This is an important election year locally, statewide and nationally, coupled with a short session of the N.C. General Assembly. In addition, one-third of the N.C. Senate will be leaving in 2016 due to retirement and legislators leaving office to return full-time to the private sector. With the N.C. House divided over controversial issues and redistricting maps still in the courts, the political landscape isn’t shaping up to be favorable for new, inventive legislation. Most likely, caution will be the prevailing wind.
With these realities in mind, the Wilmington Chamber Executive Committee developed our 2016 Public Policy Agenda through a strategic planning process led by Mick Fleming, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives; by consulting Business Alliance for a Sound Economy (BASE) and other stakeholders; and through input from chamber members on issues affecting their ability to do business. The agenda is structured to ensure that the chamber remains focused on promoting business growth and facilitating investment in the community. We will continue to focus on supporting initiatives that will encourage a pro-business environment and oppose those that are harmful to the area’s economic climate, especially in regard to rebuilding our dwindling manufacturing sector.
The scope of the 2016 Public Policy Agenda is evidence of the numerous opportunities and challenges that exist regarding economic development. With four main focus areas, the agenda ranges from advocating for sustainable funding sources for our beaches to supporting the creation of a career technical education (CTE) high school. The items included are all supportive and encouraging stances, except for one that is in opposition.
Below are the four main focus areas for 2016:
Regionalism
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