Georgia Chamber Of Commercefoundation Inc

THE GEORGIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION UNDERTAKES ACTIVITIES, WHICH EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON SUBJECTS USEFUL TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY THE FOUNDATION PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON THE ISSUES OF HEALTH CARE AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA. THE FOUNDATION PROMOTES DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES IN GEORGIA WHICH ADDRESS THE CRISIS IN HEALTH CARE FINANCING AND ITS IMPACT ON GEORGIA BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYEES. THE FOUNDATION ALSO IS INVOLVED IN ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE THE TRAINING AND MARKETABILITY OF GEORGIA'S WORK FORCE TO BRING HEALTHY ECONOMIC GROWTH TO ALL PARTS OF THE STATE

IN 2022, THE GEORGIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION (THE FOUNDATION) WAS INTEGRAL IN SETTING THE LONG-TERM STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BY EXAMINING EMERGING TRENDS AND PERFORMING POLICY AND DATA ANALYSIS. THIS YEAR THE FOUNDATION WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR: 7 AMICUS BRIEFS 19 FOUNDATION BRIEFINGS 24 POLICY COMMITTEE MEETINGS288 POLICY COMMITTEE MEMBERS 11,400 SURVEY RESPONSES FROM BUSINESS LEADERS BUILDING ON THE WORK OF GEORGIA 2030, THE FOUNDATION HAS CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT ITS STRATEGIC PLAN, THE NEW GEORGIA ECONOMY TO EXAMINE OPPORTUNITIES AND RISKS THAT ACCOMPANY THE ADVENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND INNOVATION. THE NEW GEORGIA ECONOMY HAS THREE CORE AREAS WHICH INCLUDE ADDRESSING OUR WORKFORCE SHORTAGES AND BUILDING LONG-TERM TALENT PIPELINES, DEVELOPING INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE FUTURE, AND CREATING A MORE DYNAMIC, DIVERSE ECONOMY. TWO NEW MEMBER COUNCILS WERE LAUNCHED IN 2022. THE HUB CHAMBER COUNCIL IS A WORKING POLICY COUNCIL COMPRISED OF THE LEADERS OF 11 METROPOLITAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE ACROSS GEORGIA. EACH HAS VOLUNTEERED TO COME TOGETHER IN ORDER TO RESEARCH AND BETTER UNDERSTAND ISSUES THAT AFFECT BUSINESS IN ALL REGIONS THAT EACH CHAMBER REPRESENTS, AS WELL AS TO CREATE A COMMON POLICY PLATFORM REGARDING THESE ISSUES. THE COUNCIL COLLABORATES WITH REGIONAL AND STATE DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC AND POLICY EXPERTS AND INTEREST GROUPS TO ACT AS A VOICE TO INFLUENCE STATE POLICY GOALS AND STRIVES TO DO BEST FOR BUSINESS IN GEORGIA. FOCUS AREAS OF THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION INCLUDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING, FUTURE FORWARD INFRASTRUCTURE, DEFENSE COMMUNITIES SECURITY & VETERANS AFFAIRS AND FISCAL SECURITY. THIS GROUP ISSUES ITS OWN LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND POLICY STATEMENTS. THE SECOND MEMBER COUNCIL THAT WAS LAUNCHED WAS THE MANUFACTURING AND INDUSTRY COUNCIL. THIS GROUP WILL BE DISTINCT FROM OTHER INTERNAL CHAMBER GROUPS DUE TO ITS FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON GEORGIA'S MANUFACTURING SECTOR. THIS GROUP WILL BE KEPT ABREAST OF OTHER CHAMBER INITIATIVES OF INTEREST, ALLOWING COUNCIL MEMBERS TO LEVERAGE THEIR MEMBERSHIP TO ADVANCE THOSE THAT SPECIFICALLY IMPACT THE INDUSTRY AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. THIS GROUP WILL BE DISTINCT FROM OTHER EXTERNAL GROUPS IN THAT IT WILL FOREMOST FOCUS ON POLICY DEVELOPMENT BASED ON FINDINGS FROM DATA, RESEARCH, AND BEST PRACTICES. THROUGH THE THOUGHTFUL CONVENING OF GEORGIA'S TOP MANUFACTURERS, THE POLICY SOLUTIONS WILL BE ADVANCED THROUGH LEGISLATIVE AND AGENCY ACTIONS AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS. THIS GROUP'S PRIMARY OBJECTIVES WILL NOT CENTER AROUND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR NETWORKING. THE GOALS OF THE COUNCIL ARE AS FOLLOWS INCLUDING THEIR 2022 PRIORITY AREAS: GOALS:- TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.- CREATE QUALITY CURATED CONTENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF MEMBERS, PARTNERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC FEATURING THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AND SHOWCASING ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT. - DEVELOP POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL ACTION. - ADVANCE BUSINESS BEST PRACTICES AND RESEARCH TO PROVIDE BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE. - PROVIDE DATA, STATISTICS, AND RESEARCH REGARDING GEORGIA'S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO BOLSTER INDUSTRY GROWTH THROUGHOUT THE STATE. - TO CONVENE MANUFACTURERS TO DISCUSS EMERGING CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES. - FACILITATE DRAFTING OF LEGISLATION IN CONCERT WITH GAC WHEN NECESSARY. - EXAMINE LEGISLATIVE TRENDS IN SURROUNDING STATES TO BETTER PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL STATE AND LOCAL ACTION IN GEORGIA, INCLUDING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE IMPACTS. - SPECIFIC AREAS OF FOCUS WILL BE DETERMINED BY COUNCIL LEADERSHIP WITH FULL COUNCIL INPUT EACH YEAR. IN 2023, THIS GROUP WILL FOCUS ON: - TALENT DEVELOPMENT - WORKFORCE HOUSING - SUPPLY CHAIN THE FOUNDATION FOCUSED ON THE WAR FOR TALENT A GREAT DEAL IN 2022 BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE TOP CONCERN FOR MEMBER COMPANIES. TO THAT END, THE FOUNDATION ISSUED A WAR FOR TALENT REPORT IN JANUARY OUTLINING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICYMAKERS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR BUSINESS LEADERS. ADDITIONALLY, FOUNDATION STAFF ENGAGED WITH SEVERAL EXTERNAL GROUPS TO ADDRESS THE WAR FOR TALENT AT THE K-12, POST-SECONDARY, AND WORKFORCE LEVELS. ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DEEPER LEARNING COALITION FOCUSED ON CREATING RICHER LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR K-12 STUDENTS THAT ARE TIED TO REAL WORLD EXPERIENCES. WORKING THE ACHIEVE ATLANTA PEER WORK GROUP, ENABLED CONVERSATIONS FOCUSED ON HOW TO INCREASE PERSISTENCE AND COMPLETION FOR THOSE IN HIGHER EDUCATION AS WELL AS HOW TO FACILITATE STRONGER LINKS TO THE WORKFORCE. FOUNDATION STAFF WORKED WITH THE GEORGIA HOUSE HIGHER EDUCATION WORKFORCE SUBCOMMITTEE TO HAVE MEMBER COMPANIES TESTIFY TO THE SIGNIFICANT WORKFORCE SHORTAGES THAT WERE BEING EXPERIENCED AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE. IN 2022, THE CHAMBER FOUNDATION BEGAN A NEW EFFORT FOCUSED ON ACCESS TO HOUSING AND HOMEOWNERSHIP. GEORGIA CHAMBER MEMBERS REPORTED HAVING ISSUES RECRUITING AND RETAINING TALENT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT SUFFICIENT HOUSING STOCK AND HOME PRICES HAVE RISEN SIGNIFICANTLY. FOUNDATION STAFF TESTIFIED TO THE GEORGIA HOUSE STUDY COMMITTEE ON HOUSING ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY. A KEY PART OF THE FOUNDATION IS THE POLICY COMMITTEES WHICH EXAMINE POLICY ACTIVITY OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND GLOBALLY TO IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES. EACH POLICY COMMITTEE DEVELOPED STRATEGIC AREAS OF FOCUS FOR THE COMING YEAR. THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS: BUSINESS CLIMATE COMMITTEE THE GEORGIA CHAMBER'S BUSINESS CLIMATE COMMITTEE EXAMINES POLICIES RELATED TO STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING GEORGIA'S BUSINESS-FRIENDLY CLIMATE AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES. BROADLY, THE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS TOPICS RELATED TO TAX STRUCTURE, PRO-GROWTH POLICIES, AND REGULATIONS SUCH AS MAINTAINING RIGHT TO WORK LAWS. IN 2023 THE COMMITTEE WILL FOCUS ON: - ECONOMIC TRENDS - SUPPLY CHAIN - INCENTIVES - TAX POLICY TRENDS - INNOVATIONS IN MANUFACTURING - WORKFORCE PIPELINE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES THE COMMITTEE ANALYZES AND ADVOCATES ON FEDERAL AND STATE ENERGY, CONSERVATION, WATER AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ISSUES. THE COMMITTEE ACTIVELY RESPONDS TO FEDERAL AND STATE RULEMAKING PROPOSALS. THE COMMITTEE ALSO WORKS WITH MEMBERS OF THE CONSERVATION COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE ENDANGERED SPECIES AND RELATED POLICIES, INCLUDING THE RECENT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1, THE GEORGIA OUTDOOR STEWARDSHIP ACT. IN 2023 THE COMMITTEE WILL FOCUS ON: - LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ELECTRIC MOBILITY - CLIMATE CHANGE - EPA/ EPD RULEMAKING - AGRICULTURE HEALTH AND WELLNESS HEALTHCARE IS NOT ONLY A CONCERN FOR BUSINESSES, BUT IT IS INCREASINGLY AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUE FOR COMMUNITIES. THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMITTEE HAS CONTINUED TO BUILD ON THE WORK OF THE GEORGIA CHAMBER'S HEALTHCARE ACCESS STUDY EXAMINING WAYS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE AND IMPROVE THE WAY CARE IS DELIVERED TO CREATE BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES. IN 2023 THE COMMITTEE WILL FOCUS ON: - IMPROVING HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES - GEORGIA'S HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE - MENTAL HEALTH - AFFORDABILITY INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY THE CAPACITY TO INNOVATE IS QUICKLY BECOMING THE MOST IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF ECONOMIC GROWTH. THE INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE FOCUSES ON EMERGING TRENDS THAT IMPACT BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES AND HOW TO EVOLVE IN ORDER TO CAPITALIZE ON THESE INNOVATIONS AND ADVANCEMENTS. IN 2023 THE COMMITTEE WILL FOCUS ON: - AUTOMATION - CYBERSECURITY AND DATA PROTECTION - INNOVATION OF STRATEGY AND DATA UTILIZATION - TECH EQUITY - WEB3 LAW AND JUDICIARY ORIGINALLY CONCENTRATED ON TORT REFORM AND JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS, THE LAW AND JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HAS EXPANDED ITS FOCUS AND EFFORTS TO INCLUDE ITS AMICUS BRIEF PROGRAM, ENGAGING IN JUDICIAL RACES, AND PROMOTING FAIR LEGAL POLICY IN GEORGIA. THIS COMMITTEE MEETS QUARTERLY. IN 2023 THE COMMITTEE WILL FOCUS ON: - APPORTIONMENT - CIVIL JUSTICE REFORM - NEGLIGENT SECURITY - JUDICIAL ENGAGEMENT - AMICUS BRIEFS TALENT AND LEADERSHIP THE TALENT AND LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE FOCUSES ON POLICIES AND INITIATIVES THAT ADDRESS TALENT AND WORKFORCE CHALLENGES THAT ARE BEING SEEN ACROSS THE STATE AS THE ECONOMY EVOLVES AND EXPLORE INNOVATIVE WAYS TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES. IN 2023 THE COMMITTEE WILL FOCUS ON: - BARRIER TO POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS - TRENDS IN UPSKILLING AND RETRAINING - GEORGIA'S EVOLVING WORKFORCE - EQUITY CONSIDERATIONS FOR WORKFORCE GROWTH AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT