Triangle East Chamber Legislative Agenda

TRANSPORTATION

• We support creative transportation initiatives that allow our under-employed, low-income sector to have better access to employment and to create easier access to expand our areas’ workforce shed for current and future workforce needs.
• Work with NCDOT to expand Piedmont service on existing rail infrastructure now.
• Support micro transit initiatives as a way to reduce commuter traffic and provide workforce transportation.
• Continue to support comprehensive transportation initiatives that fund transportation, both public and commuter, through available funding mechanisms that will then qualify the County for Matching Federal Funding.

INFRASTRUCTURE

• We support further discussion on the creation of a County/Regional sewer and water system that would utilize our resources in a comprehensive and efficient manner.
• Support the adoption of the new County-wide Land Use Plan & Implementation.
• We support legislation at the state level that would amend the current Tier system that would provide communities east of 95 access to funding that would allow installation of Broadband, Fiber, and other economic development initiatives.
• Support the continued development of a parks and recreation system for the County.

EDUCATION AND TALENT SUPPLY

The region’s continued competitiveness depends on our ability to maintain and expand a diverse and highly skilled workforce. Our workforce must combine technical and durable skills and the flexibility necessary to support regional job growth. To produce this skilled and flexible workforce, we support:

• Support access to quality early childhood education programs
• Competitive compensation for education professionals including non-instructional personnel. Education and workforce development strategies/services that enhance the talent pipeline including work-based learning and apprenticeship programs.
• Strategies that align universities, community colleges and schools with existing/future industry needs, including innovation and entrepreneurship in the education sector.
• Champion connection between educational attainment and digital access—including personal equipment and affordable connectivity—so that more workers and students can access education, training, and supportive services online.
• Promote NC Workforce Credentials as validated non-degree credentials in demand by business and industry in North Carolina.

HEALTH CARE

• We support value driven health care in order to improve health outcomes and make costs more predictable and affordable. For this reason, we support legislation that would meaningfully establish association health plans in North Carolina.