The Augusta Metro Chamber is dedicated to ensuring that the Augusta Region is an area in which businesses can operate successfully and thrive in a business-friendly environment. This includes legislative work at the local, state and federal levels; all of which play a role in the overall advocacy mission of the Chamber. The Chamber measures its impact and results on the formulation of positions taken on a variety of public policy issues and legislation that affect the interests of business and the community. The Chamber’s advocacy efforts include educating its members and the influence public officials. An Advocacy Committee, composed of a wide variety of leaders from the Chamber’s membership, provides guidance and recommendation to the Board of Directors on positions which the Chamber can impact on behalf of its members.

The Augusta Metro Chamber interacts extensively with local elected officials on a variety of issues that affect the overall growth and development of our community. Recent advocacy positions have included support of the Downtown Trade & Exhibition Center (TEE Center) and the downtown Business Improvement District (BID). The Chamber has also provided technical and educational resources on voter proposals including Tax Allocation Districts (TAD’s) and Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) renewals and serves as a key community resource on information regarding environmental regulation and policy. For information on any active positions of the chamber’s local advocacy efforts, contact Christina Jones, Director of Communications, at 706.821.1324. Or, to view a list of Augusta-Richmond County elected officials, click here.

Each year, the Augusta Metro Chamber develops a State of Georgia Legislative Agenda that includes both proactive statements and responsive positions on matters affecting our state and the Augusta community. Key components of the Chamber’s State Legislative Agenda for 2009 Georgia General Assembly Session include the implementation of a newly adopted state-wide water management plan, regional and state-wide transportation funding, tax reform and tax relief. To view the entire 2011 State Legislative Agenda, click here. To view a list of Georgia lawmakers for Augusta, click here.

Many institutions in the Augusta Region are dependent on federal appropriations including Fort Gordon and Savannah River Site. As a result, the Augusta Metro Chamber dedicates itself to advocating on behalf of these institutions to congressional and senatorial leadership to ensure their long-term viability. In addition, the Augusta Metro Chamber monitors federal environmental policy and federal legislation that pose consequences to our business members. For a list of the Augusta Region’s Congressional and Senatorial Representation, click here.

Each year, the Augusta Metro Chamber holds a number of events and forums to ensure that its members have an opportunity to interact with its elected representation. These include the Pre and Post Legislative Breakfast, an annual Legislative Conference and an annual trip to Washington, DC. For more information on the schedule of these events or sponsorship, contact ristina Jones, Director of Communications, at 706.821.1324.