The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee is instrumental in the development and implementation of the Chamber's local legislative agenda. The Committee represents a diverse, cross section of members who have a vested interest in creating and maintaining a favorable business climate in Rhode Island.
Chamber fights "Economic Growth and Fairness Act of 2008" -- $300 million mega tax hike proposal being advanced by Senator Moura and Representative Handy. Click here for more information.
Top Priorities for 2008:
Tax Competitiveness
Rhode Island’s tax burden does not stack-up well against competing states. The Rhode Island business community is speaking out loudly and emphatically on this topic. The Chamber is focused on engaging the business community to protect the flat tax, capital gains tax and historic tax credit -- and demonstrate a link between these measures and Rhode Island’s ability to grow our economy.
State Budget Crisis
With Rhode Island facing a up to a $560 million budget deficit spread over two years the Chamber will continue to urge the General Assembly and the Executive Branch to work together to rebuild the state's fiscal health and cut expenses.
Knowledge Economy Project.
The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and the Providence Foundation - together with a consortium of the state’s leading businesses, hospitals, colleges and universities – launched a first-of-its kind effort to invest in the region’s economic growth. The group retained New Economy Strategies based in Washington, D.C. to determine how key employers can move beyond their own institutional strengths and into a far reaching collaborative network that fuels the expansion of a knowledge economy in Providence. The Federal Affairs Committee should closely monitor the activities of this project in order to be prepared to participate, advocate, and/or support when, and if necessary.
Click here for more information.
Fire Code Relief
The Chamber will continue to bring the voice of our members to the State House in regard to the study of the ramifications of the Fire Safety Code in the hopes of bringing relief to small business owners trying to make many expensive changes to their properties necessary to be in compliance.