Chamber Economic Development Initiatives
A balanced and equitable tax base is the hallmark of a resilient economy able to withstand fluctuations brought on by cyclical economic forces. It is also one of two primary goals of any well-planned and executed economic development effort. The second goal is to promote predictability and consistency in the relationship between business and government as each performs its responsibilities of meeting the needs and expectations of consumers and citizens. In order for businesses to succeed and prosper there must be a fair amount of predictability in the marketplace. Those in and out of government who pursue ideological crusades and impulsive agendas impacting the marketplace undermine that stability and predictability.
Issues of land-use, the environment, and government efficiency in areas where they interface with business have the potential of undermining marketplace stability and predictability if government chooses to act unilaterally without consulting those affected, and shows indifference to the economic impacts of its actions and decisions.
Our elected and appointed officials in government should take great care not to promote policies or legislation that will undermine the assessable tax base of our City, County, and State. Promoting legislation or policies that weaken or diminish the assessable tax base runs contrary to sound fiscal management.
The Chamber of Commerce counsels against regulations that exceed standards already set by a higher level of government and urges that economic impact analyses be performed before regulations are promulgated or legislation enacted. Where possible, regulatory processes should be streamlined so as to encourage new business development and promote the retention of current businesses that are planning for expansion.
Below are links to the Chamber's Economic Development Committee, Anne Arundel County Economic Development Corporations, and the Annapolis Office of Economic Affairs:
Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee
