The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce facilitates community leadership to create economic prosperity. Part of this role includes ensuring that business needs are a top consideration when policy decisions are made. At the Chamber, our members are our partners in business advocacy, and it’s important for us to hear from you about what’s impacting your businesses.

The Chamber distributed a survey to our members in mid-December about business-related policy issues. The Chamber’s policy activity focuses on four main priorities, and our survey was designed to gather member feedback on each of these. Here are the key takeaways from the member survey, which will help guide our 2012 policy agenda:

An environment where business can prosper:

        a) Government regulation is the leading problem facing business, followed by competition.
        b) Regulations should be evaluated for their cost to business.
        c) Business development incentives should be focused on the right levels and needs, especially in the areas of small
        business development, hiring and training, and redevelopment.
        d) Estate taxes were most often named among taxes and fees as being too high or unfairly applied.
        e) Local policy concerns include sign regulation, tax assessments and zoning, with the most frequently named problem
         areas being fair enforcement, clarity and awareness of business needs.

Talent development of the region’s workforce:

        a) Make sure high school graduates are prepared for college and career.
        b) Schools receiving public funding should be accountable for results.
        c) Support strategies to increase the number of postsecondary graduates.

Quality of life that attracts and retains residents and workers:

        a) Downtown entertainment and cultural opportunities are important assets.
        b) Diversity and inclusion leads to a stronger appeal for relocating individuals, households and businesses.

Regional efforts to ensure economic prosperity:

        a) Elected officials in different counties should work together to solve issues.
        b) Transit options are crucial to maintain competitiveness in the region.

We also asked our members how essential they felt the Chamber’s role is in certain policy activities. The top five responses were:

        1) Serve as the voice of the business community;
        2) Make it easier to do business in our community;
        3) Advocate for small business;
        4) Partner with other organizations for business advocacy; and
        5) Promote business issues in the media.

We thank all of you who took the time to fill out this important survey that will help us better serve you. Your partnership in business advocacy with the Nashville Chamber is critical to ensuring a strong and healthy business environment in our region.