Lockport, NY (Jan. 22) — The Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce officially unveiled its 2026 Advocacy Agenda, outlining a set of guiding principles that will shape the Chamber’s advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels in the year ahead.
Developed with direct input from the regional business community, the 2026 agenda centers on policies that support economic growth, affordability, infrastructure investment, workforce development, and a competitive business climate across Niagara County.
Unlike traditional legislative wish lists, the Chamber structured the agenda around core principles designed to provide clarity and consistency as policymakers respond to rapidly evolving economic and regulatory conditions.
“Policy today moves fast,” said Craig Turner, Interim Executive Director for the Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce. “New proposals, executive actions, and regulatory changes can emerge quickly, and businesses need to know where their Chamber stands. By grounding our advocacy in clear principles, our board has established a framework that allows us to evaluate issues consistently and respond thoughtfully – even when the specifics are moving targets.”
Turner emphasized that the principles-based approach ensures the Chamber can engage constructively on individual pieces of legislation while remaining aligned with the long-term needs of the business community.
“These principles give us a compass,” Turner said. “When a proposal aligns with them, we know how to support it. When it conflicts, we know how to push back. That clarity is critical for employers making long-term decisions about investment, hiring, and growth in Niagara County.”
The 2026 Advocacy Agenda addresses key areas including energy affordability and reliability, tax and regulatory stability, health care access, housing, workforce development, infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, and cross-border trade with Canada – all issues identified by Chamber members as central to the region’s economic future.
Turner thanked the members of the chamber’s Advocacy Committee, chaired by Philip Wells of E3 Communications, for their hard work on the agenda: Ed D’Amico, Byron DeLuke, Matt Lothrop, Gay Molnar, Russell Petrozzi, Nick Stalnecker, Derek Smith and Patrick Uhteg.
The agenda was formally introduced during a business happy hour at Big Ditch Brewing Company in Lockport, attended by Chamber members, business leaders, and state elected officials, reinforcing the Chamber’s role as a convener between the private sector and policymakers.
The Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce will use the 2026 Advocacy Agenda to guide engagement with elected officials, agencies, and regional partners throughout the year.
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