Advocacy

Lebanon Valley Chamber Public Policy Agenda

The Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce is a membership organization of businesses, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and municipal governmental bodies. The Chamber advocates for the public policy agenda below on behalf of those membership organizations.

Taxes and Regulations

The Chamber supports the adoption of balanced budgets at all government levels, making tax structure reforms that promote private investment and a continually growing economy possible. The Chamber opposes regulations that are not authorized by statute and do not have a clear purpose and demonstrable consumer benefits.

The Chamber encourages the exploration of opportunities for greater regionalization and collaboration among local governments and school districts to maximize economies of scale and provide better services at a lower cost.

Community and Economic Development

The Chamber encourages the expansion of existing businesses and the recruitment of new enterprises. It supports both governmental and private investment in infrastructure development, particularly utility systems and the transportation network.

Workforce and Education

The Chamber supports efforts to enhance the education and readiness of the local workforce. To accomplish this goal, the Chamber supports programs for work certifications, on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and diplomas or degrees from our local career and technology center, community college, and any other educational sources. It also supports reducing barriers to employment such as convenient and affordable transportation, affordable housing, and affordable, quality childcare.

Affordable, Quality Childcare

The Chamber recognizes that a key factor limiting affordable, quality childcare availability is a shortage of teaching personnel because of uncompetitive wages. The Chamber supports national and state legislation to address this issue and ensure that working families have access to the care they need.

Affordable, Quality Healthcare

The Lebanon Valley Chamber will monitor the development and implementation of state and federal healthcare policies to ensure that employers’ costs are controlled and employees have access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. The Chamber will work to ensure that employers and healthcare providers retain flexibility when providing care and making healthcare decisions that impact their patients and employees. The Chamber will advocate for reforms that stabilize the medical malpractice insurance marketplace and foster stability in the medical community.

Immigration

The Chamber supports changing our present immigration system to create a more orderly and efficient process that aligns with the economic needs of American businesses and enhances our national security.

Adopted by the Public Policy Council January 2025.

Lebanon Valley Chamber is part of a south-central PA regional advocacy alliance that includes:

The South Central Regional Advocacy Priorities are as follows:

South Central Pennsylvania boasts a rich legacy in agriculture and manufacturing, complemented by recent growth in logistics, education, healthcare, and technology. This thriving region offers ample opportunities to build a career, raise a family, or enjoy retirement. The Harrisburg Regional Chamber, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, Lancaster Chamber, Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, and York County Economic Alliance are dedicated to enhancing our region’s economic competitiveness, attracting and retaining skilled talent, and ensuring a world-class quality of life for all who live and work here.

Population Represented
2,206,357
Gross Domestic Product
Manufacturing (15.1%)

Top Employment Sectors
Health Care (19.2%)
$121.6 Billion
Retail Trade (12.0% )

Create a Pro-Growth Permitting, Regulatory, Tax and Trade Environment

• • Reform the permitting and regulatory environment to create a transparent and efficient process that protects our natural landscape without requiring undue or excessive restrictions on construction, manufacturing, transportation, and energy production.
  • Adopt a fair, predictable tax code that provides clarity and stability for businesses of all sizes, with particular focus on supporting small businesses. By simplifying the tax process and offering incentives that promote growth, we can help entrepreneurs thrive, attract new investments, and strengthen the region’s competitive edge in both local and global markets.
  • Foster a competitive trade environment that allows South Central PA businesses to access the materials and markets they need to grow, boosting local industries and ensuring our region remains a strong player in the global economy.

Train, Attract, and Retain the Workforce for the 21st Century

• • Modernize the immigration system to create a reasonable, timely, pragmatic process that meets the needs of employers’ workforce needs. This includes increasing the cap on employment visas, streamlining the process for asylum seekers to obtain work authorizations, and supporting certification reciprocity for immigrants with applicable skills and experience.
  • Ensure sustainable access to the next-generation workforce by strengthening the school-to-work pipeline through enhanced career exploration, industry partnerships, and expanded apprenticeships and internships.
  • Remove barriers to workforce participation by addressing challenges like childcare access, skills gaps, outdated licensing, and support for re-entrants to create a more inclusive, efficient labor force.

Support Sustainable & Vibrant Communities

• • Protect and invest in agricultural success and sustainability, by making investments to fund Rural Development, fund agricultural research, and provide farmers with financial protection from hazards such as drought and disease.
  • Support pathways to affordable housing by aligning tax incentives and regulatory conditions to foster a diverse housing stock—both for rent and homeownership—that meets the needs of workers at all income levels and supports community growth.