PUBLIC POLICY AGENDA
One SouthCoast Chamber will advocate for and support legislation and initiatives that improve the business climate and overall quality of life for the South Coast region, educate the membership on issues of importance and when necessary, actively work to defeat legislation that adversely affects the business community. The One SouthCoast Chamber is fully committed to being engaged on the local, state and federal levels.
The Chamber has a responsibility to its members to review pending legislation and regulations for its impact on their financial well-being and, if necessary, develop public positions that speak on their behalf.
Our advocacy efforts are designed to fulfill nine core priority areas: economic development, education and workforce, energy, public infrastructure, regulatory reform, competitiveness, healthcare, and housing.
Economic Development:
- Advocate for increased investments in regional economic development and technical assistance funding at the state and federal levels; promote a stronger sense of regionalization among cities and towns throughout the South Coast.
- Promote a positive local business climate that encourages growth, entrepreneurship and pay equity.
- Diversification of the local, state and federal economy; continued growth and advocacy centered around the base industries of the South Coast region.
- Advocate for reduced burden on businesses related to wage compression and business-funded mandates.
- Advocate for increased visibility of the region for business attraction.
Education & Workforce:
- Strengthening internship and co-op opportunities for our local high school and college students, both in an office environment as well as in the trades.
- Supporting educational opportunities and programs that provide high-quality education and resources to students.
- Promote the recruitment, retention and training needs of our workforce through continued partnerships with employers, workforce boards, educational institutions and private sector training.
- Support the expansion of access to early childhood education and care.
- Promote and advocate for quality early childhood education and development.
- Support expansion of early college options for South Coast high school students.
Energy:
- Advocate for diverse cost-effective energy policies that help retain and attract business
- Support the Offshore Wind industry as an economic driver for the region as both a staging area and supply chain.
- Support efforts to modernize the grid.
Public Infrastructure:
- Promote investments in transportation such as roads, bridges, and maritime infrastructure throughout our region.
- Advocate for State Piers/port issues at the local, state and federal level.
- Advocate for domestic commercial flight expansion and economic development opportunities at the New Bedford Regional Airport.
- Industrial, business and technology park improvements and promotion.
Regulatory Reform:
- Promote smart regulations to ensure workplace safety & protect public health.
- Promote economic development by reducing red tape and timely permitting and zoning processes
- Advocate for flexibility to allow businesses to thrive post-pandemic
Competitiveness
- Advocate for reduced taxation at the municipal, state, and federal levels.
- Raise awareness of factors that increase the cost of living in MA, such as energy, healthcare, childcare, and housing.
- Advocate to reduce the burden on employer taxes, such as Unemployment and Paid Family Medical Leave.
Healthcare
- Government must minimize health care disruptions by acting as a good business partner.
- Advocate for strong public health as it relates to both the workplace and community at large.
- Promote the continued viability and quality of our community hospitals, health centers and medical centers
- Advocate for policy that would support healthcare staffing challenges.
Housing
- Advocate for housing production and development in all communities on the South Coast.
Encourage development of all levels of housing with a focu