The Grandview Chamber of Commerce is active in government at the local, state, and federal levels. In times of tough budgets, the Chamber has been able to get funding to help our members conduct their businesses. The Chamber is dedicated to making sure laws passed do not negatively affect our members or the business community. Our mission is to make Grandview an even better place to live, learn, work and play.

The Legislative Committee is comprised of members from the Grandview Chamber of Commerce and the South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.  This joint committee meets three times a year around the Legislative Session. We meet in October, November, and January. If you’re interested in serving on the committee, please contact Liz Ogle.

Purpose:  To Provide leadership, information, and advocacy that enhances the economic environment and represents the political interests of the Grandview and South Kansas City business communities.

Goals: 

  • Research, develop, educate, and recommend issue positions to the Chamber Board of Directors

  • Poll members to establish the legislative concerns and opinions of the Chamber membership

  • Annually develop a Legislative Priorities list to reflect the concerns and opinions of the membership

  • Sponsor monthly breakfast meetings with local, state, and federal government officials to explore critical issues

  • Fully educate members about critical issues and inform members, the general public, and appropriate officials of Chamber positions adopted by the Board of Directors

  • Sponsor public forums on issues for candidates

  • Establish positive, interactive relationships with organizations and elected officials

  • We support a broad-spectrum approach to upskilling and right-skilling our state’s workforce to address labor shortages and help businesses’ growth. This includes adequately funding our existing workforce development programs, like Fast Track and Missouri One Start job training, and advocating for new policies that are responsive and flexible to businesses’ needs to recruit and retain skilled workers today while anticipating the employment needs of the future.

    Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Therefore, Missouri should increase access to funding and other resources for small businesses, start-ups, and entrepreneurs to help them confidently start, grow, or expand.

    Childcare is a pivotal workforce development issue. Working parents’ re-entry into the workforce can be hindered by childcare provider shortages for children of all ages, but especially for those under two years old. Missouri should increase the accessibility and availability of high-quality childcare for working parents.

    Economic development drives growth creates new job opportunities and facilitates an improved quality of life. Missouri should embrace an all-of-the-above approach in utilizing and offering innovative economic development tools and tax incentives to help its local communities and businesses thrive.

    Public transportation is both a workforce and economic development tool in our communities statewide. We must adequately fund multi-modal public transit systems so they are more accessible and efficient for residents and visitors alike.

    A safer Missouri is a stronger Missouri. The state should dedicate adequate funding for public safety. This includes funding for the expansion of mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention programs, public safety staffing enhancement efforts, and innovative tools to reduce crime.

    A strong education system is key to Missouri’s long-term economic health and competitiveness. We support efforts to adequately fund all levels of education, from elementary to higher education. Additionally, we should increase funding and accessibility of student scholarship programs, like the A+ program.

    The state has a detrimental reputation for its unfair legal climate. Therefore, Missouri must implement significant reforms to ensure our legal climate is not an impediment to economic competitiveness. We support a wide variety of reforms, including modifying the statute of limitations, to bring more fairness to our court system.

    We support comprehensive efforts to maximize Missouri’s position as an emerging technology hub. By enacting innovative policies, increasing investment, and training our workforce for high-tech jobs, our state can grow its global tech and innovation footprint.

    State investment in tourism supports economic growth, job creation, and tax revenue. We support increased funding of tourism promotion and other tourism-related programs, as it would positively impact many communities across the state.

    The state has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make significant investments due to a very positive ongoing budgetary outlook. We encourage Missouri’s leaders to utilize these funding opportunities to make investments that have a transformational impact on communities statewide. Conversely, we oppose efforts to risk vital funding streams needed for our state’s infrastructure. The state’s economic growth depends on having reliable and modern infrastructure systems, which include our vast network of roads and bridges.

    We strongly support a system of free enterprise and oppose efforts by the government to intervene in business decisions. The government should let businesses decide how to run their own workplace(s).