State Issues
Since 1905, the Columbia Chamber of Commerce has been a non-profit, voluntary, member-supported organization of business, industrial and professional people who are dedicated to developing, promoting and maintaining a sound and healthy economic climate for Columbia.
The mission of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce is to lead our community, drive commerce in our region, and advance community and regional collaborations, thereby enhancing the quality of where we live, learn, work and play. One way to achieve this mission is by identifying what is most important to members and setting these items as priorities.
Chamber Legislative Priorities
The following are legislative priorities Chamber members and staff will advocate during the coming year:
- Support legislation that would make Missouri more competitive in attracting and retaining high technology companies and jobs within the data center industry.
- Support economic development initiatives such as MOSIRA and proposals that increase awareness about high-need job areas such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs.
- Retain the University of Missouri (UM System) fiscal year 2012 core budget of $405.8 million. Support additional core funding of $127 million to support maintenance and repairs, record enrollment growth, Caring for Missourians and faculty compensation packages to mirror UM System’s peer institutions.
- Supports legislation to remove the prohibition of toll roads in the state of Missouri.
- Supports legislation that would allow Boone County to establish and participate in a regional airport authority.
- Support the extension of term limits to 16 years in either house or senate or 16 years total in the Missouri legislature.
Business and Economic Development
A strong pro-business environment is critical for Missouri to remain competitive in a global economy. The Chamber supports initiatives that encourage a healthy business climate in our state including:
- Legislation that would make Missouri more competitive in attracting and retaining high technology companies and jobs within the data center industry.
- The review of Missouri state tax credits and the retention of all credits related to economic development which show a positive performance and return on investment.
- Increased appropriations for workforce training incentives and technical education programs that offer customized skill and classroom training and retraining to new and expanding businesses, as Missouri’s continued economic success depends upon the state’s ability to effectively integrate the actions of the business, education and workforce sectors.
- Funding of the Life Science Research Trust Fund, which provides support for the development of the biotechnology industry in Missouri and enhances the state’s capacity to perform and commercialize research.
- Support economic development initiatives such as MOSIRA and proposals that increase awareness about high-need job areas such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs.
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce supports appropriate legislative action to stabilize funding for all levels of education, and encourages the legislature to continue restoring recent funding reductions.
Early Childhood Education
Investing in the educational needs of Columbia’s youngest citizens helps to ensure the sustainability of our community and the future needs of our workforce, the Chamber supports legislation that would:
- Expand access to pre-K education for Missouri children.
- Expand opportunities for parents to be their child’s first teacher by supporting programs on school readiness, and healthy social, emotional, and physical development.
- Promote high quality early childhood opportunities through support of child care providers seeking accreditation and/or evaluation and improvement through the Missouri Quality Rating Improvement System.
Elementary and Secondary Education
Education for young people during their more formative years is critical in the creation of a safer community and a competitive workforce for the future. The Chamber supports legislation that would:
- Retain existing funding for public schools that educate children from Pre-K to 12th grade.
- Promote discipline and safety in Missouri’s public schools to ensure a safe learning environment for students.
- Support the infusion of incentive grants for public schools to develop Math, Engineering, Science and Technology programs to encourage students to gain skills and background in those disciplines.
- Allow passage of bond issues with a simple majority vote.
Higher Education and the University of Missouri
Columbia is home to several important higher-learning institutions that help ensure Columbia is a community ready for high-tech jobs for the future. As education is an economic driver of our region, the Chamber supports increasing number of adults with post-secondary degrees and strengthening the communication and analytical skills of persons entering the workforce. The Chamber further supports legislation that would:
- Retain the University of Missouri (UM System) fiscal year 2012 core budget of $405.8 million. Support additional core funding of $127 million to support maintenance and repairs, record enrollment growth, Caring for Missourians and faculty compensation packages to mirror UM’s peer institutions.
- Continue to support creative funding opportunities for capital projects for Missouri’s higher education institutions. Possible solutions could include bonding or forming a matching funding program with institutions.
- Support economic development initiatives such as MOSIRA and proposals that increase awareness about high-need job areas such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics programs.
- Work with education leaders statewide to improve statutory clarity for charter school sponsors, including all four UM campuses.
- Support a statutory change to give MU Extension the ability to form cooperating county funding districts. This modification would give local counties more funding options for future local Extension programming.
Missouri’s natural geographic advantages make it prime for moving economic development forward in our nation. Adequate transportation funding and a formula that reflects the economic strength and development needs are vital to the community. In order to protect the investment that Missourians have already placed in our transportation infrastructure and to grow that base, the Chamber:
- Supports the Federal Transportation Authorization Legislation to ensure the Missouri Department of Transportation’s funding needs.
- Supports efforts to secure funding for improvements to Route 740, better known as Stadium Boulevard.
- Supports efforts for continued funding for Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63.
- Supports legislation to remove the prohibition of toll roads in the state of Missouri.
- Supports establishing regional representation on the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.
- Supports a statewide business-led effort designed to educate citizens on the importance of multi-modal infrastructure.
- Supports efforts to secure funding for regional air service and terminal improvements for the Columbia Regional Airport.
- Supports legislation that would allow Boone County to establish and participate in a regional airport authority.
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce works closely with the City of Columbia and with Boone County government officials to positively influence the business climate in the Mid-Missouri region. In order to provide continuity on community issues, the Chamber supports the following statewide initiatives:
- Legislation that would create minimal rental standards for properties located within the County’s boundaries.
- Legislation penalizing merchants operating without a required merchant’s, auctioneer’s and/or liquor license(s) through fines and ultimately closure for chronic abuse.
- Requiring utilities to use the universal utility corridor provided instead of seeking individual easements.
- Legislation that evens the playing field between local retailers and their out-of-state competitors when it comes to use or sales taxes on internet and catalogue purchases made by consumers.
- Legislation that would guide MDNR in the determination and enforcement of total maximum daily loads.
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce supports legislation which would improve efficiencies at the state level at all times. The Chamber further supports legislation that would:
- Support the extension of term limits to 16 years in either house or senate or 16 years total in the Missouri legislature.
- Support an increase in the cigarette tax.