The Greenville Chamber's Legislative Agenda was released at our annual Legislative Breakfast December 12th. The Agenda is driven by results from a membership-wide survey of our 2300+ members, input from our Legislative Issues Committee, and additional input and approval by the Chamber’s Board of Directors. It reflects the Greenville business community’s legislative priorities for the year 2014. Click here to download a PDF of the 2014 Legislative Agenda.

Economic Development

The Chamber is an advocate of developing and implementing a comprehensive statewide economic development plan that focuses on creating jobs of the future, business retention, and incentives for high-growth companies. The Greenville Chamber supports: •    Incentives to support existing business growth and new company attraction •    Passing legislation to help spur economic growth, in particular access to capital for small businesses •    Funding for the South Carolina Department of Commerce, including Closing Fund appropriations •    Continued port expansion, including harbor deepening and inland port projects •    Dedicated funding and stable revenue for state road maintenance and repair •    Increasing investment in Upstate roads and bridges, specifically I-85 and I-26 •    Adequate state funding for Upstate tourism •    Adopting initiatives to improve South Carolina’s civil litigation climate •    Achieving business-friendly, comprehensive tax reform by modernizing the state’s tax code

Education and Workforce Development

The Chamber believes that life-long education is a driver of economic development. By striving to create a skilled workforce that has the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the needs of businesses, education will become the dynamic force behind business in the Upstate. The Greenville Chamber supports: •    Initiatives that will help to increase early childhood education, STEM education and graduation rates, thus providing a more skilled workforce for business and industry in South Carolina •    Strengthening and adequate funding for programs to educate and train South Carolina’s workforce, including WorkKeys,  ReadySC, Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) certificate, and SmartState •    Funding for the Greenville Technical College Center for Manufacturing Innovation (Enterprise Campus) •    The Clemson University Enterprise Act

Energy and Environment

The Chamber understands that steps need to be taken to ensure new, innovative ideas are being developed for energy use and consumption that can be utilized without causing unnecessary harm to the environment. The Greenville Chamber supports: •    Initiatives to insure compliance with EPA air quality standards that promote development without compromising quality of life •    Current and future nuclear power facilities while focusing on offshore wind-power and drilling opportunities •    The economic vitality of the Upstate by ensuring adequate water supplies for future generations through an open and collaborative planning process

Healthcare

The Chamber recognizes that health insurance access and affordability continues to be an issue for businesses throughout the state, especially small businesses. The Greenville Chamber supports: •    Initiatives to ensure healthcare is affordable for small businesses •    Continuing to monitor and gather information as it relates to federal Medicaid expansion and working with interested parties to find a viable solution for South Carolina

Regulatory Reform

The Chamber recognizes that regulatory policies have a massive impact on the cost and affordability of doing business in South Carolina and the Upstate. The Greenville Chamber supports: •    Streamlining and combining of agencies and different departments within the state to improve government efficiency •    Continued efforts to ensure South Carolina remains a right to work state •    Continued efforts to reform unemployment benefit qualifications and continued repayment of federal UI loan while providing adequate relief to all SC businesses