As we move on from the 2023 State Legislative Session, it is important to not only celebrate some of this year’s legislative successes but also note the importance of being strategic and deliberate in how we go about setting, educating our members and Legislators, and advocating for the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce’s State Legislative priorities.
This year, we saw several of our priority issues addressed, including the passage of medical malpractice reform via a $2 million cap on noneconomic damages, a $5 million cap on noneconomic damages for commercial trucking companies, childcare assistance that expands eligibility, and increases reimbursement rates for half-day childcare, internet/sports gaming receipts to allot $7 million in sports wagering funds to the state’s general fund to strengthen the Endow Iowa Tax Credit, creation of a levee improvement fund, the Registered Apprenticeship Act, positively impacting the Governor’s state reorganization bill, and IEDA’s technical budget, which includes changes to the renewable chemical tax credit and the innovation fund and adds an Iowa distillery representative to the renamed “Wine, Beer, and Spirits Promotion Board.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, we saw a few bills fall short this year, meaning a renewed focus on them in 2024. These include the Mega Sites Program, Land Redevelopment Trusts, and Port Authorities, to name a few. These, in addition to property tax, will be focal points heading into the 2024 Session and will require additional advocacy and education in the interim. Proactivity and a unified approach from business advocacy groups and our partners will be key to ensuring we achieve our objectives and impact these issues in the most meaningful way possible.
This places the CB Chamber and our partner organizations in a great position to lead in advocating for each of these policy issues. Chambers and economic development organizations can be the convener of all interested and affected parties to ensure all Legislators are armed with the best information possible to move these issues forward. We will all need to lead in this effort to bring applicable parties together to discuss the implications and benefits of these complex issues and provide an immense value-add to our members, investors, and partners in the process.
Therefore, expect the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce to empower the Public Policy Committee and membership, even more, to provide their thoughts and insight regarding priority issues, and take that information and create the best priorities and strategy possible heading into the 2024 Session.
In closing, this Legislative Session showed us many things, but the importance of being thoughtful and proactive in advocating for our priority issues, while being the mission-driven community convener and voice of the local business community, will be of the utmost importance.
We look forward to these policy discussions and are honored to advocate on behalf of our 650 members and amazing community. We do not take being the voice of the Southwest Iowa business community lightly, and we appreciate all our members and communities do to support our work!
June 13: Coffee and Contacts
Coffee and conversation with CB Chamber members
June 16: Impact CB Young Professionals Foodie Friday
Enjoy lunch and networking with area young professionals
June 20: Women Inspiring Women – Overcoming Obstacles with Beth Shelton
Networking event with local female leaders
June 21: CB Chamber Mid-Year Meeting and Leadership Graduation
Mid-Year synopsis and Leadership CB graduation
June 27: Chamber Mixer at Bent Tree Golf Club
Network with CB Chamber members over a drink
June 28: Executive Women’s Partnership
Professional development with local female executives
June 28: Workforce Power Hour
Workforce Recruiting and Retention
CHAMBER GROWTH
As the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce looks to the future and works to continually grow our membership and program and service offerings, we will be holding a membership drive on Wednesday, May 31st from 1 PM to 5 PM at Horseshoe Casino. It will be followed by a celebration from 5 PM to 7 PM.
We are extremely fortunate to have a strong and supportive Board of Directors, membership, and community, and we are excited to work with our partners to grow our footprint in a way that will allow us to have an even greater impact in our region.
As a way to continue to serve and demonstrate value to our members, the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce a new strategic partnership with Livability Media, a premier community marketing partner to promote Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, and Southwest Iowa on a national stage in an effort to attract new residents and employees to our great employers and community!
The publication will feature 70% editorial copy, which is an opportunity to tell Council Bluffs’ story on the national stage, and 30% promotional copy, which is an opportunity for our local private, public, and nonprofit partners to market their organizations in an effort to attract new talent to the region.
Chambers across the country have turned to Livability to assist in their talent attraction and relocation efforts and the CB Chamber is proud to provide this opportunity to the Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County community.
This truly is an exciting opportunity to tell our amazing story and attract new talent to the area. We look forward to working with our members and community partners on this venture and appreciate their ongoing support of, and investment in, the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce.
Address: 149 West Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Contact Us: (712) 325-1000 | drew@councilbluffsiowa.com
Website: www.councilbluffsiowa.com
Social Media: www.facebook.com/CouncilBluffsChamber
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