Our top priorities in 2021

I hope you are staying healthy and sane as you manage your businesses through another day; another month of this pandemic. While I secretly hoped turning over a new year would slow things down a bit, the first few weeks of 2021 have not proven to be any easier than those we lived through last year. However, I am hopeful each day that we see the number of vaccines distributed in Lane County increase. While faint, there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel.
 
Today I wanted to share with you a few quick updates on important topics we have been tracking at the Chamber, and also hoped to get your feedback on what we should continue to prioritize as an organization over the next year. 
 
Our top priorities in 2021
Many of us still feel the exhaustion of continuously having to react to the challenges of 2020. This year we have the benefit of being a little more prepared for what we may experience and as such have proactively identified our top areas of focus for the year:

• Support for small businesses still struggling from the pandemic and representation for all businesses in local and state government
• Improving our membership retention and engagement opportunities
• Ensuring the sustainability of our economic development work through Onward Eugene

 
We need your help understanding exactly what activities we can be doing to support you- please help us by taking 5 minutes to share your feedback here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BRMDFCM
 
The future of natural gas in our community
We have been closely tracking and participating in conversations around decarbonization and the future of natural gas in our community. After two years the City of Eugene and Northwest Natural are nearing the end of negotiations on a new franchise agreement amid public pressure on councilors to walk away from the franchise negotiations and ban new natural gas infrastructure in Eugene. Banning new natural gas infrastructure may negatively impact economic development activities as well as housing prices- what those impacts will be exactly have not been studied by the council.

• We have testified that council should not make a decision with such far reaching impacts without adequately understanding those consequences.
• We are urging council to remain at the table and to continue to work towards a deal with Northwest Natural. As councilor Alan Zelenka pointed out in discussions, reaching the city’s carbon reduction goals will likely happen faster in partnership with Northwest Natural, than if the city ended the franchise agreement and walked away from the conversation.
• Public testimony and emails from businesses and individuals who want to see the city remain in a relationship with NW Natural is needed on Monday, February 22nd. If you are interested, please let me know and we can make sure you have the information you need. 

 
Representing business in 2021 legislative session
A new legislative session is upon us and despite the pandemic and restricted access to the capitol, legislators are moving ahead with more than 3500 bills introduced for consideration this session.

• We have combed through all the bills introduced this year and identified those that will have an impact on our businesses and community.
• After direction from our government affairs committee, we are focused on those in the areas of: Workforce/ employment, taxation, economic development, housing, public safety, and transportation.
• As the session progresses and we see which bills will actually have legs, we will be reaching out for stories from our business community and written or virtual testimony to be delivered to legislators.
• If you have a bill that your business or industry is tracking and would like us to help with support or opposition, please feel free to reach out.

 
While we have much more to report on, I will stop there and let you get on to enjoying your weekend. I appreciate the support of each of your businesses and look forward to learning how we can continue to work on your behalf in 2021. One more plug, to please take 5 minutes to share your feedback: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BRMDFCM