Advocacy
Commercial Property Tax
Government Affairs Council
Represents the business community to local, state and federal elected officials; aggressively promoting legislative issues that pertain to business development.
Military Affairs
Continues a long-standing tradition in our community of cultivating and enhancing a positive relationship between the business community and local military personnel.
2024 STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Business Climate & Economic Development
- Support incentives and policies that encourage investment in Georgia outside of the metro Atlanta area
- Support reimplementation of Sales Tax Holiday to help abate the negative impact on border counties and cities
- Support tax credits that incentivize the rehabilitation of historic downtowns, buildings, & landmarks
Education, Talent, & Workforce
- Support the preservation of Georgia’s employment-at-will doctrine and the state’s right-to-work status
- Support incentives for the development of affordable workforce housing
- Support increasing coordination of resources, improved curriculum alignment, and the expansion of pathways and high demand majors, between K-12 and higher education systems to meet the needs of industry and a modernizing workforce
- Recognize the $368M annual economic impact that Valdosta State University makes in the South Georgia Region and support efforts to increase its ability to compete with universities in Georgia and neighboring states
- Recognize the tremendous impact of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Georgia Military College on creating a workforce pipeline and support their continued efforts
Rural Health Care
- Support expansion of public access to telemedicine and basic primary care to support a healthier workforce
- Support continuation of efforts to provide transparency of medical charges and prescription pricing
- Support legislation that will aid in the recruitment and training of frontline personnel, particularly in rural and underserved areas
- Support reasonable means of supplementing costs of medical services provided by rural hospitals such as South Georgia Medical Center, a major economic engine in South Georgia
Military & Defense
- Recognize the $749M annual economic impact the Moody Air Force Base makes on the South Georgia region and support policies, investments, and partnerships that strengthen Georgia’s military installations
- Support immediate licensure portability for military spouses
- Support transferability of academic credits and achievements and extracurricular educational activities for military children
Broadband
- Support the increased access to broadband for all Georgians through increased investment and incentivize partnerships with all utility partners
Transportation
- Support additional funding in the state budget for airport, logistics, roads, and infrastructure improvements
- Support additional funding and incentives to improve freight movement across Georgia
Tourism & Hospitality
- Support increased funding of the arts and tourism as an economic development strategy