At the Greater Atlantic City Chamber we know the
marketplace and understand that the best thing we can do for our members
is to work to create a pro-business environment that encourages private
sector investment and job creation. We are focused on lowering our
members cost of doing business by working with local, state and federal
government officials. We are committed to maintaining a
predictable/stable business climate. The Chamber believes that laws and
regulations should serve the public without acting as a detriment to
business development and growth.
The strength of the Chamber’s business advocacy effort comes from:
1. An inclusive process when taking positions.
2. The diversity in our membership base.
3. Good planning.
4. An organizational structure designed to implement the Chamber’s
annual legislative agenda and address public policy issues as they
arise.
Our business advocacy efforts are designed to serve small businesses
from the region with as few as one employee and very large companies
with thousands of employees.
Participation in the business advocacy committee is also open to all
Chamber members.
There are also issue oriented sub-committees. Members on these
committees come from all sectors of business and public sector agencies.
Each year the Chamber establishes an annual legislative agenda. This
agenda represents priority areas the Chamber will be proactively working
on. In addition to the priority areas, task forces are organized as
needed to address issues and recommend positions to the Chamber Board.
Clear policies and procedures exist to ensure positions taken by the
Chamber are representative of the membership at large.
For more information on the Chamber’s business advocacy division or to
review our legislative agenda, please contact our website at
www.acchamber.com.
CHAMBER PUBLIC
POLICIES PRIORTIES
Introduction
The Greater Atlantic City Chamber is the
leading business advocate for Atlantic County. While there are many
pressing issues facing Atlantic County, the Chamber’s advocacy agenda
will focus on five areas next year including: Regulations, Casino
Business Impact, Cost of Government, Transportation and Healthcare.
Action Plan
Regulations
To ensure that Atlantic County continues to attract business growth, we
must establish a fair and consistent regulatory environment. The
Chamber’s primary goal at the local level will be to implement existing
recommendations from a regulatory study already completed and to team
with others at the state and federal levels to seek fair workplace
regulations.
• Continue to implement and update recommendations from the Perks
Reutter Associates Study for the City of Atlantic City Building
Department. This study is an analysis of the building department and
identifies opportunities to: reduce permit applicant frustration, and to
make the permit process easier by streamlining, modernizing and
automating the department while being more user-friendly.
• Chamber to oppose mandatory paid family leave benefits for employees
since, as currently proposed, it would:
• Mandate paid family benefits for businesses with as few as two (2)
employees making it impossible for some small businesses to comply due
to limited financial resources.
• Place Atlantic County businesses at a competitive disadvantage with
other states and discourage new businesses from locating in the Atlantic
County area.
Casino Business Impact
Atlantic County is in the midst of a significant renaissance with
billions of dollars being announced for the expansion of existing
properties and new developments in Atlantic City and throughout the
county. The successful impact of the gaming industry in Atlantic City is
a story that needs to be told and understood statewide. Many of the
recent capital investments in Atlantic City have been for non-gaming
amenities including high-end retail and restaurants, nightclubs, spas
and condominiums that are growing the market. The Chamber will work with
the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) to promote and support
Atlantic City casinos by featuring information statewide on the economic
impact of casinos:
• Creating forums via Chamber meetings and other activities for CANJ to
present information on casino impact and issues important to casinos.
• Take a leadership role in opposing legislation that harms Atlantic
City casinos (i.e.; VLT’s at the Meadowlands), and proactively support
pro-gaming public policy.
• Seek to expedite building permits without compromising public safety.
• Seek a fairer, consistent regulatory environment that encourages
private sector investment.
• Create a grassroots lobbying organization (structure) of casino
vendors and employees.
Cost of Government
New Jersey has one of the highest costs of doing business of any state
in the nation. New Jersey tax policies dissuade companies from
relocating or expanding in the State. In addition to excessive state
taxes, the cost of government in Atlantic City is also very high. There
are costs that could be reduced at the state, county and local levels to
provide tax relief for local residents and businesses that would create
a more appealing environment for growth. The Chamber will seek to lower
the cost of government by supporting reforms in New Jersey and Atlantic
City tax structures that are crucial to economic growth and the creation
of jobs in Atlantic County. This will include:
• Supporting the Atlantic County 2010 Regionalization of Services
Committee in its efforts to evaluate regionalized governmental services.
• Continuing to implement the Mitchell & Titus, LLP City of Atlantic
City Management Study. This study is a management and operational review
of the City of Atlantic City to identify ways in which Atlantic City
could perform its functions more effectively and efficiently.
• Addressing state government costs that negatively impact the Atlantic
County area.
Transportation
On September 13, 2006, the Chamber partnered with Atlantic County
government and the South Jersey Transportation Authority to present a
community forum on Atlantic County’s transportation needs. Based on the
forums results, the projects listed below surfaced as priorities. The
Chamber will address transportation needs by supporting these projects:
Project Responsible Agencies Time Frame
Intersection Tilton/Pomona Road County Short Term
Airport Circle County Short Term
Fire Road and Wellington Avenue County Short Term
Fire Mill Road County Short Term
Full Interchange Exit 17 Expressway SJTA Short Term
Wrangleboro Pomona Rd. Widening County/NJDOT/SJTA Long Term
Full Galloway Parking Interchange NJ Turnpike Authority Long Term
Improved Rail Access Airport/AC NJ Transit Long Term
Other projects that were cited at the forum that the Chamber will
address are:
• Improving public transportation in rural areas to improve employment
opportunities.
• Flooding problem on West End Avenue and Black Horse Pike in Atlantic
City.
Healthcare
The single largest driver of increased costs for businesses today is
healthcare. As a result, fewer employers are offering coverage to their
employees and health insurance reform in New Jersey is now a critical
issue. The Governor and Legislature must act to limit healthcare
increases and make insurance available and affordable for all New Jersey
businesses. The Chamber will:
• Advocate for the passage of legislative initiatives that reform
healthcare coverage.
• Partner with other business advocacy groups to lobby State government
to find real solutions for the rising cost of healthcare.
• Support healthcare plans designed to provide more flexibility for
small businesses by:
• Advocating for insurance options for small businesses that allow
employers with 2-50 employees to purchase benefits they need while
excluding expensive coverage they do not want or cannot afford.
• Advocating for the implementation of a reinvestment pool to lower
health insurance premiums for small businesses.
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