The Chambers support initiatives aimed at attracting, retaining, and training a strong workforce as well as fair and equitable taxation systems, tax incentives, and tax credits used to foster an environment conducive to business and economic growth. We also support efforts that enhance public safety, provide affordable access to childcare and create housing that is affordable and safe, all of which create an environment of business retention and growth.

• Support enhancing initiatives to improve the climate for small business growth and development including seed capital funds and programs, additional funding for state innovation centers and small business and technology development centers, and funding for the Missouri Technology Corporation.
• Oppose discriminatory legislation, which would detrimentally impact economic development and also Missouri’s ability to attract businesses, sporting events, tourism, & conventions.
• Support the 2024 Kansas City Consensus Agenda for Economic Development.

The Chambers encourage investments in energy, including reliability and efficiency, and support policies that provide balance between public health and environmental protections without unreasonable economic burdens on industry, business, and Missouri residents.

• Support policies that encourage investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and reliability, and enable balanced energy solutions that do not eliminate energy options or place unreasonable economic burdens on industry, businesses, and residents.

The Chambers support all levels of education and special education funding to strengthen the quality of education in the area, thus improving the business viability and workforce development of the region.

Pre-K through12 Education

• Support legislation to provide sufficient funding for universal, high quality pre-k education for all Kansas City Metropolitan area residents and promotes equitable and inclusive educational opportunities for our diverse learns, with the inclusion of the public school districts as key players in providing those services.
• Support overall state funding, per pupil, in an effort to make Missouri rank in the top one-half (currently ranked 47th) of all states in the country, including fully funding transportation.
• Oppose legislation that would expand charter schools statewide unless a neutral party conducts a feasibility/sustainability study, and the locally elected school board is the sole sponsor.
• Support expansion of statewide broadband to ensure all students have access to high-speed internet services and that these services are affordable for all families.

Higher Education

• Support the Missouri Community College Association’s request for $10 million to increase the core funding to support Missouri community colleges, moving them closer to funding provided to state universities.
• Support continued support for workforce develop projects through MoExcels funding.
• Support a full transfer degree, guaranteeing transfer of a 60-credit hour associates degree from community colleges to the public universities.