Advocacy

Leading with a single voice.

At the Niagara USA Chamber, we provide a powerful and collective voice for Niagara County businesses on all levels: local, regional, and national. We work hard in the legislative arena to represent your interests to elected officials and agencies.

As an individual business, it’s not always possible to take the lead role in key issues in the Niagara region. But by joining the Niagara USA Chamber, you’ll gain an advocate who will lobby on your behalf for the issues that are important to you, like Workers’ Compensation reform and low-cost power.

In fact, our entire purpose here at the Niagara USA Chamber is to help businesses — like yours — to achieve success.

Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce 2024 Advocacy Agenda

1. We will advocate for a comprehensive strategy to preserve and strengthen Niagara County’s health care ecosystem, ensuring that residents in all localities have access to affordable essential and emergency services.

2. We will advocate for New York State to maintain consistent guidelines for companies, particularly small businesses, that not only address the health requirements for safely operating, but their sustainability and economic future .

3. We will advocate for the U.S. and Canada to jointly create policies for the CanAm border that prioritizes the economic and commerce needs of the bi-national Buffalo Niagara region.

4. We will advocate for policies in New York State and Niagara County that advance an all-options energy pathway which leverages existing infrastructure, factors community input and regional differences into the development of projects while safeguarding affordability and reliability.

5. We will advocate for New York State to implement measures that will promote sustainability for farms, including labor and land use policies, wetland regulations and rural broadband infrastructure.

6. We will advocate against new burdensome regulations on employers, especially small businesses, and for New York State to strengthen outreach to employers to educate them in regard to any new state regulations, timelines and responsibilities.

7. We will advocate for workforce training and educational programs that better connect higher education, trades, upskilling and vocational schools to businesses and their future workforce needs.

8. We will advocate for a stronger local and regional transportation system and upgraded infrastructure to provide better transportation opportunities for those that live and work in Niagara County.

9. We will advocate for comprehensive reform of Niagara County’s tax environment, including timely reassessments and elimination of city and/or town homestead rules, which continue to create a competitive disadvantage for business attraction.

10. We will advocate for New York State to ensure a fair share of aid for Upstate school districts, infrastructure, etc.