Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce: Public Policy Guide

This set of standards for the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce gives members and the public an understanding of policies the Chamber feels is important. The Chamber advocates for a strong and sustainable business environment and efforts to maintain a high quality of life for the community. 

The Chamber's public policy scope of work focuses on seven key areas: Education & Workforce, Transportation & Infrastructure, Taxation, Legal & Regulatory Affairs, Economic Prosperity, Military Assets, and Natural Resources. Our policy reflects the voices of the membership while taking into consideration the influence the Southwest Valley Chamber has on the West Valley, Western Maricopa County, and at the State Capital. 

The Southwest Valley Chamber will continue working closely with the Cities of Avondale, Goodyear, Litchfield Park, and Tolleson on issues and initiatives important to our economy and community. The Chamber's public policy guide provides another level of support for the members, our cities, stakeholders, and partners. Print version.
Education & Workforce
  • Support policies that ensure our students have an opportunity for a robust career.
  • Advocate for high academic achievement and accountability at every educational level.
  • Emphasis on the importance of job training across all industries and professions with the appropriate skills that support an effective and knowledgeable workforce for today and into the future.
  • Encourage a focus on Career and Technical Education and Industry certifications.

Transportation & Infrastructure
  • Support for a high quality and well-maintained road system, which is critical to our community's economic stability and a fiscally responsible plan for expanding our road system to meet future demand.
  • Advocate for legislation, regulations, and policies that meet or exceed the needs of the community by maintaining existing electric, water, fiber optic, telecommunications, and other systems while planning for future demand in a responsible way.

Taxation
  • Support continuous improvement of the Arizona Department of Revenue policies and procedures to ensure tax collection accuracy and ease of use for taxpayers.
  • Support a taxation system that is globally competitive, fair, consistent, easily administered, and equitable to attract new investments, bring new jobs to the community and State of Arizona, and strengthen the position of businesses currently operating in the community and State.
  • Promote the need for a balance between taxes and revenue by encouraging legislators to first identify and implement sound, permanent reductions in government spending before considering a tax increase.
  • Encourage legislators to understand fee increases, hidden taxes, fund sweeps, rollovers, and cost shifting have similar or the same impact as tax increases on businesses and the community.

Legal & Regulatory Affairs
  • Inform and remind legislators that any law, regulation, or rule that negatively impacts the ability for a business owner/manager to hire, terminate, retain employees, obtain licenses, acquire funding, or otherwise impede the ownership and operations process is an unnecessary burden on private enterprise, has the potential to inhibit the commerce cycle, and possibly disrupt local, state, and national economies.
  • Support legislation that protects businesses from frivolous lawsuits.
  • Inform, encourage, and collaborate with the Arizona Congressional delegation to streamline the regulatory process to improve Arizona's ability to compete on a national and global level as part of the effort to strengthen our economy and quality of life while deterring actions that negatively impact Arizona and our uniqueness as a State.

Economic Prosperity
  • Support efforts to brand Arizona and the Southwest Valley as a favorable environment for tourism, business development and acquisition, operations, expansion, and job creation.
  • Strengthen Arizona’s economy by encouraging increased public-private partnerships.

Military Assets
  • Continue working with the Arizona Congressional Delegation and business community to promote Arizona’s military installations and emphasize the ability of these installations to take on new missions, when appropriate.

Natural Resources
  • Support comprehensive State and Federal solutions that protect Arizona’s present and future water supply for sustained economic development and sound community growth.
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