Chamber continues to meet with Nevada legislators on a regular basis
HENDERSON, Nev. – The Henderson Chamber of Commerce is known locally, state-wide and nationally for its strong legislative presence. As it does every legislative session, the Henderson Chamber has been in Carson City since the session began representing the interests of Henderson – and Nevada – businesses.
In fact, the chamber’s government affairs members have been in contact with Nevada’s leaders since long before the session began to ensure the needs of the local business community are heard. And just last week the Henderson Chamber hosted its annual “Chamber on the Hill” event in Carson City in order to have even more face time with Nevada’s legislators.
The chamber’s focuses are many this year, as Nevada’s fiscal condition is fragile. On the top of the list is to encourage job creation for Henderson and Nevada while opposing new taxes on employers that are not equally distributed and determined to be absolutely necessary, and supporting the education system, which should produce a qualified workforce in a cost-efficient manner.
Supporting those decisions are the result of the chamber’s annual survey, which is sent to all of its members each year. Of those receiving the survey, 11 percent responded. Of those responding, 56 percent have fewer than 10 employees.
The top priorities of members continue to be:
1. Creation of jobs, with 96 percent of respondents rating this as extremely important
2. Taxes with 72 percent of respondents rating this as extremely important
3. Education with 64 percent of respondents rating this as extremely important
4. Healthcare with 51 percent of respondents rating this as extremely important
5. Banking/credit with 48 percent of respondents rating this as extremely important
On the state and local levels, respondents thought the chamber should advocate for these issues:
1. Help businesses to start up and continue operation in Southern Nevada – 79 percent ranked as high priority
2. Encourage primary job creation – 77 percent ranked as high priority
3. Support public officials who truly support business success – 63 percent ranked as high priority
4. Challenge any new taxes on employers in depressed economy – 60 percent ranked as high priority
5. Advocate improvement of high-school graduation rates – 59 percent ranked as high priority
6. Adopt incentives for primary business to locate in Nevada – 59 percent ranked as high priority
“At the Henderson Chamber, it’s our mission to promote our member businesses and provide them the support they need to grow and prosper,” said Kirk Clausen, chairman of the board of directors for the chamber and regional president of Wells Fargo. “This isn’t a commitment we take lightly. It’s a pledge we take all the way – from providing members with networking opportunities locally to representing our members’ business interests in Carson City and in Washington.”
Heading up the local and statewide efforts are the chamber’s Government Committees; IMPAC, State & Local issues, and Legislative which have been working tirelessly for much of this year to plan for both the elections and the 2011 Legislature – including sorting through about 550 bill draft requests (BDR).
A bi-partisan nonprofit organization, the Henderson Chamber of Commerce has held strong relationships with Nevada’s political leaders on both sides of the aisle for many years and endorses candidates who reflect a history and political agenda in support of small- to medium-sized businesses, which comprise most of the chamber’s membership.
Members of the Chamber Legislative committee participate in 12 subcommittees: education, finance, health & human services, entrepreneurial business, judiciary, energy/utilities, taxes, commerce/manufacturing, construction/transportation, gaming, development/redevelopment, and natural resources/agricultural/mining. It also flags non-legislative issues as well such as local concerns like public employees’ salaries and union issues.
The Henderson Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit, voluntary organization committed to promoting and supporting member businesses.
For more information, call the Henderson Chamber of Commerce at 702-565-8951 or visit www.hendersonchamber.com.
