leading industries, including the South Boston Waterfront.
Through enhanced collaboration with business groups, expanded legislative outreach, and a focus on job creation, the Chamber will continue to work to improve the economic future of all who live and work in the Greater Boston region.
For more information on the Chamber’s policy agenda, contact Tim Sweeney, director of public policy, at 617-557-7325.
