Advocate for Business!
"The Muskegon Chamber is the single most important business advocacy organization in Muskegon!"
- Chris Kelly
Parmenter OToole
IN THE NEWS
MEMBERSHIP
The voice for business
The Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to offer its membership fulltime advocacy staff dedicated to working with local, state and federal elected officials to influence pro-business policies that impact your bottom line.
Advocacy Center
As a member of the Chamber, Advocacy Center resources are included in the cost of your membership investment. Here are some of the resources you can begin taking advantage of immediately:
• Action eAlerts – Email updates on the hottest community and legislative issues alerting members to take action
• Face time with Elected Officials – Invites to exclusive meetings with policy makers
• Research and Issue Support – Assistance with issue research, scheduling stakeholder meetings, legislation and ordinance evaluation etc.
• Member Issue Forums – Access to informational presentations about relevant policy issues
• Blog and Facebook – Regular updates and information regarding advocacy efforts, initiatives, resources, forums and feedback
• Taskforce Participation – Gauges interest on specific issues and invites participation in discussion about the topic
• Muskegon Business Political Action Committee – Donations supporting pro-business state candidates and issue education campaigns
• Priority Setting – Gauges member business interests on specific issues that set the Chamber's legislative agenda
If you are interested in learning more about the
Meet the Candidates
The Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce has compiled resources and tools to help voters make informed decisions on key contested races at the local, state and federal levels of government. With the November 2 general election just around the corner, now is the time to decide which candidates are best equipped to help businesses succeed.
The Chamber’s Meet the Candidates webpage offers tools such as candidate star ratings for local races, questionnaire responses from state level candidates, video interviews, website links and more. Not only will you be able to easily compare candidates side-by-side, there are tools to help you find your polling location, identify your precinct and district, view a sample of your ballot and read ballot proposal language.
Chamber staff and member volunteers spent over 60 hours gathering information and interviewing candidates. The star ratings and questionnaires offer insight into each candidate’s knowledge about the business community and how they plan to help Muskegon and Michigan achieve its full economic potential.
It has never been more critical that our members educate themselves on this year’s candidates and issues, as we have the once in a lifetime opportunity to reshape the agenda in Lansing.
Click here to meet the candidates.
Government Affairs Committee
The Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce advocates on behalf of business. A healthy business climate allows businesses to grow and prosper which in turn nurtures the health of our community, region and state.
With member support, the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce speaks out and facilitates activities in a number of areas including education and workforce development, environmental and health care policy, transportation, energy policy and more. Our role changes based on the leadership required for each effort. Whenever possible we speak with a unified voice from the business community in an attempt to guide public and private resources toward the long-term community vision. All of this is possible through the support of the Governments Affairs Committee.
The Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee works with our elected officials on the local, state and federal levels of government to influence pro-business policies that support economic growth. Participation in the political arena from all citizens in the community is essential for dynamic growth in Muskegon. To learn more about the Chamber's advocacy efforts, visit the Government Affairs Committee webpage.
GEE! Awards (Governments Encouraging Entrepreneurs)
Businesses choose to locate and grow more quickly in political environment that are cooperative, consistent and flexible. Municipalities in Muskegon are working to improve the environment for business success by innovating and delivering services in new ways than ever before.
The Chamber Government Affairs Committee noticed that we often reward businesses in the community for their commitment to excellence and process improvement, but we have never publicly called attention to the best practices and improvements that takes place within our local municipalities.
With that being said, we would like to invite every unit of government in Muskegon County to take part in the inaugural GEE! Awards.
GEE! or Governments Encouraging Entrepreneurs is an opportunity for municipalities to highlight exemplary practices in five areas of government services that are important to the business community; ease of use, customer service, effective communication, building partnerships and commitment to economic development.
Here is how you can get involved:
Encourage your local unit of government to write a short essay about a best practice or process improvement in the areas mentioned above.
As a business owner/employer, offer to write a letter of support detailing how your business has been positively impacted by the service.
Fill out the nomination form and return the packet to the Chamber before Friday, August 27, 2010.
Click here for the GEE! Nomination form.
The Chamber will recognize municipalities during the September Business for Breakfast.
2010 Annual Survey Results
Tax Reform and Protecting the Great Lakes Tops Members' List of Chamber-to-do's
A 2010 Government Affairs survey polled members on issues from taxation to tourism and education to the environment. A portion of the membership responded to the survey offering their opinions on what issues are a high priority and where the Chamber can speak as the voice of business to help impact these issues.
Top 5 High Priority and Important Priority Issues
1 Protecting the Great Lakes from Invasive Species - 71.1%
2 Elimination of the Michigan Business Tax Surcharge - 54.6%
3 Alternative Energy Research and Development - 53.6%
4 Repeal of the Michigan Business Tax - 51.5%
5 Transportation Infrastructure Funding - 50%
Click here for complete 2010 survey results.
2009 Annual Survey Results
64%of respondents believe tourism and economic promotion is a high priority for the Chamber. Alternative energy research and development follows closely behind with 63% of respondents designating it as a high priority, and not surprisingly, next on the list is the elimination of the Michigan Business Tax, coming in at a close third with 55% feeling it is a high priority.
Top 10 High Priority Issues
1 Tourism and Economic Promotion
2 Alternative Energy Research and Development
3 Elimination of MBT Surcharge
4 Repeal of MBT
5 Streamlining Government
6 Elimination of PPT
7 Access to Higher Education
8 Statewide recycling
9 Ensuring Secret Ballots in the Union Selection Process
10 Investment in Early Childhood
We couldn't agree more with the survey results from the last two years. The results of the Government Affairs Survey will help guide the Government Affairs Committee and staff prioritize legislative agenda items for 2010 and beyond.
Currently we are meeting with elected officials to express your concerns about economic matters, looking for access to capital and identifying other business development resources. We continue to seek out funding solutions to maintain our transportation systems and other infrastructure elements critical for business. We are advocating for government reform, requesting more education dollars to retrain our workforce, working to keep safe reliable energy and keeping the rising cost of health care manageable.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to take the survey. For more information about business advocacy or the work being done on any of the above issues, please contact Janessa Stroud at jstroud@muskegon.org or 231-724-3183.
Click here for complete 2009 survey results.
Candidate Education
Civic participation is the cornerstone of democracy. Every year the Chamber hosts a non-partisan candidate information workshop to educate interested individuals about public service and campaigning. Are you ready for the challenge?
Realities and Rewards - Hear from successful candidates who will share their personal experiences about public service.
Educate Yourself - Learn about community issues ranging from economic development to criminal justice from distinguished panelists.
Commitment - Learn how careful planning and execution makes for a successful campaign. Is it your time to participate? Are you ready for the challenge?
Let us help you decide...Stayed tuned for 2010 info.
Contact Your Elected Officials
Muskegon County Elected Officials
Muskegon County Board of Commissioners
Michigan House of Representatives
Muskegon Business Political Action Committee
The Muskegon Business Political Action Committee (MBPAC) is an independent, non-partisan committee that exists for the purpose of financially supporting and endorsing candidates and legislators, policies and positions on a state level. In the future we may consider contributing to local and federal legislative efforts that are aligned with the interests of the greater Muskegon business community.
Click here for more information.
Stay Connected
HOT TOPICS
LOGIN
Members-Only!
Login to update your company profile, get your referral report, register for events, pay bills, get member info.
