From Your President

Protecting Your Business - Back to Normal

Protecting Business is one of the Chamber’s core pillars . We work hard to ensure that your business can flourish in a pro-business environment. In a year filled with so much turbulence – having the back of the Business Community remained our top priority . Acting as our members’ full-time government and community relations representative, the Chamber serves as the eyes, ears and voice of the business community . Understanding that not all legislation proposed on a state and local level aligns with what is good for business, your Chamber engages to advocate on behalf of all our members in those areas where we can help businesses be successful .

Each year, the Chamber leads a trip to Tallahassee where we meet with our local Palm Beach County legislation delegation to educate and advocate for the items we include in our Business Legislative Agenda . Although we were unable to make that trip this past session, that did not stop us from working hard to represent your business interests . The Chamber team successfully worked with our State partners and elected officials to ensure protecting business was at the forefront of our legislators’ minds - and Business won!

One example was the passage of Senate Bill 50 . This legislation is one of the most significant tax bills in our state's history. This bill requires online marketplaces located outside of the state to remit sales tax on tangible property . This is not a new tax, but rather puts the burden on these online marketplace retailers to collect and remit that tax instead of the consumer . This bill additionally helped the State of Florida avoid a major Unemployment Compensation (UC) Tax increase and significantly reduced the Business Rent Tax from 5 .5% to 2%, once the UC Trust Fund is replenished . This is the largest decrease in the Business Rent Tax we have seen since the Boca Chamber has been advocating for its elimination or reduction . To provide prospective on its impact, a 1% reduction in the Business Rent Tax is a savings of over $300 million to the business community! To read more about how business won during the most recent legislative session, turn to page 8 .

President & CEO Troy McLellan

" Having the back of the Business Community remains our top priority.”

There is a saying, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” Your Chamber leadership is definitely at the table monitoring local, county and state activity . The Chamber team spends countless hours attending the Boca Raton City Council and Boynton Beach City Commission meetings . Additionally, we monitor the Palm Beach County Commission and Palm Beach County School Board meetings . From in-person, Zoom and phone meetings, we stay updated on issues that most impact your business .

In the spirit of pro-business advocacy, we specifically chose to feature Dr. Daniel Gropper, Dean of the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University, in this issue of Connection Magazine, themed Protecting Business . Like the Boca Chamber, Dean Gropper is a fervent protector of the American Free Enterprise System and prepares future business leaders to pursue their own version of the American dream to create jobs, contribute to the economy and support our community . We are fortunate to have such a staunch advocate for business right here in our community . To read more, turn to page 11 .

I often hear Chamber memberships compared to fitness memberships. “You will get out of it what you put into it”, is the common saying . If this past year has shown us one thing, it is that this saying is not totally accurate . Each day, the Chamber team works diligently in support of your business, whether or not you are able to personally engage . With your continued support, we can secure our region’s pro-business future .

Together we are Moving Business Forward and making Boca Raton, Boynton Beach and South Palm Beach County the best place to live, work, learn and play .

Moving Business Forward,