The Quad Cities Chamber has set its 2023 Regional Advocacy Priorities centered around business and economic growth; placemaking and place management; and talent attraction and development.
In addition, now that the 2023 legislative sessions are open in both Illinois and Iowa, Rhonda Ludwig, the chamber’s government affairs director, plans to share a quick video each week recapping the legislative sessions and what’s on the horizon as it relates to those regional priorities.
The chamber also will kick off its Legislative Event Series at 8 a.m., Friday, Jan. 20, at Bally’s Quad Cities in Rock Island. It’s a chance to hear from more than dozen Illinois and Iowa state representatives and senators, some of them new to their posts.
In a recent news release, the chamber said that through its “ambitious goals” for the region’s business community “we are committed to advocating for local, state and federal public policies which enhance our economic competitiveness, increase investment, and benefit our members and the region.”
This year’s Regional Advocacy Priorities are:
Business & Economic Growth – Supporting existing businesses and attract new investments and jobs via:
- Protecting economic development programs and incentives which stimulate economic growth and encourage investment in technology and innovation.
- Advocating for tax reform that allows for fiscal stability, growth and creates a level playing field for businesses on both sides of the river.
- Ensuring regulatory stability and predictability and supporting employment policies that make the region more competitive and oppose those that create an undue burden on employers.
- Supporting policies that advance clean, affordable and reliable energy sources.
Placemaking & Place Management
Building a community where people want to live and work by:
- Continuing to advocate for Illinois and Iowa to recognize placemaking as a priority for a workforce attraction and retention policy.
- Supporting permanent large-scale investment programs that lead to transformative community projects and drive tourism and industry.
- Leveraging the Mississippi River and developing a unique and cohesive riverfront that provides a holistic regional experience for residents and visitors.
- Supporting incentives that aid in the redevelopment of distressed areas and blighted properties.
- Maximizing and leveraging state and federal dollars to create a multimodal transportation system that enhances regional connectivity and elevates the social and economic health of the region.
- Creating livable and pedestrian-friendly communities through a policy that requires new and redevelopment projects to adhere to Complete Streets design standards.
Talent Attraction & Development
Attracting and retaining qualified people by:
- Creating an environment that attracts and supports the workforce by crafting and implementing policies that help solve employee needs, such as childcare and affordable housing.
- Supporting policies that increase collaboration between educators and employers in developing apprenticeships and other training programs.
- Identifying disparities in public benefit programs and advocating for those which do not create a cliff effect and disincentivize job/career development.
- Supporting second-chance employment policies to provide opportunities to grow our regional workforce.
- Supporting efforts to maximize the potential of higher education in the Quad Cities.
- Supporting measures to expand bistate training, certification, reciprocity and credentialing.
