Come 2018, the Plant City business community could have a much stronger voice in Tallahassee, as well as the local government.
The Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce recently formed the Government Affairs Committee with a goal of influencing “the development of policies and regulations that create jobs, foster business growth, improve financial success and create new market links and opportunities for chamber members,” according to its mission statement.
“Advocacy is part of the chamber world and important to the business community,” Chamber President Christine Miller said. “To be able to have a voice in those areas…these are some of the goals I see as creating value for our membership.”
Forming the committee echoes structures seen in nearby Polk and Hillsborough County chambers of commerce. Chambers in Brandon, Tampa and Lakeland have established advocacy arms that work to gear policy toward their respective business communities. Some, like the Brandon chamber, host annual trips to Tallahassee for members to communicate directly with legislators.
The move would be a first for Plant City’s chamber, Miller said.
Chamber board member and Hillsborough County Community College Plant City Campus President Martyn Clay serves as the chamber’s community and governmental affairs chair, however, Clay said that role has previously been more educational and information gathering. The Government Affairs Committee plans to give the chamber an opportunity to actively influence government policy.
“It’s important to be a part of the process, not just aware of it.” Clay said. “They’re not going to go looking for things to do. They’ve got enough things on their plate. You want to get on the plate. You want to get on their agenda.”
Miller said forming an advocacy arm has been a goal since she became president in 2016, but the chamber not having an active voice at the policy level became noticeable during the city’s latest budget cycle and the 2017 Florida legislative session.
Recently, Plant City increased its property tax rate to support road infrastructure. While the city was poised for the move, Miller said, it would have been nice for the chamber to have a voice in the process.
Additionally, recent legislative grappling over the future of Enterprise Florida, a state entity that brings businesses to Florida and Visit Florida, the state’s tourism promotion entity, demonstrated Plant City’s need to have a chamber voice in Tallahassee, Clay said.
During the 2017 legislative session, members of the Florida House sought (almost successfully) to eliminate Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida, two passion projects of Gov. Rick Scott many GOP representatives looked at as corporate welfare. Eventually, Scott and Senate leaders reached a deal with the House to reduce funding, but keep both organizations alive, along with a pledge from each to increase transparency.
Plant City’s business community has recently grown by attracting businesses, like software firm Buccaneer Tech, from around the country. With Plant City’s commitment to events like the Strawberry Festival, tourism is another big draw. The battle over Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida was one Plant City’s chamber had a stake, but no resounding voice in. The Government Affairs Committee hopes to change that.
Clay said the chamber helps promote tourism in Plant City through events like the Strawberry Festival, car shows, bike fests and more. Holding on to tourism dollars is important. It’s not enough to know those dollars are threatened, he said, the chamber needs to take action.
“What can we do to influence the governor to say, ‘let’s continue to let these organizations exist?” Clay said. “Let’s continue to try to bring people to Florida, to bring revenue to Florida. That’s the lifeblood of our businesses. That’s what got us into it.”
The committee hopes to grow into a stable core of representatives, but will hold monthly meetings open to current and non-chamber members. The meetings will also feature guest speakers. Clay said anything actionable will be brought to the chamber’s board based on consensus and the board will vote on how to proceed. The nature of the item and whether it impacts on a city, county or state level will determine how the board takes action.