In order to highlight the key areas by which the organization judges current issues, we released a Core Principles document in 2019. This document outlines our position on key issues that face local, state and federal governing bodies. However, the items discussed are generally very broad and don't change on a regular basis.
In order to address specific issues being decided in a more immediate timeline, the Chamber has adopted both a Federal and State Agenda for each of the past two years. These feature things like airport funding, military issues and METL priorities, as well as funding for Kansas State University and other educational entities. For the first time, the organization is considering a local agenda. The organization's Business Advocacy Committee (BAC) is developing a draft document that will be consider by the board this spring.
Key topics include Chamber priorities such as growth, entrepreneurship, workforce housing, child care and business park expansion. Additionally, the BAC is recommending positions on economic development, infrastructure, annexation and ongoing special projects. All of these will be filtered through the lenses of business, growth and economic prosperity.
If you have comments or suggestions, let me know. Please know that the BAC and board leadership have had the opportunity to review the Chamber survey from September in order to understand the general feelings of our membership. We asked you all to give a rating of 1 to 5 on the 10 key local issues. The average score was as follows:
4.58 - Economic Development
4.27 - Tourism
4.27 - Taxes
4.21 - Investments in Growth
4.17 - Issues that Drive up Cost of Living
4.12 - Fiscal Accountability and Transparency
4.12 - Stagnation in Community Growth
4.01 - Collaboration and Cooperation between Agencies
3.87 - Regulatory Issues Related to Development
3.48 - Annexation
We will notify you of the final results of the agenda so you can let local officials know the key issues that impact growth and economic development for our region.