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ADVANCING PROSPERITY: How the Greater Waco Chamber Connects Public Policy and Economic Development
by Jacob Hogan, Greater Waco Chamber
The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to building a robust regional economy that creates prosperity for all. One of the strategic ways we can support this mission is through active engagement in public policy. Public policy and economic development are closely related because policy decisions set the framework for economic development and growth within a region. Effective public policy creates an environment conducive to economic development by addressing the needs of businesses, workers, and communities, and supporting the resources and opportunities economic development provides.
Your Chamber’s public policy initiatives ensure the business community has a voice locally, in Austin, and in Washington, D.C. and informs the business community about legislative changes. Led by our Greater Waco Chamber Public Policy Committee, a volunteer committee of passionate business leaders, we advocate by informing our elected officials about the policies and regulations that impact our local businesses.
In addition to visits to both Washington, D.C. and Austin to build and maintain relationships with our representatives, your Greater Waco Chamber hosts the annual State Of Series, a series of events designed to bring our business community together to hear from elected officials and experts at all levels. These special guests provide updates about current political affairs and issues that impact our business community and economy.
Our public policy efforts have four key areas of focus:
Workforce & Education – Ensuring we have the skilled workforce businesses need.
Business Climate – Creating an environment conducive to business growth.
Economic Development – Supporting policies that help attract new business and retain existing ones.
Infrastructure – Investing in the critical infrastructure that supports our region’s continued growth.
As the 89th Legislative Session in Texas unfolds, the Greater Waco Chamber Public Policy Committee is focused on advocating for policies that will help your business thrive. The critical issues we are focused on this session include:
Building a Strong Workforce and Education System
• Support innovative solutions and funding to increase access to affordable, high-quality childcare.
• Support fully funding K-12 public education that will preserve high-impact programs, attract and retain high quality teachers and maintains a strong system of accountability.
• Support full funding to implement Texas community colleges’ outcomes-based funding model (HB 8) and amend the State Funding Performance Tiers to include students transferring from public junior colleges to private institutions of higher education.
• Support a capital funding plan for Texas State Technical College to boost capacity and meet the rising demand for workforce development across the state.
• Support solutions and funding to unlock and retain more workers that will strengthen the talent pipeline and supports training programs including TRUE (Texas Reskilling and Upskilling through Education) program; Lone Star Workforce for the Future; Skills Development Fund; JET (Jobs & Education for Texans) grant and others.
Creating a Business-Friendly Environment
• Support solutions that reduce the property tax burden on businesses and promote a fair, professional appraisal process that retains local authority and spurs business development and growth.
• Support tax provisions that spur private sector innovation and development and that encourage the formation of new businesses large and small.
• Support legislative efforts to ensure that regulations reflect a cost- benefit perspective that maintains a regulatory climate that does not impose hidden taxes on employers through excessive fees and fines, but rather reduces excessive regulations to promote economic growth and job creation.
• Oppose any regulations or policies that incentivize able-bodied workers to not join or return to the workforce.
Supporting Economic Development
• Support maintaining and strengthening existing economic development tools including extending the Research and Development Tax Credit; funding the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF); enhancing the effectiveness of the Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation (JETI) Act; Preserving Chapter 380/381 agreements.
• Support innovative solutions to increase the supply and access to affordable housing.
• Support prioritizing funding from the Texas Space Commission towards private sector companies.
• Support policies, regulations and programs that increase access to capital for small business loans and provide valuable resources for small business development.
• Support policies and regulations that prioritize maintaining local control and input for land use and development regulations.
• Support legislation adding Waco to the list of municipalities eligible for designation as a Project Financing Zone.
Investing in Infrastructure
• Support the protection of the Central Texas watershed and dedicated funding to ensure the adequate supply of water that supports future economic growth of the region.
• Support the expedited completion of the expansion of Waco’s section of I-35 to minimize economic disruption.
• Support increased transportation funding and dedicated funds for small/mid-size MPOs and preserve the local decision-making ability of MPOs in the prioritization, planning and designation of funding for regional transportation projects.
• Support the further implementation and funding of the statewide broadband plan that fairly serves all Texans.
• Support the domestic production of efficient energy sources to strengthen Texas as a global energy leader and ensure a reliable, sustainable electric grid that meets current and future electricity demands.
GREATER WACO CHAMBER PUBLIC POLICY IMPACTS
In 2017, the Greater Waco Chamber led efforts to advocate for discretionary funding from the Texas Transportation Commission that resulted in $115 million of funding to launch phase one of the I-35 expansion project in Waco. This project improved travel in and through Waco by rebuilding and widening the main highway to eight lanes, rebuilding frontage roads, and improving bike and pedestrian connectivity.
In 2023, the Greater Waco Chamber Public Policy Committee partnered with the City of Waco and McLennan County to protect Greater Waco’s primary water supply by successfully defeating Texas House Bill 2827 that sought to undo permitting requirements protecting the quality of the North Bosque River watershed and Lake Waco. This water supply is critical for citizens in our community and supports a dynamic industrial economy, which would have been significantly impacted.
During the 88th Legislative Session, the Greater Waco Chamber Public Policy Committee joined other economic development organizations across the state to advocate for the passage of Texas House Bill 5 establishing the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation Act (JETI). This impactful legislation created a transparent and competitive tax incentive program designed to encourage infrastructure development and attract large-scale businesses engaged in advanced manufacturing sectors that are critical to our national security.
