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Identifies Four Cornerstones for Economic and Job Growth across Region
Boston, MA – The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce today released its 2012 Business Growth Agenda, encompassing four key advocacy areas – tax competitiveness, workforce development, reform, and economic development – critical to advancing the overall business climate and region’s competitiveness.
“Massachusetts has maintained its position as a preferred destination for top talent, businesses, and innovation, even amid the most challenging economic conditions,” said Paul Guzzi, president and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. “Building on the successes of the Chamber’s 2011 advocacy efforts, we have identified a robust growth agenda for the coming year to promote policies that will continue to keep our economy, workforce, and overall community thriving. We look forward to working collaboratively with our state and city leaders to accomplish these goals.”
The Chamber’s 2012 Business Growth Agenda is shaped around four key areas:
Workforce Development
Talent Development – Expand the skilled worker pipeline via the Chamber’s online internship portal (Chamber Intern Connect), talent retention efforts with the Boston Federal Reserve Bank, and strengthened business-academia relations.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Education – Build support for STEM education as part of a statewide coalition to strengthen the STEM teacher pool and STEM funding.
Public Higher Education – Strengthen state financing for public higher education, including state matching funds for research and innovation grants.
Tax Competitiveness
State Tax Administration Reform – Improve state tax administration policies and procedures related to tax regulations, building on the implementation of Chamber tax reforms enacted in 2011.
Tax Credits Incentives – Drive innovation and spur new technologies by increasing the state’s investment tax credit from three percent to five percent, and create a new tax credit to promote energy efficiency among businesses.
Reform
Health Care Payment Reform – Advance payment reform to bring health care cost growth under control, improve the coordination of services, and diminish the use of fee-for-service payments.
Unemployment Insurance Reform (UI) – Freeze UI tax rates, thus averting a dramatic rate increase in the first quarter of 2012, and reform UI eligibility policies.
Economic Development
Leading Industries – Promote the growth of the region’s core economic engines including financial services and life sciences, expanding opportunity for Greater Boston companies and workers.
Energy – Lower employers’ energy costs by promoting energy efficiency and expanding regional energy supplies, while promoting new technologies for cleaner and renewable energy.
Development – Promote development in critical areas such as the South Boston Waterfront “innovation district”, and remove legal/ regulatory barriers to new development.
The Chamber’s 2012 Business Growth Agenda is part of the organization’s overall advocacy efforts on behalf of its 1,500 members, intended to reduce business costs, improve worker skills, promote innovation, and strengthen infrastructure. In 2011, the Chamber played an instrumental role in the advancement of several key legislative and economic development initiatives, most notably several important business tax reforms crafted by the Chamber which became law, as well as support for reform of municipal health insurance, passage of casino gaming and cost relief on unemployment insurance.
More information on the Chamber’s advocacy program and its 2012 Business Growth Agenda can be found at bostonchamber.com.
About the Greater Boston Chamber — The Greater Boston Chamber is a broad-based association representing 1,500 businesses of all sizes from virtually every industry and profession in our region. At the crossroads of business and government, Chamber members work together to ensure the long-term advancement of Greater Boston as one of the world’s great metropolitan regions. For more information, visit bostonchamber.com.
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