Mission
The Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce 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.

Meetings
Second Friday of each month, 7:30-9:00am
Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce
Committee memership is by appointment

Committee Leadership
Michael Hagen, The Lakes Mall
JR Duncan, Harborfront Interiors

Staff Liaison
Janessa Stroud, Vice President Government Affairs
231-724-3183

Committee Members

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Guiding Principles

The Committee encourages elected officials to work with the business community to bolster the economy and improve our global competitiveness.  We encourage cooperation and partnerships among government, education, business and civic groups.  Each year your Chamber's Government Affairs Committee outlines goals and objectives based on the following guidelines.

The issues addressed by the Government Affairs Committee are those that:
- Involve or pertain to the business community as a whole
- Impact more than a substantial portion of the Chamber membership
- Influence the overall economic development of the area
- Impact an entire business sector such as manufacturing, services or tourism/retail
- Impact the entire business climate

Public positions and support statements will be given when the issues meet the above guidelines.  For those issues that don't meet the above guidelines, we offer assistance by providing appropriate networking contacts with other stakeholder organizations, government agencies, representatives or community leaders.

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2010 Legislative Priorities

 

Education Reform

- Modify state rules and regulations to reduce barriers and create incentives that encourage the sharing of services and consolidation of public schools,
- Continue to support competitive bidding for public school employee's health care insurance premiums and move school employees out of a defined benefit to a defined contribution style retirement plan,
- Invest appropriately in lifelong learning,
- Restructure the delivery of education.

Why? Our state and nation's future economy demands a generation of graduates with solid academic knowledge, world class technical skills, conscientious work habits, and eager, creative analytical minds. High standards and opportunities to achieve must be available to all students, and must reach into every community.

Position: Consensus Principles for Education: A Focus on the K-12 Education System

Position: Sinking Fund Legislation

  

Environment

- Support the creation of a competitive alternative energy sector that provides safe and reliable energy,
- Support continued air quality attainment status for Muskegon,
- Advocate for fair regulations/permit requirements on industry,
- Support investment in the Great Lakes to transform our economic region,
- Continue to support the use of Brownfield incentives to help encourage redevelopment of contaminated properties.

Why? Job providers need certainty in the regulatory process to maximize competitiveness. New environmental regulations must be based on the best available science. Rules and regulations must go through a formal process, requiring an opportunity for input from a broad range of stakeholders.

Position: Customer Choice & Electric Reliability Act

Position: Great Lakes and Water Resources Management

  

Health Care

Position: Consensus Principles for Health Care Delivery

Position: Consensus Principles for Behavioral Health

Position: A Business Case for Medicaid Reform

  

Public Policy

- Promote policies that lead to economic growth in West Michigan,
- Continue to advocate for infrastructure funding to meet the demands of the growing West Michigan region,
- Encourage continued viability of downtowns and support existing infrastructure,
- Advocate for reforming term limits in Michigan,
- Modify state rules and regulations to reduce barriers and create incentives that further encourage the sharing of services and consolidation of local governments,
- Support a 21st century border with Canada,
- Advocate for corrections reform, 
- Advocate for State budget reforms and reductions.

Why? Good public policy is essential to Michigan's ability to survive and thrive. Short and long term strategies for reform must be addressed at every level of government. 

Position: A Business Case for Muskegon County Airport

  

Taxes

- Support a repeal of the Michigan Business Tax (MBT) surcharge. 

Why? Michigan's new business tax must be more competitive in order to encourage business investment, job retention, and job creation in the state of Michigan.

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American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Presentation

Stimulus Update

Cobra Business Provisions

 

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MUSKEGON CHAMBER GOES TO WASHINGTON DC:
Advocating for Jobs & Economic Transformation in the Great Lakes Region

Representatives from the Muskegon Area Chamber of Commerce journeyed to Washington, DC in February 2009 to advocate for a plan to create jobs and spur economic revitalization in the Great Lakes region.

The Muskegon Chamber has joined with its counterpart organizations from twelve Midwest states to develop "An Agenda for Jobs and Economic Transformation in the Great Lakes Region" which calls for significant short term and long term investment and new policy initiatives in five strategic areas:

Federal transportation infrastructure funding and policy
A 21st century border with Canada
Investment in the Great Lakes to transform our economic region
Great Lakes innovation strategy
Federal immigration policy

The agenda recommends projects that will put thousands of people immediately back to work and will also fuel the region's longer term economic transformation. The most immediate recommendations revolve around transportation and watershed restoration projects. In total, the initiatives recommended by the coalition will result in well over $100 billion long term economic benefit to the region and nation, as well as hundreds of thousands of jobs.

The Great Lakes region is the world's most important economic engine, covering all or parts of twelve states and two Canadian provinces. It is the second largest economy in the world, the cradle of innovation, ingenuity and productivity, the home of many of the world?s leading educational and health care institutions, and the source of 20% of the world's fresh water supply.

The region faces significant challenges as it adjusts to a new global economy ? challenges that call for a change in approach to the region's future. Those changes include a new partnership between the federal government and the Great Lakes states to provide an immediate boost to the region's economy through significant job-creating infrastructure investment, as well as new policies to help drive the long term economic transformation of the region.

An Agenda for Jobs and Economic Transition