The Kent Chamber of Commerce is proud to present our 2015 legislative agenda. We represent 485 businesses in the heart of the state of Washington’s economic engine.
The Kent Valley represents $49 billion annually to Washington, which is one-eighth of the state’s gross domestic product. Kent is the economic powerhouse protecting the state of Washington’s growth trajectory and development for years to come.
The Kent Chamber of Commerce lobbies on behalf of the Kent businesses to protect our economic viability on the city, county and state level. Our legislative agenda is crafted by our Government Affairs team and vetted by our board of directors. It shapes our mission for the year as we move forward and tackle tough issues such as the business climate, transportation and education.
Business climate
Kent is the sixth largest city in Washington and is an economic powerhouse; our primary objective is to increase jobs, competitiveness and regional productivity. Strategically located, Kent is fifteen miles from the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma which leads many manufacturing, warehousing and suppliers to locate in the Kent Valley.
Kent is the fourth largest manufacturing and distribution area in the United States with substantial economic impact on the state of Washington’s budget.
• We must protect the asset of the Kent Valley by ensuring that the Green River flood levees protect and maintain our crucial infrastructure and Washington’s economic engine. To do this we focus on:
1. Maximize land use and create partnership and a shared vision with local governments that speed up levee accreditation.
2. Promote levee accreditation at the forefront of thought in policy and funding in order to protect our vital assets.
• Another top priority for our business climate is the efficiency of permitting for projects both large and small. This can be accomplished by reducing unfunded mandates to local governments, increasing speed during the permitting process, and eliminating duplicative reports to reduce costs in order to speed up economic development.
We will continue to work to maintain and create a positive business environment, supporting the economic development and growth of business within the Kent area. Maintain positive relationships with business, city, state and residents. Advocate best practices for Chamber membership, representing more than 450 businesses with a cohesive, positive working environment with our elected officials and government agencies.
Transportation and infrastructure
• The community is the creator of the sustainable business environment. In order to maintain and grow the communities of Washington we must invest in our infrastructure, moving goods, services and people. The Kent Chamber fully supports the South Sound Chambers of Commerce Legislative Coalition (SSCCLC) transportation priorities and urges you to vote in favor of and fully fund the South Sound transportation corridor as laid out in the SSCCLC Legislative agenda.
Education
• Washington is confronted with a skills gap that threatens our economic future, limits job opportunities for residents, and prohibits employers from finding candidates with the skills necessary to meet their needs. The Kent Chamber recognizes the importance of education and training the next generation. We support K-12, higher education, trade schools, and partnerships to encourage the empowerment of educators and students to lead to a higher level of achievement and graduation rates.
Andrea Keikkala is CEO of the Kent Chamber of Commerce. Reach her at 253-854-1770, ext. 140, or andreak@kentchamber.com
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