NIAGARA USA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
2025 Advocacy Agenda
The Niagara USA Chamber of Commerce, Niagara County’s leading business advocacy organization, is pleased to roll out our guiding principles for the Niagara USA Chamber’s 2025 advocacy agenda. We are proud of our advocacy efforts and will continue to engage in actions that support our mission. Through these principles we are highlighting various courses of action that we undertake as the voice of our membership and the community. The Chamber believes in examining each issue for its merits and encourages constructive dialogue in the effort to promote economic development, business growth and community enhancement.
- 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 regards to any new state regulations, timelines and responsibilities.
- 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; we oppose gas bans and/or electrification mandates that will drive up the cost of doing business.
- We will advocate for policies at the federal, state and local level that strengthen the U.S./Canada relationship in trade, tourism, border governance and regional economic development.
- 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.
- 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.
- We will advocate for state and regional policies and investment that strengthen and enable growth in Niagara County tourism.
- 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.
- 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.
- We will advocate for comprehensive reform of Niagara County’s property tax environment, including timely reassessments and elimination of city and/or town homestead rules, which continue to create a competitive disadvantage for business attraction.
- We will advocate for New York State to ensure fair share of aid for Upstate school districts, infrastructure, et. al.
The Niagara USA Chamber’s Annual Advocacy Agenda is compiled and vetted each year by the chamber’s Advocacy Committee.