Page 19 - Chester County Chamber - 2024 Guide & Membership Directory

Advocacy, Connections & Community | chescochamber.org
IF ANY CHAMBER MEMBERS ARE INTERESTED IN
CONTRIBUTING TO ADVOCACY WORK, HOW DO YOU
SUGGEST THEY GO ABOUT THAT?
Rahn: We’d love to have them at the monthly GAC meetings. That’s really the starting spot.
Boruchowitz: We definitely encourage more participation with GAC. One of the biggest
things I’ve noticed since I’ve become Chair is that there isn’t a lot of feedback we’re getting
in terms of legislation to be followed, so if there’s one thing to be taken away, we want folks
to make their voices heard. The Chamber and I don’t know all the issues — we need to hear
from our members. If we don’t know it’s an issue, we can’t advocate for it.
KEY ADVOCACY ISSUES
Here are just a few of the topics that the
Chester County Chamber’s advocacy work
focuses on.
» Improving the Business Tax
Structure. Recent bipartisan legislation
has significantly improved Pennsylvania’s
corporate tax rates. The Chamber will
continue to advocate for comprehensive
reform of the state’s overall tax structure
to stimulate economic growth, grow our
DO YOU NEED A LETTER
OF SUPPORT? THE CHAMBER
PROVIDES THEM
One of the most impactful ways the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry
supports its employer-members is by providing letters and other types of support for
projects, such as grant and loan applications.
This type of support plays a crucial role in strengthening funding requests when businesses,
nonprofits or other organizations seek financial or programmatic assistance from local, state
and federal governments. By leveraging the Chamber’s established credibility, contacts and
regional influence, these letters demonstrate the broad community backing and confidence
in the applicant’s mission, capabilities and potential for impact.
When the Chamber endorses a project, it highlights the applicant’s alignment with
community goals, economic development initiatives and overall contributions to the region.
Government agencies and grant reviewers take notice when a recognized organization like
the Chamber advocates for a project, knowing it represents the collective voice of local
business leaders and community stakeholders. This added layer of support can make a
significant difference in securing competitive funding, as it reflects the Chamber’s belief in
the viability and importance of the applicant’s work.
Additionally, the Chamber’s involvement sends a message of collaboration and partnership.
It signals that the applicant is not working in isolation, but rather is part of a larger network
of organizations committed to driving positive change and economic growth. Whether
it’s helping a small business access critical resources, or aiding a nonprofit in advancing a
community-focused mission, the Chamber’s letters of support amplify the applicant’s case
and strengthen their likelihood of success in securing funding at all levels of government.
This past year, the Chamber wrote letters of support for a variety of members: Chester
County Intermediate Unit, Chester County History Center, Delaware County Community
College, the Valley Forge Park Alliance, Chester County 250, Comcast and more.
Reach out to President and CEO Laura Manion at
laura@chescochamber.org to share how we can make an
impact for your business with a letter of support.
population and retain businesses.
» Regulatory Reform. The Chamber
advocates for more transparency in the
permitting process, decreasing the amount
of time spent approving submitted permits,
and more consistent results.
» Modern, Safe, Reliable
Infrastructure. The Chamber advocates
at the local, state and federal levels for
improved conditions, capacity, operations,
maintenance, safety and resilience of roads
and mass transit.
» Responsible Development. Chester
County is consistently ranked as one of
the best places to live in the country, but
affordable and quality housing continues
to be an issue. The Chamber advocates for
our elected officials, businesses and the
community to work toward appropriate
land use regulations to allow residents and
businesses to thrive in Chester County.
» Employment/Education. A well-
educated and skilled workforce is the key
to success in any economy. The Chamber
encourages elected officials to work on
creating programs that lead to skilled
employees, as well as incentivizing and
retaining college graduates in the region.
» Childcare. Childcare costs have
skyrocketed for families and there is a
shortage of providers. The Chamber calls
on the General Assembly to work with
the childcare industry and business on a
multistep strategy to address this crisis.
For more on these and other issues, and
to read the Chamber’s 2024 Legislative
Agenda, go to chescochamber.org/
advocacy.
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