Greater Pittsburgh Chamber Of Commerce

Causes: Economic Development, Microfinance, Rural Economic Development

Mission: The greater pittsburgh chamber of commerce (chamber) is the advocacy affiliate of the allegheny conference on community development (accd). The chamber works to improve the competitiveness of the pittsburgh region for business investment and growth by promoting competitive business taxes and other business costs, as well as streamlined permitting and regulations.

Programs: 2014 was the final year of a three-year agenda which focused on energize tomorrow's economy. The energize tomorrow's economy strategy focused on building our economy and improving our environment. Key achievements in 2014 included:1. Building on the region's portfolio of energy assets while protecting our environment celebrated more than 31 region-wide business investment "wins" in the energy sector and continued to support the energy alliance of greater pittsburgh. Led successful "friends of netl" partnership to communicate the importance of federal funding for the national energy technology laboratory (netl). Worked to increase netl funding by $9 million in 2014. Initiated campaign to educate the public, media and lawmakers on the significant technological, regulatory and market forces that are threatening the reliability and stability of the nation's electric grid. Partnered with the national academy of sciences and the national academy of engineering to establish the grid academy program - a civic education program designed to raise awareness of the business implications of the challenges and opportunities in emerging grid technologies, develop regional understanding of this significant public policy issue and build knowledge so that regional opinion leaders can make informed decisions about these issues for their businesses and for public planning efforts. 2. Improving the economic climate advocated for the competepa tax policy agenda including the phase-out of the capital stock & franchise tax (csft). (2015 is expected to be the final year of the csft. ) worked with the great lakes metro chambers coalition to advocate for passage of the federal water resources reform development act (wrrda), which is critical to our inland waterways, harbors and ports. Supported hb 1550. This legislation consolidates several business loan programs under the jurisdiction of the pennsylvania industrial development authority (pida) and renames and codifies the pennsylvania military community enhancement commission into law. 3. Putting more ready-to-develop sites in the pipeline secured $43 million in investments for a new regional site development fund that will finance site infrastructure. The fund was established as a follow up project of the power of 32 regional visioning initiative. 4. Improving our healthcare competitiveness supported passage of hb 1846, legislation that helps to control costs associated with the state workers' compensation system to assure affordable, accessible, quality care for all. In particular, hb 1846 reforms the pennsylvania workers compensation act to address the higher costs associated with prescription drugs that are dispensed by a prescribing physician rather than a pharmacy.

the chamber coordinates, hosts or partners with other organizations in various luncheons and receptions throughout the year including the recognition of the region's sports teams, receptions with state and local public officials and other community events including the athena awards reception, recognized internationally as the premier honor for excellence in leadership among business, professional and community leaders.