Some of a very powerful work we do on the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce is within the realm of advocating for our native enterprise group. We wish to assume that our method to advocacy is each distinctive and impactful. These traces of work begin with the premise that our enterprise group and native governments are interdependent. Meaning what we attempt to do is create and keep relationships that are based mostly on sharing data and enterprise intelligence with native leaders. The objective is for each side to profit from each interplay. Sometimes, that manifests in conferences, calls and different private contact that could be very a lot consistent with how most of our Chamber of Commerce actions transpire. With the COVID-19 pandemic altering each means by which we work, we’ve needed to be inventive in how we do that.
Tallahassee and Leon County haven’t any scarcity of challenges proper now, however one of the most effective issues taking place right here in the present day is that there’s a actual want from native leaders to see our hometown thrive. That’s an ideal place to start out when attempting to strengthen the relationships between enterprise and authorities. It’s actually truthful to say that it has by no means been extra essential. The work we do on this house occurs via our Enterprise Advocacy Committee (BAC) and the devoted volunteers who surrender many hours every month to maintain these conversations going. Throughout this pandemic, when so many companies are struggling, the interdependent nature of our relationship with native authorities has by no means been clearer.
Beneath the management of BAC Chair Sammie Dixon, we’ve got remained diligent in our advocacy efforts. Earlier this week, the Chamber’s BAC held a digital assembly with Metropolis of Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey becoming a member of the dialogue. One of the most effective attributes of our BAC members is that they symbolize a large cross-part of essential industries, essential providers, and different foundational parts of our native economic system. With Mayor Dailey on the decision, he was capable of hear immediately from these enterprise leaders on how the pandemic and our now extended financial pause are affecting employers and the hundreds of jobs they symbolize.
Mayor Dailey was sort sufficient to provide BAC members almost an hour of his time and the dialogue between them was precious for all concerned. The Mayor and all of our native elected officers have carried out an ideal job holding communication traces open throughout these troublesome occasions and the outcomes have been constructive for native companies. Past the BAC name with Mayor Dailey, we’ve got additionally stored involved with quite a few native leaders together with a latest digital assembly with County Fee Chair Bryan Desloge. There has been common outreach with Superintendent Rocky Hanna and Leon County Faculties as nicely. It is essential to notice that the workers on the Metropolis of Tallahassee, Leon County and Leon County Faculties have by no means been extra aware of enterprise. By their management, the Metropolis and County have helped shepherd quite a few sources for companies in want of a lifeline proper now. These sources and different helpful data for native companies could be discovered through the Chamber’s on-line COVID-19 portal.
Our advocacy efforts for native companies by no means cease – particularly in moments like these. We’re lucky to dwell in an ideal group and even in these powerful occasions, we proceed to indicate what makes Tallahassee and Leon County nice. Relationships between leaders will proceed to be a very powerful approach to drive outcomes. {Our relationships} persist as a result of we are all on this collectively.
Jay Revell
Vice President, Advocacy and Public Coverage
