Clear Lake Chamber Legislative Priorities

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Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Legislative Priorities

The Clear Lake Area Chamber advocates for policies that support business success, workforce growth, and a strong quality of life in Clear Lake and North Iowa. These legislative priorities reflect input from our Chamber Board and members and guide our engagement with state and local leaders.

By working with legislators, regional partners, and community stakeholders, we aim to ensure Iowa remains a place where businesses can grow, families can thrive, and communities like Clear Lake can continue to prosper.

 

Talent

Talent Development and Retention

Attract, House, and Retain Iowa’s Workforce

  • Support coordinated statewide and regional efforts to attract and retain talent, including programs that encourage former residents to return to Iowa.
  • Encourage policies that promote Iowa as a welcoming and opportunity-rich place to live and work.
  • Support initiatives that connect workforce recruitment directly with attainable housing development.

Child Care

Ensure Working Iowans Have Access to Affordable, Quality Care

  • Encourage the State to reconsider funding mechanisms similar to the Wage Enhancement Program to support recruitment and retention of childcare workers.
  • Support policies that stabilize and expand access to affordable childcare to strengthen workforce participation.

Education

Prepare and Retain Iowa’s Future Workforce

  • Sufficiently fund Iowa’s K–12 and post-secondary schools at levels that are both appropriate and sustainable.
  • Provide flexibility to school districts in how education funding is used to meet local needs.
  • Emphasize STEM programming, apprenticeship opportunities, and work-based learning initiatives.
  • Support efforts that encourage students to build careers and remain in Iowa after graduation.

Business Climate & Economic Development

Housing

Address Housing Shortages to Support Workforce and Business Growth

  • Support state and local development efforts that increase housing availability, including Downtown Housing Grants, Housing Tax Credit Programs, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and Home Rehabilitation Block Grants.
  • Ensure Tax Increment Financing tools remain flexible and practical for workforce housing development, including reconsideration of LMI restrictions that limit effectiveness.
  • Support reinstatement or continuation of 100% tax abatement for housing projects identified by local government.

Economic Development

Provide the Tools Needed to Grow Business

  • Preserve local control over Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Local Option Sales & Service Tax (LOSST), recognizing that each community has unique needs.
  • Ensure property tax reform incorporates input from municipalities and avoids unintended consequences to essential local services and economic growth.
  • Continue 260E and 260F workforce training programs administered through Iowa’s community colleges.
  • Support sustainable and affordable energy solutions that strengthen business competitiveness.
  • Explore opportunities for small business health insurance cooperatives to increase affordability and access to coverage.
  • Review and modernize Urban Revitalization tools to ensure they effectively support redevelopment and housing growth.

Tourism

Tourism Investment Supports Economic & Population Growth

  • Provide economic development funding through one-time programs such as Destination Iowa, as well as sustainable, permanent tourism programs.
  • Allow local community control over hotel/motel tax rates and permit communities to increase rates to support tourism initiatives.
  • Fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust.
  • Maintain the current school start date to encourage and support summer tourism across Iowa.

Questions?

Call Stacy Doughan at 641-357-2159 or email stacy@clearlakeiowa.com.

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